What mixture of paint do you use? I find its tough to match the real thing. I have mounted numerous snows, blues, and ross geese and I still am not happy with the colors I end up with. I am currently working on a blue, and snow and two ross geese, and I am hell bent on getting this color right this time. I know that they vary in color but what do you use?
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Yes I looked back into the archives. I saw all the crap everyone gave a guy about getting references. I have probably $1000 worth of waterfowl reference books and I still am not happy with the color I get. Im not real happy with the colors I see in the references either. I hunt these birds and all the references I see dont look right to me. maybe its the lighting in the photos or something. This is a tough color to get. Maybe i should just shoot to get it close and go with that.
not trying to state the obvious---but why don't you take your own pics? Many taxidermists do so. As you know the goose bills vary in red-orange shades in light-darker values. As far as the painting goes that is a matter of experience. It dosen't do much good for a person to say "use flesh, off white, yellow, red, and black" without understanding how to use varying amounts of paint to get the effect that you are looking for. However, when paining birds less is usually more. I would suggest that you first find some reference that you like. Begin experminting with your painting until you like the results. Keep some basic notes as you go along and you will have your own paint schedule for the next time.
Thanks kinstelspec
Your right, Reference photos are somthing I know I need to start to do. I have been procrastinating on that for quite some time, and I need to get my butt in gear. I'll just do as you said and for now go with the reference that looks the best. You must admit that there are some tough colors out there to match. To much variation. I have had customers tell me that the color of thier mallard bill is off. I just get out my reference pictures and show them how many variations they really have.