Wood looking paint? For prop work

[Nathan Quattrini]

I have a fiberglass bow that I want to paint to make look like its wood...is there such a paint? I need it for a film I am starting saturday and I`m desperate

*arg* posted in the wrong place..not sure where it goes though*

[Andy Graham]

hey Nathan, thats like asking for tartan paint! you don't get paint with a pattern im affraid. you will just have to paint it brown and avoid CU's.

Andy.

[Marcus Marchesseault]

Faux surfaces are actually a very common technique in stage and film. I'm willing to bet there hasn't been a set built with real marble in decades. Wood grain is also common because modern lumber doesn't look like classic wood construction since the species and cut are very different now. Aging of surfaces is also a common technique. I am not an expert in any of these, but my sister does some of this professionally in Austin.

Regarding your fiberglass bow, a friend of mine has done this to two different bows with excellent results. I have not done it myself, but the technique is essentially to use different color paints to simulate the wood grain. As the first coat (usually darker) is drying, paint over it with another color with a brush and make sure to leave lots of brush streaks that let the other shade show through in long lines like wood grain. If you want the look of knots in the surface, put those in a middle layer and blend them in to the other coats a bit. A real bow would have few, if any, knots as it would be a select piece of wood. The wood would also have a tight grain pattern instead of the large grain of fast-growing soft wood. After you do a few layers, the look of wood should start to become convincing. Proper use of the brush is the key to the technique.

After you get the wood grain look and let it dry, try wrapping natural fiber twine (sisal?) around the bow above and below the handle. Coil it around tightly and evenly to make it look like it is binding parts together. It helps make it look more natural and gives it a hint of being a composite bow (multiple material bow). If you have any leather, you might want to cover the plastic handle by using contact cement to laminate the leather in place. Some stitches up the front of the leather would make it look nice on camera.

Sorry I can't provide a picture, but I was fooled for several seconds upon first inspection and that was looking at it while I held it in my hands. The camera should be even more forgiving.

[Cole McDonald]

http://www.artsparx.com/drag_acr-neg.asp

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Faux-Sourc...e=UTF8&s=books

Home Depot has how to paint textures classes on sunday here in town, check your local HD/Lowes/whatever to see what they offer...You can learn tons there for free!