painting antelope horns

[fuzzmeister]

I am finishing an antelope and when I look at a reerence picture the horns look like they are a dark black, the horns on this antelope seem to be bleached kind of like a gray colour. What colour would you paint them jet black dark brown? or would you leave them as is? sure would appreciate some feed back thanks.

[buckslayer]

if they arent yours i would leave them the way they are some horns are jet black, some dark brown, and some a grayish color if they are yours go ahead and do what you want with them

[Curt]

I would just leave them alone if they are not yours. If yours, I sometimes mix dark brown and black and make them a little lighter brown on top and fade to a darker at the bases looks good.

[Jim B]

They often photograph darker than they are in life.

[Tricia]

I don't paint them at all.  Mix linseed oil and lacquer thinner (50-50) and use a soft cloth on the horns.  Don't use too much, just daub a small piece of your cloth in the mixture and rub all over the horns.  You'll find the color is great and they don't look all dried out when you're done.

Tricia

[bulldog4949]

use a little bit of olive oil....wipe off excess.....works great.  Nice clean natural look...

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

Formby's wood oil!

[ed150]

try some baby oil,works great

[WeaponX]

Old english lemon oil, gets rid of the smell too!