Hair On A Bear

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I am in the process of burning in hair on a bear, should I leave the hair just burned, or should I paint after Iam done burning ??

Dave

[Paul_Guraedy]

Dave, it depends on how hot and how close you burn. If you do have to put any paint on there, it would probably be a very light coat. Here is a painting scheme I got from Debbe Edwards to use after burning hot and very close:

Body: Apply a thin wash of black and raw umber (more raw umber than black), for a brownish black color. Follow with a more black than raw umber mix (for a black/brown). Apply it thin; but, not as a wash, work across the hair texture, letting the brown color show from underneath.
Lightly highlight the top of the head, shoulders and edges of ears with raw sienna, using dry-brush method. (apply more on a cub).

Muzzle: Mixture of Raw Sienna and a little Raw Umber, then add a small amount of White to reach a tan color.

Nose: A mixture of Black and Brown.

Eyes: The pupils are black and the rest Raw Sienna.

Highlight: Use an off white mixture of White with a little Raw Umber and Black.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Wow, thank you Paul, lots of good info. there. As I burned more, I thought I like the just burned look, but I like the idea of some brown showing thru on the body. I guess I will have to try some color. Thanks again Paul.

Dave

[Callynne]

Dave, I've done a few bears and always finish up by antiquing them. The brown antiquing settles into the burns and makes the hair look more realistic...at least in my opinion! Deborah

[Donsexton]

I ditto Paul

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Deborah, what do you use for antiquing ?

Dave

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Thank you Don.

Dave

[Donna_T]

Dave,
After burning hair/fur, I try to clean up the char before finishing it with paint or any other finish. If you have Scotch discs (white) or Scotchbrite (burgandy) available, and you have a power carver (Dremel or otherwise) run them over your carving to clean off the excess char left after woodburning. It still leaves the woodburned mark, but makes a cleaner carving. I put 3-4 of the discs on a mandrel or a couple of 1" squares of the Scotchbrite on a mandrel, and go over the entire carving lightly. This picks up any stray fuzzies or splinters, but doesn't change your carving.

I've with Paul on his color scheme--right on. THe secret is to use thinned paint--at least 50/50 if not more diluted. You want the wood to show through, with just a hint of color.

When all finished, and dry, I often dry brush off-white over high spots to make it look like sunshine on the fur. I also take a toothpick and drop a drop of high gloss clear finish (varnish or other) in each eye to make them extra shiny. I lay the carving down to where the eyes are fairly flat/horizontal to do this so the gloss doesn't run down into the fur. If you just barely stick the toothpick in the gloss--then put it on the eye, you won't get too much.

Donna T

[Callynne]

My favorite is from FolkArt (Down Home Brown, color no. 811)), it's a water based antiquing medium and can be thinned with water or, my favorite, Blending Gel (also by FolkArt).
Both may be available to you at Wal-Mart or local craft stores......I have to order mine online....bummer!!!
The water will thin it, the blending medium will also thin it, but will extend the drying time, giving you more time to work with it. Good luck! Deborah

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Thank you everyone for the great advice !!

Dave