Accidental Decoy Painting tip

[Bill Embacher]

I opened a new bucket(?) of molding paste this morning, its what I use to create stippling and combing texture on my decoys. The container has a waxed paper seal like most factory containers that hold liquids do, and when I peeled it back it was heavily coated in material. I took the plastic knife (serrated - that's key[]) that I use to remove it from the container and scraped what was on the wax paper onto my pallet, and left a beautiful combed surface....by accident. I've used store bought combs, all manners of hair combs and stiff brushes, and even made a few of my own combs, and this serrated picnic knife, that I've been using as a scooper for ever, and have a draw full of...made some of the nicest combing I could ask for! I'm sure I'm not the first person to trip over this, but I'd never seen it done, so figured I'd share!

 

[thomas wilkins]

Looks good Bill. New Technique.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Nice effect, Bill - and consistent with my "I'd rather be lucky than good" motto...


Now I'm wondering how your picnic forks would work for coarser vermiculation.


All the best,


SJS

 

[tod osier]

Like the technique Bill. I like a combed bird with lots of texture.

I really like that molding paste, it is tough, yet flexible stuff. I use it as a filler on black cork and it is a great filler and really toughens the birds up, but will not crack. Leaves cork texture, but fills enough when dry to work with. I have black cork birds that are 20 years old that have been hunted hard and it is still flexible and looks great. I've bought it by the gallon.

 

[Bill Embacher]

Agree Tod, it also takes color well, and I've just experimentally painted an entire rig of 8 Mergansers by only using it, tinted to the correct colors and sponged on. We'll see how it holds up.

 

[Kenmorris]

What is this molding paste you speak of?

 

[Bill Embacher]

Goldens Molding Paste, I get it locally from Blick Art, lots of availability on line of course.

 

[Kenmorris]

Ok, thanks