Thing I Made Thursday #2: Inked Coyote Skull!

[naamah_darling]

Not late! Wow!

So, I finished an inked coyote skull yesterday and was going to post pictures, but then I realized that I don't think I've ever posted pictures of the last one. So you get a bonus! Two for one. First, pictures of the new one, and second, pictures of the last one.

Both of these skulls are sold. At least, I'm assuming on the one

Comments

[galiyah]

Oh they look great! The ink is so glossy it looks like it is still wet.

[lady_fox]

Beautiful!

We might need one for Doomsday Manor at some point...

[staysonpaper]

Oh, those are lovely! I especially like the second (which is actually the first).

Do you mind revealing what kind of ink you used? It's so glossy and black.

[naamah_darling]

Higgins' Black Magic ink. It's waterproof-ish (compared to most inks, it's VERY waterproof) VERY dark and concentrated (I'd guess about 50% better coverage than ordinary black ink), and dries to a hard, crisp semi-gloss/gloss finish (unless it's on paper, where it just looks like ink). On bone, it has its good points (looks very nice) and its bad points (chips and flakes less than other inks but more than thinned black acrylics; wicks into sutures much more easily than acrylics; inferior adhesion to poorly-degreased surfaces; requires multiple coats on bone to get full coverage). I really like it, but have mixed feelings about using it on stuff I'm going to sell, since it doesn't like handling.

A similar effect is possible using two coats of thinned black acrylics and one coat of brush-on sealer applied only over the design.

I have not yet tried using enamel paints. That's the next thing up the scale to try.

[the_vulture]

Could you not apply a gloss fixative over the ink to improve its durability? Or maybe even a coat of clear acrylic?

[naamah_darling]

I could, but I've yet to find one that I like the actual physical FEEL of as much as I like the feel of the unaltered dried ink. Also, it's my goal to do the coloring with as few layers between the skull and my fingers as possible. It's why I really prefer engraving, except it takes SO long and I can only do it for about three months out of the year.

[the_vulture]

Those are absolutely gorgeous!

[labelleizzy]

wonderful work, and wonderfully evocative photo shoot.

You've a marvelous talent, Mrs. G, and no mistake!