I have been carving quite a few large bears and finish them using the torch burning method.I want to start using a stain for the brown bears but haven't yet come up with the right color so I need some help. Thanks, Gopher

[AlArchie]

When you ask about Â*'brown' bears, do you mean the grizzly, which is known as the brown bear, or the brown phase of the black bear? Â*The reason I as is that grizzley color tends to range from a straw/white color to a very dark brown. Â*the brown phase of the black bear is a medium brown.

With all that said, some of what yoe achieve with stain is going to depend on what wood you are putting it on, so selecting a particular stain will be quite a matter of trial and error.

I'd suggest a 'Special Walnut' stain by Minwax if you want a dark color, or if you are looking for that honey brown look of the grizzley, try an aged oak stain.

Here's something that may work better than a purchased stain. Â*Mix a 50/50 solution of boiled linseed oil and either turps, or mineral spirits with artist's oil paint color burnt umber, to your own liking. Â*A little of the burnt umber goes a long way so one tube should be enough for even a six foot bear. Â*You should be able to pick these paints up at most art and craft stores. Just make sure you get 'oil paint', although you probabaly could mix up an acrylic with water and achieve a similar effect.

I've gotten a very good match for staining some wood to match a charred beam for a relief, by using an acrylic 'soft black' thinned down to a wash with water. Â*

Sometimes you just have to play with the medium to get what you want, and that, to me is part of the fun and satisfaction!

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

the bears we had around our place in Colorado were all colors, some even a honey blonde color....but try as I might, they wouldn't stand still and let me paint them! : :P

[AlArchie]

What I use is a portable compressed air tank fitted in a backpack and an auto style paint gun. Â*This allows about five minutes of continual spraying while on a dead run! Â*The tourists who visit us really like the different colored bears, especially the ones painted in multi-colored flourescents!

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

LOL

[lorax]

You guys crack me up!
Al, great advice with the burnt umber/oil. This is also a good way to do antiquing,

The Sikkens brand of stain is also good. It was first used to protect log homes and they have a nice brown color, unfortunately no flourescent colors. We better not start painting deer cause the hunters surely would be able to find them if they were flourescent. staining......Pam

Have you tried Behr stain?

[AlArchie]

Now, THAT should have been obvious to everyone!

LOL

Al

[Callynne]

Not painting any bears right now but I'm sure glad I checked this post out. Thanks for starting my day off laughing! Callynne