Nose Finishing?

A deers nose is only shiny just after it’s been licked , they lick a lot but it’s not the normal. Most people like shiny things , like a new car . But trust your reference pics . Noses are different tones , but not really black . I only use a flesh color underlay on noses and let it’s natural tone come thru , I don’t paint it unless it has had damage or issues. The only gloss anything I use is gloss modpodge, it’s just enough but not over the top shiny.

 

I haven’t been on here in a while and just saw this post. 13 point. Are you saying you don’t paint your noses, just use flesh on your noses and modpodge?

 

I use burnt umber followed by paynes gray or black umber, then gloss. This way you can control how dark the nose gets. I do first use altra seal for the nose texture.

 

I used Yox nosepad grey once, and many times, someone took one home and placed it beside a deer they had previously mounted, they complained about the nose color. I had to darken many of them. To a customer, an nose is black. It doesn't have to be shiney, but it better be mostly black. BTW, excellent work 13 point!

 

Joeym made a good point. An average customer doesn't understand anything but a black nose.

 

back to the OP nose. the pads need built up. look at what 13 pt did. the op nose looks flat and dead.

 

I disagree with mainly black noses. I have seen many mounts with black noses, none of them look good at all. I have one I did along time ago with black that is next to my ones with Yox's nose paint, or done with a mixture of colors. That black one looks terrible.

 

but not to a customer.

 

a lot of customers dont know bad when they see it. there is a huge market for "regular" taxidermy. but, its also on the cheap end of things and with prices increasing even more, those "regular taxidermy" customers are going to have to come up with more dough.

 

I have never had anyone say anything about a nose not being black/black. I guess when people are asking questions or are shopping before buying I explain to them and show them why I don't paint a nose black and show them the difference. I did have one person complain about a shiny nose once. He said a deer's nose is not shiny. Well? I unshined it for him but said "most times they are". I think it is a little overboard if you have to start asking the customer what colors your expecting the deer to have. Also, not degrading anyone's mounts who doesn't' paint the nose after putting the nodules on, but I personally like it better with the paint over the nodules. That is just me, I have seen some great mounts without painting over them.