[ljhj]

My wife has carved several ducks over the years, but quit carving completely a couple years ago because of being frustrated over dull tools and not knowing how to paint. I bought a "How to Sharpen Tools" video by Everett Ellenwood and now have all her tools very sharp and ready to go. I've almost convinced her to start carving again and if I could find someone to give her some painting instruction, I know she'd be really happy to begin again. Does anyone here know of a carver that lives within a few hundred miles of Houston that would be willing to teach her how to paint?
Thanks for any suggestions!

[AlArchie]

Well, I can't suggest any instructors from way up here in Upper Michigan, but I sure would like to encourage her to get back into the carving end of things. From the look of her carvings, she has a lot to offer. She will have to make a decision, though, to keep her birds as "smoothies" or go for the feather detailing. Each will require a somewhat different approach to painting. Either way, I sure hope she finds some guidance and gets back at it!

Al

[BobD]

Lori Corbett and Tom Matus are both in Idaho...it's a bit of a hike, but it would be WELL worth it!!!

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Buy her one of Lori Corbetts books....I think she has one on painting birds!

[Marc Barger]

#1 thing for her to do is just go for it. Yes, you might make mistakes but then of course you learn from those. Maybe do some painting on flat surfaces to practice, or don't worry about 'messing' up a carving. It's just a hunk of wood.

[MDWine]

Tom and Lori are both members of DCF, there's a lot of good decoy/bird/paining information there too!!
http://decoycarvingforum.com

[slivers&dust]

I know how scary it can be to cover a carving with Gesso and paint after you have invested many hours into carving and detailing but she needs to dive in and give it a try

Another good book on painting waterfowl is “Painting Waterfowl with J.D Sprankle” There is some great step-by step instructions and techniques in it, also lots of pictures and species specific paint mixes. Mixing paint can be very intimidating to anyone especially a new painter. If she follows the instruction for building multiple washes of color, she just might amaze herself. She already has a great start on the carving aspect. Also good quality brushes are a must and quality paints. I used Jo Sonjia (sp) paints.

I hadn’t painted much before and used this book to learn with. In fact, the Resting Green-winged Teal carving in my gallery was my first paint job on a bird for me (and also was my first decoy carving) I used the book on it and used the techniques on other birds too like the Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead and Pintail. There are several other species included in the book too.

After saying all that...I too got frustrated with the time involved in painting waterfowl not to mention the time involved with detailing. Now days I like to see (in my carvings anyway) the wood and use little to no color. I would rather carve then paint I guess.

[woodwacker]

i also went thru the same delima. i now air brush almost all my carvings. less mess and easier for me to control. air brush systems like badger, iwata/ etc can be picked up at a reasonable price on ebay. give it a try.

[Paul_Guraedy]

You have an excellent carver/painter in the Houston area. Wanda Marsh is noted for her flowers; but, is an excellent animal carver also. She teaches at the Old Texas Woodcarvers Shop there in the Houston area.

[santagibbs]

She might be interrested in painting decorative ducks... I have several books by Prisilla Hauser on decorative ducks..and have painted some.. They are fun to paint..I painted mine on smooth ceramic ducks..Charlotte