Painting question

[GILLY]

How does a fellow get a metallic type sheen on subjects such as fish, mallard heads etc. I am working on a life sized Yellow Perch right now, and want to mimick the pearl sheen on the lower belly. I use acrylics and brushes. I don't have an air brush or the like. From watching "american Hotrod" I see that on cars, they use an under spray of pearl or metllic flake, any thoughts on how this can be used with basic brushes?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You can buy the airbrush paints that you can also use with a brush....or if you are working in acrylics, wallyworld has some really good metallic irridescent looking paints.

[GILLY]

Thanks Hi Ho.........never thought of good ole walmart.

[MDWine]

When you're carving a fish, do you carve each scale?
Do you use a "scale tool" (a punch of some sort, I guess?) or a detail knife?
Just curious...

BTW, I found a small airbrush kit in a hobby store that uses canned air. I believe the kit was only ~ $25 or so. (I haven't use it yet, I bought it for the kids, and they weren't interested! I won't tell you how many years I've had that thing!)

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Look in the Delta Ceramcoat area for a product called "Pearls" It is a transparent pearl color that may give the effect you are looking for. You can mix it with your base color or use it as a top coat.

[GILLY]

Originally Posted by MDWine

When you're carving a fish, do you carve each scale?
Do you use a "scale tool" (a punch of some sort, I guess?) or a detail knife?
Just curious...

BTW, I found a small airbrush kit in a hobby store that uses canned air. I believe the kit was only ~ $25 or so. (I haven't use it yet, I bought it for the kids, and they weren't interested! I won't tell you how many years I've had that thing!)

I plan on using some very fine cross hatching or texturing. I'll experiment to see what looks the best. I don't have a burner so I'll have to find a method that is easy and has good results.

[Kenny_S]

U shape gouges works ok in textureing fish scales. There are irridescent paints and usually wally-World or Hobby-Lobby, micheals or most hobby shops that sell paint have the,' There is a Delta Ceramcoat Sparkle Glaze that gives a clear irridescent sparkle to a carving. I would experiment and a scrap piece of wood before using anything on the piece.

[Anthony Filetti]

I also believe that some places carry iredescent powder that can be added to paints, just can't locate the vendor...

[carver6]

I picked up a bottle of "Pearlizing" at Hobby Lobby. I t apparently comes in different strengths, as the one I have says it's medium. It's made by DecoArt and is mixed with acrylic paints. I used it once and it does give the paint a kind of shimmer.
Garon

[Linda L]

The powder I have used in the past is called "PearlEx." I wasn't real happy with it. You can either mix it with your paint or a clear medium. It comes in different colors, and changes color when used on a dark or light background.

I'm not positive, but if I remember correctly I tried mixing it with the paint on a feather and it didn't even show. I think I then top coated using it mixed with a little water. Not too bad.

I painted a ceramic piece that's been in my "round tuit" box for about 10 years last summer. I mixed a large amount with dark blue paint to paint a flowing cape. Instead of a pearlized look, it gave an almost velvet look to the finish. OK for that purpose, but it would be nice to find a clear pearlized paint for top coating. I have some old stuff from my ceramic days, but it's in an aerosol can. I don't think it would work well on a carving unless you want the entire piece to have a pearl finish.

Linda