killing the gloss

kahu · #1 03-04-2005, 05:51 AM

Hi, new here, My latest acrylic painted bird carving has a little too much of a glossy look, I have tried spraying with a couple of coats of matt picture vanish, but this dosen't seemed to have had any effect.
In the past I have dulled some fish carvings by using clear lacquer and holding the spray gun at a distance and sort of misting it on but don't really want to try this on the bird(it might react with the matt varnish) any advice would be appreciated.

AlArchie · #2 03-04-2005, 07:58 AM

I'm taking a guess here as far as birds go, but I have used this on fish carvings that I thought were too glossy. Try buffing the whole carving very carefully with #0000 steel wool, then again with a soft terry or flannel cloth. This works pretty well and restores a satin finish to the carving. You do need to be careful and use a light touch. If you have burned in the feathers this might not work, but it may be worth a try.

Or, as a desperate last idea, try that "liquid sandpaper" from the paint departments in most hardware stores. This is a spray on compound that cuts the gloss on pre-painted surfaces to help new enamel adhere. I have NOT used this on carvings but have on painted surfaces, and it cuts gloss. I'd try it on a scrap sample first, though, just to be on the safe side!

Al

Just Carving · #3 03-04-2005, 08:22 AM

I have read somewhere about using brown paper--like that from a "brown paper bag" for light sanding and to take fuzz off a carving. Would that work here to "scuff" up the gloss finish without doing much to the piece itself?

Bob

LCorbett · #4 03-04-2005, 12:15 PM

Bob...if your carving is textured, then there really isn't too much you can do beyond what has been done. If you start buffing your textured carving your are going to remove small amounts of paint from the high spots (how MUCH, depends on how many coats you've previously sprayed of the matte varnish).

Many decoy carvers use a product call Testors DullCote to spray on their (smooth) birds after they've been painted to cut the glare. They will also "flash" the Dullcote...i.e. AS SOON as the DullCote is sprayed on, a handheld hairdryer set at high temp is aimed at the carving...this has the efffect of dulling even more. I wouldn't recommend this technique, though, unless you've seen it done first...to see & understand the method first-hand.

The best way to cut the gloss on textured carvings painted with acrylics is to tackle it AT the time of painting, not after.
#1. Use a paint that is forumlated to dry to a matte finish. Jo Sonja's Acrylic Gouache, Golden Fluid Matte Acrylics or JansenArt Traditions come to mind.
#2. If you don't use these types of paint, no problem. You simply add a medium into your paints as you mix them. I cut the gloss on some of my non-flat colors with either a satin medium, or a matte medium, depending on how much "sheen" the area really needs.
#3. Paint thin...acrylics by their nature are glossy (they're plastic). To help alleviate that (besides, or in addition TO, the methods suggested above), apply your colors in thin washes....building the color a little at a time, in several layers.

Another thing to remember about the formulations that dry flat...many birds have SOME degree of "sheen" to them, so you MAY have to ADD a medium to bring this up. Matte (yes, it will give a SLIGHT sheen to flat paint), or satin.

Good luck...

kahu · #5 03-04-2005, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the advice, I'll ponder on it and put it to good use(I hope!) I'll advise how I get on

Hugh · #6 03-04-2005, 03:34 PM

I have used a flat finish sprayed over the gloss, and it does cut it down. Try it on another piece of wood, spray the gloss finish, and then the flat finish. ?????????

kahu · #7 03-05-2005, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlArchie

I'm taking a guess here as far as birds go, but I have used this on fish carvings that I thought were too glossy. Try buffing the whole carving very carefully with #0000 steel wool, then again with a soft terry or flannel cloth. This works pretty well and restores a satin finish to the carving. You do need to be careful and use a light touch. If you have burned in the feathers this might not work, but it may be worth a try.

Or, as a desperate last idea, try that "liquid sandpaper" from the paint departments in most hardware stores. This is a spray on compound that cuts the gloss on pre-painted surfaces to help new enamel adhere. I have NOT used this on carvings but have on painted surfaces, and it cuts gloss. I'd try it on a scrap sample first, though, just to be on the safe side!

Al

I tried the steel wool advice and it has worked, dosen't seemed to have affected the paint anywhere(the two coats of matt varnish must have protected it!) now I'll work on the other advice to stop it occurring, thanks again

kahu · #8 03-05-2005, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liferescue

I have read somewhere about using brown paper--like that from a "brown paper bag" for light sanding and to take fuzz off a carving. Would that work here to "scuff" up the gloss finish without doing much to the piece itself?

Bob Langan

couldn't find any brownpaper, so tried the steel wool, but I can see it would have a similar effect, thanks

kahu · #9 03-05-2005, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

I have used a flat finish sprayed over the gloss, and it does cut it down. Try it on another piece of wood, spray the gloss finish, and then the flat finish. ?????????

The one I tried seemed to almost make it more glossy, perhaps there are better ones available,Thanks

kahu · #10 03-05-2005, 03:38 AM

[quote=LCorbett]Bob...if your carving is textured, then there really isn't too much you can do beyond what has been done. If you start buffing your textured carving your are going to remove small amounts of paint from the high spots (how MUCH, depends on how many coats you've previously sprayed of the matte varnish).

Many decoy carvers use a product call Testors DullCote to spray on their (smooth) birds after they've been painted to cut the glare. They will also "flash" the Dullcote...i.e. AS SOON as the DullCote is sprayed on, a handheld hairdryer set at high temp is aimed at the carving...this has the efffect of dulling even more. I wouldn't recommend this technique, though, unless you've seen it done first...to see & understand the method first-hand.

The best way to cut the gloss on textured carvings painted with acrylics is to tackle it AT the time of painting, not after.
#1. Use a paint that is forumlated to dry to a matte finish. Jo Sonja's Acrylic Gouache, Golden Fluid Matte Acrylics or JansenArt Traditions come to mind.
#2. If you don't use these types of paint, no problem. You simply add a medium into your paints as you mix them. I cut the gloss on some of my non-flat colors with either a satin medium, or a matte medium, depending on how much "sheen" the area really needs.
#3. Paint thin...acrylics by their nature are glossy (they're plastic). To help alleviate that (besides, or in addition TO, the methods suggested above), apply your colors in thin washes....building the color a little at a time, in several layers.

Another thing to remember about the formulations that dry flat...many birds have SOME degree of "sheen" to them, so you MAY have to ADD a medium to bring this up. Matte (yes, it will give a SLIGHT sheen to flat paint), or satin.

Good luck...[/QUOTE
Thanks for the advice I haven't used tube acrylics much,having used lacquer ,and a liquid acrylic called Magicolour, this is mainly translucent and seemed to bring out a glossy effect with birds ,so I switched to tube acrylics, I thought using thin washes was causing the problem, but obviously not. I will try either the more Matt paints or the matt mediums as You suggested, Thanks again