Does anybody have any ideas on how to darken up preserved whitetail in velvet antlers,They were given to me and I feel they should be darker,they are a light to med tan right now,Thanks
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Mix up a colour of acrylic paint you feel is the correct shade and water it down so it is a bit thinner than cream. This is called a 'wash'. When applied it will flow into the velvet and colour them. You can use a hair dryer to dry it quite quickly. If made thin enough it will flow down the hairs to the antler and leave the tips of the velvet a lighter colour adding more depth as the velvet appears to be highlighted. In your case that would be good - it deepens the overall appearance but also keeps some of the original colours =) Just don't drown the antlers with too much wash.
I want to change the 'you CAN use a hair dryer' to ' you SHOULD use a hair dryer'. The less time water is on your velvet - the better. Put on just enough to get the job done - then dry it right away.
I've heard of people air brushing them too... that will make it drier still...
I've watched the guys at the Smithsonian restore tigers that were killed in the 1900's and they used lacquer based paint. It doesn't glop up like acrylics can when done improperly.