Repainting hen mallard tutorial

[livnlrn]

This is my process for repainting GHG hens. I'll give you an early warning some of it can be slow tedious work.

I'll assume that the decoy is prepped and primed just like in the drake tutorial.

Back, chest, and sides

Mix burnt umber 50/50 with the multipurpose sealer. This might take two coats. Only the first coat needs to be mixed with the sealer. The second coat can be straight from the bottle.

[livnlrn]

Feathers and rump

Mix raw sienna, white, and multipurpose sealer in equal amounts. Paint the rump and also the area between the primaries and tail, called upper coverts.

Here's where the fun begins. With a mix of raw sienna and white mixed 50/50 paint all the raised feather detail. The chest is easiest to paint by taking a wide flat brush and laying it flat against the decoy. Start at the head and pull down. The raised feather detail is close enough so that no paints gets in the small indentations.

The sides and back need painted individually. Try different brushes to find one that works best for you. I use these small fabric painting brushes. Don't worry if you get paint inside the feathers we'll touch that up later.

[livnlrn]

This next step is optional. I like to give the feathering a bit of pizzazz. I take white and highlight the outside edges and raw sienna on the inside edges. I don't go all the way around the feather. I just highlight small areas and vary the intensity. The pic is kind of bad but you I think you can get the idea.

[livnlrn]

Rump and washing

Take burnt umber and paint the feather detail on the rump and above the tail. Vary the color intensity and size of the detail on the rump. There are small indentations you can use as a guide. Try to keep them in a line and follow the curvature of the rump. If you want, take some white and put some small streaks randomly on the rump.

This next step is going to give the feathers that golden color and blend all the highlighting together. Add a 3 or 4 drops of true ochre to a couple tablespoons of water and mix well. This creates a wash. Take a wide brush and dip in the wash then dab it on a paper towel. Paint this all over the back, sides, chest, and rump. It may take several coats to get the color you want. Let dry before applying the next coat.

In the first pic I applied the wash to one side of the decoy so you can see what it does. The bottom is the side that is washed.



After applying the wash you'll have to go back and touch up the inside of the feathers. The wash discolors them slightly. Use burnt umber on the back and chest.

On the sides or sidepockets I use a mix of 30% raw sienna and 70% burnt umber. I leave the inside edge burnt umber.

You can also put feather splits on at this time using burnt umber. It breaks up the solid line of the feather outline. Won't matter to the ducks but your hunting buddies might be impressed.

[livnlrn]

Tertials and primaries

Mix equal amounts of burnt umber, raw umber, and white and paint the tertials. While the paint is still wet you can wet blend some burnt umber onto the bottom edge of the feathers. Another option is to wait till the paint is dry and drybrush the burnt umber. Either way will work.

You can also take some white and add a small amount of raw umber to it and lighten up the feather edges.

Mix multipurpose sealer and white 50/50 and paint the tail.

[livnlrn]

Head

Take equal amounts of white and raw sienna and mix together. Then mix in an equal amount of the multipurpose sealer. Add a couple drops of raw umber and mix. It might take a couple coats only the first one needs the multipurpose sealer mixe in with the paint.




Ticking

With a fine tip brush make small lines with burnt umber. Follow the flow of feathers on the head. It's easy to follow the feather detail molded into the head. Put these on randomly and vary the length and intensity.

Then take burnt umber and add a small amount of black. About a 30% black to 70% burnt umber. Go over the whole head again with this color.

[livnlrn]

I'll get this hen finished up in the near future. Hopefully this weekend.

[livnlrn]

Drybrush burnt umber on the crown and back of the head. You can also hit the cheeks if you want.



With a mix of 70% burnt umber and 30% black paint in the marking on the eye channel. You can also take this mix and drybrush over the burnt umber on the head. I don't think it hurts to give each decoy a look of their own. Not all hens head are the same.

[livnlrn]

Make a burnt umber wash. Remember this is just watered down paint. This will bring all the ticking and drybrushing together. I gave this head three coats so far letting it dry before the next. This will slowly build up the intensity. Paint the eye with black nail polish.

[livnlrn]

Bill

With a 50/50 mix of cadmium orange and multipurpose sealer paint the bill. It's going to take several coats to cover maybe 6 or more. Use the 50/50 mix for the first couple coats then you can use straight cadmium orange for the rest.



With a dime size drop of cadmium orange add a drop of burnt umber and go over the entire bill. This will dull the straight cadmium orange but still allow some of that bright orange to show through. You can give it more than one coat if you like.

Mix equal amounts of burnt umber and black and paint the saddle on the bill. The nail is straight black.

[livnlrn]

I just realized I never posted a pic up of the finished decoy. Sorry guys.

I left this decoy outside all summer on the south side of my house. It probably had sun beating on it for half a day. No fading whatsoever. I did notice that some of the colors might have darkened once the paint fully cured. I think I'd add more white to the head color. Maybe tone down the feather edging also. Passes the fingernail test with flying colors.

[tmrschessie]

Looks like it held up really well, you are good with the brush. Tom