[AlArchie]

FLOW MEDIUM! Thanks for mentionng that, Lori. For anyone contemplating airbrushing or having trouble with their paint viscosity, get familiar with flow medium.....it's magic stuff! Use it instead of plain water when thinning acrylics and your paint will work much better. Don't know what it consists of, but it smells a little like witch hazel.......could be just a witches brew, but it makes a world of difference!

Al

[Phaeton]

Lori,

Thank you for this very helpful information, I went shopping as soon as I copied all of the post.

I placed an order with Sugar Pine for clear glazing medium, flow medium, a flocking kit and Dennis Schroeder's sanding sealer. I got the address for Curt's Waterfowl Corner from one of the post in your forum and I'll send for their catalog today.

Your Bluebird is beautiful and from what I've learned it takes three distinct art forms (carving, burning and painting) but as a new carver I thought taking them on one at a time would be best and that was the primary reason for a stain and clear coat finish for this carving.

One of the first pieces of advice I picked up in this forum was "take your time!", that made a world of difference between my first and second carving, I don't see how my first carving could be worse, but then again, I haven't painted it yet.

Thank you all for the help

Warm Regards
Bill
^v^

[LCorbett]

Al..."witch's brew" is an apt description, 'cause it seems like magic...lol. Flow medium contains a surfectant, which reduces surface tension, thus improving wetting and increasing the flow of acrylic waterborne paints. I call it "making water wetter". It improves flow for brushing acrylic paints and reduces "beading up" due to surface tension. It's also very useful when used in thicker applications of paint because it eliminates brush strokes (again, by breaking the surface tension of the water...both in the paint itself (a small amount of water is part of the emulsion in acrylic paint), and any water added to thin the paint).

Thank you, Bill for the kind words. From what I have seen of your carving so far, I think you're ready for the "next steps"...texturing and paint! That's a nice Can. Going slow is sound advice...just don't let apprehension be the reason you go slowly. You'll get there, I know it!

[woodcarver55555]

Lori , I have only 2 years under my belt carving songbirds. I take a class at the local community colluage( can't spell either ) that is 12 classes, and there are 3 hrs long. If you are are 60 something the class is free and you only pay for the bird blank( everyone in class carves the same bird). I have at least 12 more years befor it is free, but then 35.00 is a super price and Jerry is an outstanding teacher.
I take any help, advice, and instruction where I can get it. I have a small ( well maybe med sized ) collection of carving books, on birds and many other subjects. Everyone showes or teaches a little differant or has a differant technique.
Personaly, the best books I have on songbird carving are Lori's book, I have three by Rosylan D Leach, and two books on hummingbirds by two men from the west coast( pretty sure they are published by Fox Chapel ).
I am long winded at times. The point is learn, try new things, and use what works best for you. Experiment, have fun.
Lori, for your word list. My 14 year grandson still uses Phat( means same as cool most of the time). First time I heard him use it he said some girl was phat, I heard fat( sound the same) untill the kids clued me in. And then there is my stepdaughter who see pink fadinggoes, no matter how many times you tell her its wrong, and has teenage kids. Duncan

[AlArchie]

Lori, here's another idea that I've found works pretty well. I guess I could have used the flow medium stuff, but didn't have any around at the moment, so when using the plain old watercolor to add color to the flowers and leaves
on some of my canes, and noticing that the emulsion tended to bead up on the surface, rather than penetrating, I added a few drops of isopropyl alcohol to the water, and watched as the paint flowed reight where I wanted it to go! Maybe adding a bit of Jim Beam or Jack Daniels to my own fluid system would have made things look even better!

Anyone else have any tips on "paint control"?

Or other coloring techniques? Yesterday I picked up a pack of RIT fabric dye...I'm gonna try that as a colorant for wood. If it works, there are a whole bunch of stain shade possibilities for a pretty reasonable price! Heck analine dyes have been around for a long time.....who knows, maybe Ma's fabric dyes will work, too! I'll let ya know if it works in a few days.

Al

[Kenny_S]

Flow Gel works ok, at least it does not dilute the color pigment where as the flow medium and water does. Have to strop the brush back and forth in the paint and gel. You have to be careful as the gel tens to be heavy while painting but it goes on like a sharp knife through butter or slicker than snot on a door knob.