Badger 100 SG airbrush, Loew-Cornell #7020, size 4 ultra round brush, white Gesso, Jo Sonja Texturing Paste,  Jo Sonja Matte Varnish, Jo Sonja Guache (paint), Chroma Airbrush paints, Badger Airbrush Cleaner

Directions: 

Prepare the bird by first stippling the entire decoy with a white gesso and Jo Sonja texturing paste mix.  Stippling mixture should be the consistency of sour cream.  Apply mixture to the decoy with a large brush, then using a sponge  dab the painted decoy to achieve a "bumpy" texture. Allow decoy to air dry for several hours before further paint is applied.  DO NOT use a hair dryer to quicken the drying time of the stippled base coat, since small pinholes could develop.

 

Using a stencil of the appropriate size for the feather group you are painting, lightly spray around the stencil  to form a shading of the feather edge. 

 

 

Feather Splits

 

Using the base color of the feather, stroke in the feather splits using the Loew-Cornell 7020 brush.  Feather splits should curve slightly towards the quill and have a triangular shape.

 

 

Feather Stroking

 

Using the same color paint used for airburshing the feather edges, stroke the feather barbs with the Loew-Cornell 7020 brush.  Slightly thin out the paint with water for this procedure.  Keep the brush high on the point when stroking the barbs.

 

With practice, the use of this painting technique will produce a soft and desirable effect on your decoys.  The key is PRACTICE and PATIENCE.