How to Paint on Turkey Feathers
Artists often pride themselves on experimenting with many different mediums and materials, particularly those that are unusual or may present unique challenges. One such material is the bird feather, which can be used as a painting surface in place of canvases and paper.
- Large turkey feather
- Clear sealer spray
- Clear acrylic gloss spray
- Mat board
- Artist’s tape
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes of various sizes
Feathers like that of a turkey or other large bird have been used by artists for many years, and take particularly well to acrylic paints, which are layered on using many traditional painting techniques.
- Choose a large, clean turkey feather that is suitable for feather painting. Brush all the feather pieces upward with your fingers, so that you have a smooth shape, then coat it with a clear sealer spray or other fixative. Let the sealer dry completely.
- Lay out a large piece of mat board or cardboard to use as a painting surface. Tape the turkey feather to the board at the top and bottom, using artist’s tape, which is less likely to damage the feather.
Tip
There are many different methods for painting on feathers. You don’t necessarily need to start with a clear sealer if you would prefer to paint directly on the feather for a more natural look, and some artists prefer to block out the base colors by eye instead of painting outlines. In order to work with a colored background on the turkey feather, you can spray the feather with a colored sealer instead of clear in Step 1. Paint does not stick to feathers easily, so you will often have to build up the colors slowly by painting over them several times. This will be a concern particularly in the initial feather painting stages.
- Feather Painting Process Video
- Stage Comparisons for Acrylic Feather Painting Video
- Dittin03.deviantart.com: Feather Painting Tutorial
How to prepare turkey feathers before painting on them
A traditional Native American art form is painting on feathers. Artists today still paint on feathers, enjoying the incorporation of the texture of a feather into the design of the painting. Turkey feathers are one of the preferred feathers for this craft because of their larger size and robust nature. Preparing a turkey feather properly involves cleaning it and creating a durable surface to which paint will adhere. In addition, an artist will want to secure it to the easel so that it is stationary during the painting process.
- A traditional Native American art form is painting on feathers.
- Preparing a turkey feather properly involves cleaning it and creating a durable surface to which paint will adhere.
Dilute a drop of washing up liquid in lukewarm water. Wash the turkey feather gently in this solution, rubbing it with your fingers. Be careful not to rub too hard so you do not separate the feather during washing. Avoid submerging the feather and swishing it around vigorously.
Blow the feather dry using a blow dryer set to Low and Cool. Hold the dryer at least 45 cm (18 inches) from the feather. You do not want to see the feather flutter in the airflow; you only want to evaporate the water. Smooth the feather into its original shape gently with your fingers during drying if necessary.
Spray the turkey feather with clear gloss craft spray or fixative. Hold the spray can at least 45 cm (12 inches) from the feather and coat it evenly with a back and forth motion. Alternatively, you can dilute white glue in water and coat the feather lightly with your fingers, smoothing the feather as you apply the diluted glue solution. Make sure to use a glue that dries clear. Whether you use a clear gloss spray or a glue solution, allow the feather to dry completely before the next step.
- Blow the feather dry using a blow dryer set to Low and Cool.
- Hold the spray can at least 45 cm (12 inches) from the feather and coat it evenly with a back and forth motion.
Cover a hard surface such as a painters palette or drafting table top with craft paper and use masking tape to secure it in place. This will serve as the easel for painting the turkey feather.
Tape the prepared turkey feather in place on the kraft paper using painters tape. Use two strips of painters tape about 5 cm (2 inches) long to secure the bottom part of the feather. Use another 5 cm (2 inch) strip to secure the top. Use very tiny pieces to hold down the edges. Cover only the slightest bit of feather on the top and sides. You want to leave as much area as possible on which to paint.
- Cover a hard surface such as a painters palette or drafting table top with craft paper and use masking tape to secure it in place.
- Use two strips of painters tape about 5 cm (2 inches) long to secure the bottom part of the feather.
TIP
Remove the painters tape from the top or sides of the turkey feather as you reach that area in your painting. After the paint is dry you can replace the tape because this type of tape does not pull paint up with it when it is removed later.
Use any chemicals such as gloss spray or fixative in a well-ventilated area.
Animal Portraits Painted on Wild Turkey Feathers by Brenda Lyons
Contemporary artists boldly experiment not only with the subject of paintings but also with the technique of their execution. As some canvas masters manage to use feathers. A striking example of such an original painting – art illustrator and jeweler Brenda Lyons. “Painted Feathers – a series of drawings on her turkey feathers. We repeatedly talked about painting, arts on feathers just like our previous post-Feather Art by Chris Maynard.
Brenda Lyons paints with acrylics, maximum detailing animal portraits. Inspire her own imagination and childhood memories of drawings by famous American naturalist and animal painter John James Audubon. Brenda Lyons at an early age loved viewed Audubon drawing, which, by the way, was considered “a monument of Ornithology,” and under the impression from what you yourself began to study the life of birds of prey.
Source — Falconmoon | Odditycentral
