Paint Prelims...

MLBob Furia

MLBob Furia

Well-known member
Only got into the shop one day last week (too many other projects going on), but I did get my texture coat on the blackduck that I posted carving pics of last week.

I use a mixture of acrylic gesso & modeling paste applied with open-cell sponges. Actually, I've had the same chunks of sponge around for years. Those sponges have been used to apply the texture to a lot of decoys!

View attachment BlackduckS.jpg

The finished surface it gives is very compatible with the look of cork + it brings uniformity to the entire bird at transition ares where cork flows into wood. Wears like iron and holds up under the harshest conditions.

View attachment BlackduckT.jpg

View attachment BlackduckU.jpg
 
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Great photo series, Bob. Good to know about the gesso/modeling paste. How did you come about that combination?
Al
 
Bob do you couler the gesso before you mix it with the modeling paist, or just mix the modeling paist with the gesso then paint.
Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Anber
Its all about Buildin g that Bond.
 
Question regarding the GHG plastic decoys that have lost their paint. I have a few that began flaking before they got to the US in the container ship I think. It was their first off the assembly lines. Not a big deal but am now wondering if I could use this combination of gesso and modeling paste to begin painting some Mexican ducks?
Al
 
Al- The 50/50 gesso / paste thing has been around a long time. Way back when I was first starting to mess with cork, Joe Wooster showed me some decoys with the treatment.
(So I guess you could say that like all good decoy making ideas, I stole it from another carver ;-))

Eddie- I do tint the gesso. From time to time I'll use the base pigment for the bird I'm doing. More often than not, I'll mix black & white gesso in order to do a dark grey base.

Al- (Second question) I'd have to defer to someone like Lou Tisch on surface prep for plastics. My gut feeling is that the degree of surface movement for a hollow plastic bird (small expansions & contractions), coupled with the slicknesss of the surface would not be real conducive to a gesso/paste "shell"
Jansen acrylics makes a multi-surface sealer medium that one could try before starting any texture or new paint applications. I believe tole painters use it over glass and metal prior to painting to improve adhesion, but don't know about items subject to harder use.
Wliiy might also be able to chime in on this as he's pretty knowledgeable about acrylics and mediums.
 
Bob,
very nice to see the photos of the paint work base. I think the Jansen base layer (Bonding Agent) is what Willy was recommending for redoing the paint on the plastic blocks. I think the old paint has to be removed first though. I do know the 3 birds I have painted with the Jansens have held up very well to use in the boat without too much babying.
 
Bob
I have another question for you the 50/50 mix of gesso and paist, would this work on wooden decoys as well or just cork and foam.
Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber
Its all about Building that Bond.
 
Bob
Thanks for the reply, Im going to be trying this method out for sure on some birds I have got in mind for the future.
Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber.
 
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