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Judi Jun 8, 2005

Hello,
I just want everyone to know that airbrushing on real fur bears is safe and in no way harms real fur or even mohair for that matter.

I have been an airbrush artist for more than 20 years and I also add this wonderful appication to my bears, both on real fur and mohair.  It is permanent and has no adverse side affects to fur or mohair. 

I do not think it is very nice or for for people to put in thier listings that this is not something that should be done on fur.

We are all artists here and each of us is unique and have wonderful ways of making our bears uniquely our own.  No one should ever criticize anothers way of creating such warm and wonderful creatures!

Sorry if I sound prickly but this is upsetting to me when I work so hard, like the rest of you, to make my bears special.  We were all friends here.

NancyAndFriends Jun 8, 2005

Hi Judi...

I didn't know you could dye, let alone airbrush real fur and have it stick (and NO, I wasn't the one who said you shouldn't  air brush fur, just for the records for anyone who may be thinking this )
I have wanted to airbrush some mink.  I have some dynaflow (wasn't that the new transmission that Buick came out with in 1955?)  and just ordered Cushings...would either of these work, Judi?
Nanc........

Judi Jun 9, 2005

Hi Nanc,

If the dynaflow and cushings paint are acrylic , they will work well on real fur and mohair.  It just needs to be thinned down so it flows smoothly.  To make it permanent, you will need to heat set it with a hair dryer.  The results can be beautiful .

There are other paints that work well on fur and mohair:  Createx Airbrush Paints and I especially like Liqutex acrylics.  They flow beautifully.  Permanent ink would work too.  I always use the acrylics with very good results.

hope this helps

Eileen Jun 9, 2005

Judi--

If the acrylics are permanent after they're heat-set, does that mean it's possible to remove them--say, after an experiment that goes bad--before they're heat-set?

I know what you mean about negative reflections in listings. The latest I saw was someone (not here) who pooh-poohed the idea of lining fur. If the skins are good, said this person, why bother. Surely that's wrong, right? :/

Eileen

Wisdom Bears Jun 9, 2005

Hi Judi, I have never used airbrushing ,what would be a good way to start, I would like to give it a try ,but would be afraid I might spoil the bear. Any hints would be most welcome.. Hugs Rita. xxxx

sockerplinga Jun 9, 2005

Thanks for telling us Judi! I have thought of try air brushing, but I think I need to make a bear first :P

Oooh, there are just so many things I wanna try!:rolleyes:

Judi Jun 9, 2005

Eileen,
Technically yes, you could remove some of the paint before it is heat set but it would be messy and would most likely look all smudged up.  It would require water.  I say 'technically' because I have not actually tried to remove acrylic paints once they are appplied, but they are water based and easily wash off my hands and airbrush.

Here's an example:  I used to airbrush designs on  T-shirts with acrylic paints for a couple who would then do the heat setting and resell them.  Anyway, a customer brought back a shirt after washing it and the areas that were properly heat set were fine...the other areas were washed-out-faded-looking.  She used an iron for heatsetting (which is fine for a T-shirt) and you could see the imprint of the iron...that is where the paint stayed.

Now, keep in mind that bears would not be put through the washer:o  obviously, but I still like to heat set the paint.

About lining the fur....still a good idea no matter the age or conditon of the fur.  Over time, the leather backing of the pelts can break down and weaken.  Lining the fur backing does take a little more time but is well worth the effort  to reinforce it and to make a good quality finished fur bear. (kind of like making it "bomb Proof" as Shelli would say:D)

Judi Jun 9, 2005

Hi Rita,
When I first starting making bears in 1995 I was afraid to try airbrushing on them even though I had been airbrushing for so many years. I can certainly understand your not wanting to ruin a bear.  Once I got over that fear I have been hooked ever since.  It is like the icing on a cake.

I teach an on-line class for beggining airbrushing ona bear.  I designe da bear for the course and I walk you hrough learning how to control the airbrush and then apply it to the bear.

I teach the class(at North Country Teddy Bears) with a commercial airbrush and I also include a section on the Copic System.  I was able to airbrush a bear with the Copic but I found it to be more difficult to use as you cannot control the airflow pressure or the amount of color that sprays.  SO,commercial airbrushes work the best.

You also need an air source.  Many people use an aircompressor.  I use a CO2 tank.  Either one works great.

From here, all you need it the know-how and LOTS of practice.  One thing you could try if you are apprehensive about airbrushing on a mohair bear (which is certainly inderstandable at first) is to add the details to a store purchased teddy bear, you know, like a cheap one from wal-mart or from a garage sale.  This way you have nothing to lose.

I have to say , though, that sometimes a mistake can turn itno a new undiscovered work of art.  Lets say you blobbed some paint on the bear..."yikes", you think....well, then you could turn that into a spotted bear, adding more paint to change the look.

Sorry to write a novel here.  There is so much to say about airbrushing,  the possibilities are endless.:)

Patscrafts Originals Jun 9, 2005

Judi, I think airbrushing on any bear can be beautiful, but you have to be careful with WHAT you use on real fur. What is good for mohair is not the case with real fur.
For one, acrylic paint is not meant for real fur, and secondly, any heat set will damage the fur! Eventually, the fur will separate from the pelt. It may not happen right away, but it will over time.
There are many dyes on the market, and if working on real fur, you need to find the proper one to use, and I cannot stress strongly enough, NO HEAT SETTING! Acrylic is not the one you should use, I've even seen some artists use floral paint to spray on their real fur bears! OMG!
 
