i've brushed painted problily 20 ducks now and the last one looks no better then the first. They still have a fake look to them. i'm completly lost when it comes to painting. I've searched the archives for some answers to some stupid questions. maybe some body will feel sorry for me and give me some help. 1. when they say to blend the paint does this mean to mix colors together to make a color or to paint colors on top of each other to get a different shade.2. is the arcylic paint i get at walmart good enough or do i need to order some from the taxidermy suppliers. if so what kind.3. what is the best to use for the topcoat. thers not much in here about brush painting its mostly about air brushing. wish there was more about painting. thanks
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but I have painted a "few fish" and have an Art degree with a concentration in drawing and painting (mostly with an air brush) and have to say it isn't something you learn overnight. Plus I can't imagine attempting to paint fish without an airbrush. And I think you have to have an eye for mixing colors and have some artistic ability. This is not to say that you can't learn and be pretty decent at it. After all, we in the taxidermy industry "ain't paintin a Mona Lisa" or a "Picasso" [P.S. that's a dig at one of the regulars here, I can't remember who but he hates Picasso! (LOL)] If you've never had any formal education in painting take a class or two at a local community college or something just to familiarize yourself with things. It couldn't hurt. And, I would think you'll need to invest in an air brush eventually. Bottom Line, "practice makes better". I have to give credit to "Doug" for those words of wisdom...
Barr, there is a reason there is not much in the archives about painting ducks with a brush....it is because they will "look painted". If you have to do it then fine but it is not the correct or accurate way of doing them. When they say blend the paints they mean to "fade" on color into the other so there is not a definate paint line....very hard to do with a brush unless your piccaso. Good luck.
Hey Barr,Walmart paints work excellent.As a matter of fact,the only paint I dont use from walmart is Polytranspar Musky Green.I mount 100 fish a year .The nice thing about walmart is that most of those paints are always on sale.
Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium for a base sealer coat. The really cool part about this stuff is that you can add your acrylic paints on top of it while IT IS STILL WET! The paint will bleed and soften as it diffuses throughout the tacky Medium. Experiment with it's uses and you can produce some excellent effects. I still use an airbrush for most of my work but certain things will look much better with this technique. I use it on deer noses, details on ducks bills, fish scale details, etc.
Have fun with this...
Will
I use oils on a lot of gameheads and fish. You can feather the paints into each other with a fan blender. Available at Wallyworld and art stores. Sometime in the future you may consider an airbrush?Good Luck
Dave Toms