KINGSTON — As motorists stop at the light by the well-known George’s Corner in Kingston, they may notice something a little different. A first glance may yield a flash of color, a second will show an array of brightness. It suddenly becomes clear: the statues in front of Kountry Korner have been spruced up and are now sporting a riot of hues.

The rainbow of colors now filling the patch of grass was made possible by a small group of amateur painters, who at the behest of Hansville’s JoAnn Goodspeed, decided the popular carved statues needed a fresh coat of paint.

“JoAnn can’t stand things that don’t look nice,” said Julie Morrison, adding that Goodspeed called around looking for painters to assist with the project.

“JoAnn called saying she needed painters,” Jean Stange said as she worked on the tall lumberjack. “We thought it was a great idea.”

Goodspeed got the crew together, with many of the volunteers coming from the Driftwood Key Club painting group, which meets every Tuesday and creates with oils, watercolors and imagination. Mary Stutzke, Jim Morrison, DeeAnn Stiles and Patsy Robinson also showed up for the two days it took to repaint the creatures.

“We have been here since 1992,” Goodspeed said. “I remember when the statues were so bright, they were really pretty.”

Since that time, the unique carvings have dimmed in their brilliance.

But with leftover paint and donations from Kingston Lumber and Henery’s Hardware, the self-proclaimed Michelangelos got to work on Kingston’s answer to “David.”

Unlike the timeless masterpiece, the Kingston carvings were fading in their visual impact.

With the permission of the statues’ owner, Jim Suh, and paint brushes in hand, the group started dashing and dabbing July 18. They picked new colors for each creation, and carefully applied the color to the grain as their actions were observed by thousands of motorists. The painters said the reactions they received were positive. Amid happy honks and “thank you’s” hollered out car windows, Goodspeed, Morrison and a handful of others painted diligently and with broad smiles.

“The reactions have been outstanding. We get claps and yahoos from everybody waiting at the light,” Robinson said, adding that people passing by have been appreciative and excited about the new array of colors.

The creatures, Suh said, were erected at the site by Mike Whitbeck, the previous owner, and a friend of his in 1985. Since then they have been repainted only once, he added.

Though the paint faded, the statues’ notoriety did not, as they became a tourist attraction, drawing in children and adults alike.

The creatures have become a Kingston icon, and everyone seems to have their favorite.

“I like the couple out front,” Goodspeed said of the trollesque man and woman, adding that she also likes the man holding the ice cream cone. Robinson, on the other hand, took the mermaid in hand and “glamoured her up a bit.”

“I’m not an artist,” Morrison said.

“You are now,” Robinson said with a laugh. At that moment, a woman in a passing truck shouted a thank you and flashed a double thumbs up, approving of the artistry.

“We’re mainly covering old paint with big brush strokes,” Jim Morrison said as he worked on the hamburger held by a bear. “Everybody drives by and honks, though.