I mounted an armadillo and it's just about ready for the finish work.How do you armadillo guys handle the painting of this crittter. Does the shell get any paint or do I just clean it off and let it be?I know the fleshy parts of the face will need some paint but I'm not sure about the scaley parts. Any help here will be appreciated. Thanks
I paint with alkyd pigments thinned with either mineral spirits or turpenoid and a bit of lacquer thinner. The pigment is subtle and will permeate the skin. After painting, the overspray can be wiped from the hairs with a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits. There are a lot of subtle pink tones and the banding on the tail needs to be enhanced. Most of them I have seen mounted look like inflated road kills, no offense to anyone.
Get several good photo refences to go by. Never use a single photo reference, since wildlife specie's color and pattern may appear different in various light situations. It is best to average out color between a number of references. Have no reference? Get a camera and take some photos at a zoo, or park with live specimens on exhibit.
Jim,
Be careful not to make the armadillo too shiney. Their backs have a slight sheen to them but they are not 'wet' looking throughout. Many mounted armadillos, that I have seen, look as though they had been dipped in a vat of clear lacquer. Once I have applied a light coat of satin sheen to the finished piece and allow it to dry, I give the mount a light dusting of powdered cement and blow off excess. This dulls the finish just enough. Clean the eyes afterwards. Good luck.
Headhanger