Paint Statue that changes color with weather/airpressure

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on a color-changing statue, specifically an owl, that utilizes a special paint responsive to weather changes. The paint, likely Cobalt Chloride, changes from blue when dry to pink when wet, indicating moisture levels. The original poster seeks to find this paint or similar statues, as their previous statue has worn out after three years. The discussion highlights the challenges in sourcing this type of paint and related products.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Cobalt Chloride properties and safety precautions
  • Familiarity with color-changing materials and their applications
  • Basic knowledge of meteorological concepts related to humidity and air pressure
  • Experience in wet chemistry techniques for paint formulation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and applications of Cobalt Chloride in color-changing materials
  • Explore DIY guides for creating color-changing paints using Cobalt Chloride
  • Investigate suppliers or distributors for purchasing Cobalt Chloride and related chemicals
  • Look for similar weather-responsive decorative items or statues available for purchase
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for artists, chemists, and hobbyists interested in color-changing materials, as well as collectors of unique decorative items that respond to environmental conditions.

Christof999
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Hello all,

I Found an old keepsake when I recently moved that I bought in Italy 15 years ago. It was a small statue of an owl that changed color when the weather was changing. It would be pink, blue most often or sometimes green. That statue itself didn't change, but rather it was the paint on it. The paint was kinda thick and sparkling. These statues were everywhere when I was there. Mine eventually wore out, and no longer changes but I got a good 3 years out of it. I think it is either moisture or air pressure that it responds to.

Now I am working on some meteorology courses and I really wanted to find out when I could get another statue, but even more, I really wanted to find out how the heck I could make this or buy this paint myself, so I could paint my own statue. I thought a simple web search would turn up lots of buying links and at least a few DIY guides for this stuff, but I found almost nothing. The only thing I found was a couple of links, one selling a religious "barometer statue". The statue had the same paint on it. So far this is the only trace of this stuffs existence I could find. Here are the links. The second one shows a statue someone ironically got in Rome.

http://www.littleflowersfamilypress.com/SHOP/chaltars03.htm
http://www.bdline.net/aftershow/2008/08/03/the-ever-changing-she-wolf/

Could someone please tell me what type of paint this is, what it might be called, where I might be able to buy the paint, or to buy the chemicals to make it? (I have a lot of wet chem experience, and a buying account with a distributor, so no need to worry about self injury) If anyone could even tell me where to get more of these statues or what they are called it would be a bit of a help.

Any information is greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Christof
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
Heh, yeah I remember having one of these. Never know what powered it though.
 
Cobalt chloride it is.

I had a postcard with a cloud painted with it, it was changing its color between blue and pink. There was even a poem written in Czech that stated something like "Color of cloud blue - wheteher is good, when it changes color - it can rain any time".

Czech version (as I remember it - I don't speak Czech) on request :wink:
 

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