Matching Drift wood stump color and texture

[AJH]

Hey Guys/Gals, 
I'm not sure where to post this one, but here it goes....I'm using a piece of weathered stump/roots as a pedestal mount base.  I needed to cover my pipe/mounting bracket with epoxy sculpt and try to texture and match the weathered dead wood color.  This is the biggest pain the A!! Any advice would be appreciated such as start with Dark and rub the light on with a rag etc.  I'm having a hard time matching the color too.  Thanks   AJ

[Nancy C]

First simulate the wood grain by gently stroking the fresh epoxy with a wet wire brush.  Create cracks, knotholes, whatever else you need, and then paint it with acrylic craft paints. (Because they will dry flat.) There are lots of colors to choose from, they blend easily, and they are cheap. You will probably need to paint the entire thing, or most of it,  in order to get your repairs to blend seamlessly. I usually use lots of streaks of color rather than solid areas.  It's fun once you get going.
If the paint doesn't work like you want it, will come off easily with Windex.

[Jknuth]

I do this all the time, using many pieces of wood all attached together then epoxied and detailed as one piece.
Sealing the wood first is nearly essential. Once it is sealed its MUCH easier to match the color.
Otherwise you might have the right color for now, but as the wood ages due to changes in humidity your painting will stand out like a sore thumb.