adding color

[sappy]

I've finished a small bird carving, I have wood burned it and would like to add just a hint of color. I'm not sure if I should seal the wood first or add color then seal. Also, I was wondering if anyone has used ink for color, as I want something very soft. How do others achieve this?

[sbirkes]

I've use aniline dye on some wood projects before. Works great. Nice soft colors that doesn't hide the grain.

[Donna_T]

Sappy,
You didn't say what kind of wood this carving is, but if it's basswood, I just use some very watered down acryllic. I do not seal before I paint with acrylics or water colors. I dilute the paint about 10/1, let each coat dry well before putting on the next layer so you can see what it looks like dry. The beauty of water colors is that you can just reconstitute them and keep on painting. Acrylics, on the other hand, have an additive that makes your mixture dry hard and it cannot be reconstituted. However, you can use a hair dryer on your carving to speed the process. And, you can spritz water over your paint to keep it from drying out between painting if you don't take too long.

The good thing about using the "wash" method of painting, is that it lets the wood show through the paint. It's almost like "tinting" the wood.

Once I've got the shade of color I want, and it's dry, I rub the carving down with a wadded up piece of brown paper bag, then seal it LIGHTLY with either Krylon matt or satin spray or Deft.

Oh yes, I'd use a stiff bristle brush to clean the woodburning char off the carving before starting to paint it.

Donna_T

[Mitchell]

There are hundreds of posts in the painting forum.

The "hint" of color is generally referred to as a wash.

You can use diluted watercolor, acrylic, or oils to get the effect that you seem to be looking for. I do remember some posts on dyes even, but they are not so popular.

You can seal the carving first and that will soften the painting effect also.

The best advice I can give is to try different options on a test piece(s) first.

Here's a link to a recent article from the magazine: Adding Subtle Color article

[sappy]

Thank you for the replies and for the link. Looks like I will be playing in paint today.

[aMERICANpRIDE]

I just use oil based wood stains diluted with mineral spirit and top coat with rattle can lacquer. My furniture background has always been with staining wood, not painting....

[Mitchell]

Sappy, we'd appreciate some feedback in what you learned and finally settled on. That's one way that others will have an answer if they have the same question.

Next time, you'll be the expert!

[sappy]

Okay, sorry, I posted my carving under relief carving. I don't have oil paints any more after giving them all to my grand daughter, I used Prismatic pencils and coated with varathan. Yes, it smears or blends however you want to see it, but that is what I wanted to be able to do.