Wooden fish carvings are fun to paint and can be decorative works of art.
Painting carved wood is a fun project for many people. Wood reacts like a sponge when it is painted; some wood soaks up so much of the paint that all that is left is residue. The solution is to get the wood to react the way you want it to once the paint is applied. There are a few simple tricks like brush selection and priming that can transform a paint job from a mistake to a work of art.
Instructions
1. Check the wooden carved fish for any cracks or rough spots. Look for missing pieces also. These minor blemishes can alter the aesthetics of the final paint job. Glue any cracks in the carved fish. Sand any rough spots until they are smooth to the touch. Replace any missing pieces with replica items when possible.
2. Using warm soapy water and a clean cloth, rub the carved fish to remove any sand, dust, dirt, grime, oil or glue. Cleaning the wood will help ensure that the paint adheres to the fish carving. It is important to rinse the wood after washing. Allow at least 24 hours to dry.
3. Research the different kinds of paints that work well on wood. At your local hardware store you can find enamel, flat, semi-gloss and gloss paints. Decide if the carved fish will go outside or inside and choose your paint accordingly. Indoor decorative wood carvings are well-suited to acrylic or tempera paints; outside wood carvings will require oil-based paints. When painting on wood, use a primer first.
4. Select paint brushes specifically made for wood painting. The type of paintbrush chosen affects the gloss of the paint. Enamel paint works best with a brush made out of real animal hair.
5. Collect various paint samples and pick a color for the wooden carved fish. If the carving will stay inside, you'll want to pick a color that matches the house's interior. Set the fish on newspaper so that any paint drips are caught. Prepare the work area by laying out the brushes and pouring the paint into a container that doesn't spill easily. Have a clean cloth ready in case an accident does happen.
6. Paint a coat of primer on the fish first. Primer is white in color. The purpose of using primer is to let the wood soak up the white paint so that when the color paint is applied, it sits on the surface with a nice finish and does not absorb. Let the primer dry 24 hours before painting over it.
7. Ease the paintbrush along the wood with slow strokes and minimal paint on the brush. If you have too much paint on the brush, it will drip and create different thicknesses on the wood carving. Slow, even strokes with little paint on the brush will take longer, but the finished product will be worth it. Paint in the direction of the wood grain; wood is made of tiny fibers and the fibers grow in one direction. Rub your hand along the wood to determine the direction of the grain. If the wood is smooth in that direction, then that is the lay of the grain. Paint the fish all one color and let it dry 24 to 48 hours.
