I'm working on a life-size Bush pig and could use some advice. First I had to alter the form from standing to sitting. I'm working with a hide that had been tanned before I recieved it. I rehydrated it to see if it was even a salvagable hide to work with. It has a few problem areas (like the hide wants to tear in some spots when stretched), but those areas are small and I think I can repair them with epoxy. The hide is stiff and hard to taxi in some areas. Is there anything I can do to make it more pliable?
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Clinton pig would be more realistic. :-)
Actually sounds like you have a fairly easy job on this pig. Find a piece of cloth that will resemble the skin texture. Now make a dent with a ball peen hammer on each tear, pin the skin deep in these dents. Tend carefully as the mount dries. Once dry clean each dent with lacquer thinner and apply Apoxie Sculpt, you can tint the AS with tempra paints to about the color of the skin. apply a layer not more than 1/16th inch deep. Like Bondo the thinner the coats the better. Allow a full 24 hours between each fill. making sure the previous amount has been feathered thin, use water or Lacquer thinner, I prefer LT as it takes the sheen off the AS.
Once all the dent have been filled to perfection, its time to paint.
Since each skin has its own shade you will have to mix and match to find the correct one. If you donot have a color wheel, get one! Grumbacher has a very good one that will work with their brand of Artist oils or almost any other Artist oil paint.
Good luck the Undertaker.
I don't think you can do anything to make the skin more pliable.Often African pigs turn out this way.They are treated differently than other African hides and are dipped in hot water to disinfect.The tearing may indicate an older hide also.It doesn't sound too bad to mount though.It may not mount as easily as other hides you are used too,but just keep at it and continually work the skin till it is too dry to work.Expect African animals to have more issues than North American,on average.Good luck.Stick with it and I bet you'll be surprised at the results,despite the skin.