Bird carvings

[mark yundt]

Well Cedarshavings as you can see there is more that one way to paint a bird,and they all work well.First thing is to seal the piece to keep grain from raising,and if it's a decoy,, making it waterproof,after that it's up to the individual carver.Why gesso is used,and what it's effects are is up for debate,but after seeing the results of the best bird carvers in the World Championships (Barth, Godin,Guge etc.) that use this technique and seem to be successful with it,,I figure there must be something to it,,their birds have all the detail and wow factor you could ask for,not a thing missing.It may just take some experimenting on a scrap piece ,,before you go straight to your carving,,to try various "systems" till you find one you're comfortable with,and are pleased with the results.I think this experimenting is what we have all done to find what works best for us,,,and you learn so much along the way as far as what works and doesn't for you.

[falconer]

I always use gesso under my paint! For me it creates what's call tooth without shine. I use a combination airbrush and conventional brush and the one thing that I don't need is shine. I thin the gesso down to the same consistency as my paints ,that of milk. I spray on a couple coats of gesso with the airbrush evenly, letting it dry between coats. Now some of the more traditional painters would say that I'm cheating by using the airbrush, that's just not so! I've tried there ways, didn't like it,I just went out and found what works for me. With my commission list, time is important and I can't afford to spend the time putting 15 washs of paint on a carving that I can airbrush in half the time with the same affect. Using gesso under my paint secures the look and finish that want in the finished peice. You can check out my website and see the look I'm talking about.

www.sierracreekstudios.com

[mark yundt]

Well Falconer,, I was wondering when you'd show up,,you were looking for bird carvers....The gesso is a good idea,,and well founded,,your pieces look great.An air brush isn't really cheating,,good effects can be had using it.I would only ad a bit of caution for some. I've seen some realistic decoys airbrushed so heavily they lost the real look and end up appearing more like frosted porcelain pieces than a real bird.Like anything though ,sometimes too much of a good thing isn't so good.

[falconer]

Mark, Your right, you have to know when enough is enough, that too, is part of the learning process as much as anything else.

[cedarshavings]

Well thanks for all the comments for using guesso. Now I'm good and confused. I've got some who like to use it and it doesn't fill in the detail. I've got some who never use it because it fills in the detail. I've got some who used to use it and some who might use it. There are some who only use it on parts that need the "tooth" and some who just use white paint.
I did have one reply that said I would get as many different answers from as many different people. I think that one was right. What I've gathered from all this is just try different things and find what works best with what I'm working on. I'm working on a bird that is about ready for the sealer and then paint with or without the guesso.
Seriously, I do appreciate all the replies. I have learned a bunch in a short period of time on here.
I think my next project will be an animal with fur, so get ready for the fur texturing questions coming soon.

[Marc Barger]

Any paint fills detail. Some fills it faster than others. Thicker the paint the more it'll fill, which is obvious. To me, I think the gesso 'controversy' in carving comes from remnants of an artists mind set from flat painting. Very common to prep a canvas with gesso prior to painting so why not use it on a carving? Because it's two totally different types of art with different 'requirements' for the finished product.

Myself I've used it on a few carvings. From my perspective, the less paint you can put on a carving the better. If it takes 10 coats to get to the target color and I put a coat of gesso on prior to starting with the color, it's one more coat. So I don't do it.

Never had any problems with 'tooth' on any part of a carving. On the bills/beaks I sand with 400 or 600 prior to painting (numerous coats of sealer on bills/beaks so little concern of sanding through and exposing raw wood that will raise when painted with acrylics) and that gives it plenty of roughness for acrylics to adhere to perfectly.

I think it's all personal preference. If you're 'brought up' using gesso, and it works for you, gives you the results you're happy with, it's what you need to continue to do. No one technique is either right or wrong.

Just remember to SEAL prior to painting and you'll do great.