[Mark N. Akers]

Just trying to get some feedback on how most woodcarvers paint cottonwood
bark.I paint with watered down acrylics,but when I go to antique it the the
skin tone turns very dark.I am interested in maintaining the skin tone as it
is when I paint it.Please advise on what paints work best as well as what antiques are good.I am happy with the painting and antiqueing on basswood,but
get a little upset when I see the skin tone on my barks get dark.

[Mottles]

Hi Mark, I'm working with cottonwood at present but have not actually painted one yet. I did apply a Danish Varnish to the first one and it really brought out the color of the wood.
Getting back to the painting question, did you use acrylic paint for the antique? If so why not try using oil instead? I'm assuming you used bt. umber? You can safely apply oil paint over acrylic, but not acrylic over oil paint. The acrylic will not adhere well over oil, but visa versa oil will adhere over acrylic.
I hope someone who has painted cottonwood will respond it will be interesting what they have to say.
Another thought, why don't you pose your question to the 'Finishing and Painting Forum. Here's a link http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/f53 those folks should know.
Hope this helps,
Kathy

[Canopener]

This reminds me of an oldtimers story. He claimed that if you sided your house with cottonwood planks, you would only have to paint it once as long as the house stood, because the wood would soak up so much paint the first time you laid on the paint. It would be like permatized. Uh-Huh.
I think if you want to keep your work light, try light coats of a spray [satin]finish, or maybe light coats of paste wax. The BLO and other oils just want to soak in.
Kathy, are you carving bark or wood? Are getting your wood locally, and if so is the bark very thick? What I have found up here in Flag is thin and full of grit, been meaning to try Oak Creek. Remember the cottonwood root is what Kachina's are carved from, so that wood be a prize find.
Good luck.
Jim

[Kenny_S]

Mark, Try antiquing everything but the face. See how you like it. I don't antique the face now,but use different shaded to give it a little more of an antiquing look. Yes, On the Plains cottonwood bark I carve, and in antiqueing the faces, they turned dark and no matter how hard or many times rubbing the antiquing off, it is still dark, Sometimes a muddy look. Or try a dry brushing of the face color over the antiquing. May not be the look you want tho. That is why most of my Bark carvings are not painted. But I thinnk usually the paint gives it a better llok.
Hope this help.

[Mottles]

Kathy, are you carving bark or wood? Are getting your wood locally, and if so is the bark very thick? What I have found up here in Flag is thin and full of grit, been meaning to try Oak Creek. Remember the cottonwood root is what Kachina's are carved from, so that wood be a prize find.
Good luck.
Jim

Hi Jim, How's things in Flag? I love it up there....
I'm carving on cottonwood limbs that I find on the ground that I get locally. Near our home we have a creek that the cottonwood tree's grow along. I haven't tried to carve any bark yet but plan too. I'll check out some of the fallen bark and see how thick it is and let you know.
Yes, I know the Native Americans cherish the roots for Kachina's. I have a friend who gave me a nice cottonwood root. I'm saving it for when I've gained a lot more experience with carving.
I'm working on a limb right now that I ran into what I think what you are calling 'full of grit'. It was like a soft spot in the wood, fortunately it wasn't in an area I was carving. I thought I could see small worn trails in that area.
Thanks for the info,
Kathy

[Canopener]

I have been thinking about this, and think that if you spray seal the bark before you paint, it will not soak up as much oil later. This way you can keep your skin tone while adding a bit of antiqueing after painting. Hope this works.
What I mean by grit is the small particles of sand and dirt that get lodged in the bark by wind, or being submerged in flood waters. It's really hard on your tools.
I have never really carved good bark, but would like to give it a shot, so is this a common problem.
Jim

[Mark N. Akers]

Yes the grit is a common problem,I find it best if you keep one older tool for the
initial taking off of the outer crust,it is going to be hard on it but you only have one tool to repair.I personally have a 30mm # 3,and a old whittling jack knife.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have done a few bark carvings butnot many, most are natural, the couple I painted I put something called "Patio Paint, clear coat " from Wally world, it seals the bark and you can paint with acrylics and then I used it as a finish coat....dries to a satin finish.............another way to do it!