I suggest anyone who wants to use dye techniques on real fur, need to spend some time, and get to know a local tanner who dyes. Someone who has allot of experience with various dyes on the market, and color treatments. Any dye can be adjusted to use in airbrushing, just be to use the correct one for real fur. Research is the key!
     
When I was in my beginning years, I spent many of my off days with fur specialists, learning all there was I could, it gave me so much insight, it was valuable time spent. Whatever medium used, clay, glass, fabric, you would go to the experts to find out the do's and don'ts, and how to's.

Hope this helps

Wisdom Bears Jun 9, 2005

Hi Judi, Thank-You for all your help ,I will search around now for an Airbrush + CO2 Tank.and will let you know how I get on. I think mind you there is a lot to learn before actually trying it out on a mohair bear,But you never know.I am a rascal for dabbling in all sorts of crafts.  Big Hugs Rita xx

Eileen Jun 9, 2005

Pat, I love your bears, esp the curly one--Tibetan Lamb? Looks just like my daughter with those ringlets. :D

Mohair IS real fur, surely. It's fur woven into a backing, of course, not attached to a pelt, but if you don't soak the pelt, just airbrush the fur, I don't see how it could hurt.

Once the hubs has forgiven me for my last eBay purchase, Judi, I'm going to get myself an airbrush and sign up for your course . . .

Eileen

Dilu Jun 9, 2005

Judi

you know how I feel-I wouldn't have taken your class otherwise.

I love what you airbrush pro-ladies are able to do to your bears-absolutely works of art!

Everyone is allowed to be prickly once in a while-and is entitled to be loved through the prickly period and after!  So don't worry

I love your idea of some cheap wallmart bears to practise on.....I feel relieved, as I don't feel I have a good enough grasp yet.  Thank you for that...

My honey makes me do it outside, cuz of the parrot (very susceptible to what they breathe in....and with all the rain it hasn't been easy-so I am way behind!

Dilu

Winney Jun 9, 2005

Hmmm, Just want to throw some questions in here about real fur ....heat, I understand to bring real fur back into the shiny condition that the furrier somehow "irons " the fur, it's called glazing. It would be good to get Nancy Tilburgs input  on this, her dad was a furrier.
I have heard that silk paints are a good choice to air brush real fur bears..I think it is more of a dye .

I know I have read that some artists have used the silk flower spray paint...oh, yes that would be the lady that made the Rainbow bear famous...Sally Winey. Ok, but she sprayed mohair bears not real fur, and it is for overall color and not like airbrushed for controlled areas of paint.

The last thing I will mention is their are some pet spray colors called "Pet Silk", you can do a Google search. It is for pets who have real fur like pelts...however I do not have any feed back on this from anyone that has tried it. I know Nancy Tilburg was going to try it , Id like to too just to see how it works but again it is for overall color...Winney

Eileen Jun 9, 2005

Thanks for bringing up 'glazing', Winney. I've been wondering exactly what it is. :/

I DO remember, however, that when I ironed my overcurly hair in college (low heat), it really shone. While we're waiting for Nancy, I might try it on a scrap of fur--nothing else has the power to get me to the ironing board these days! :rolleyes:

Eileen

Just Us Bears Jun 9, 2005

I am signed up for Judi's airbrushing class which starts on the 30th,anyone else from the list doing that one?? Dilu...has yours finished yet? We want to see pics of what you've airbrushed!

Judi Jun 9, 2005

Thanks for your input Pat, I am sure the dyes your are referring to do work well.
However , I would not do something, or suggest something that was "harmful" to my bears.   

I still believe from my experience that good quality acrylic paints work beautifully on real fur.  I have researched this and have found nothing that says that my methods of airbrushing on real fur will make the fur fall out.....I agree that excessive heat is bad.....BUT You don't actually NEED to heat set it as no one is ever going to submerge a bear under water.  Also, to heat set does not mean that you bring the entire pelt to a damaging temperature, only enough to "set" the paint.  A few sweeps of a hairdryer is not going to make the fur fall out...even over time.  Maybe if a bear is set in a sunny window for hours and hours, then maybe THAT would make the fur fall out.  ALSO, it's not like we are saturating a bear with paint here...I am talking about soft , delicate, light  accenting!

What I found to be bothersome was the fact that these listings contain language intended to mislead a potential collector ie "would NEVER put anything on my bears that should never be there like spray paint ". I think this is unfair to those artists who do airbrushing on thier bears.

Acrylic is a plastic and does not harm the fur.  If anyone says any different I think they are simply out to discredit me and others who airbrush.   I also think it makes the seller look bad to put down another's work.  I have heard this from so many people already, so I am not alone.

One thing is for sure...I would never put language in my listings that would bash anyone elses work!:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

I'm going away on vacation this weekend....I think I need it.

Winney Jun 10, 2005

Hold it on the ironing...I don't know how they did the" glazing" but I was told it's " like" ironing the fur???
I don't think this is something I'd do to a pelt...it may heat up the skin part too much ?? Heck...we need an expert here   OH NANCY  !!!! HELP !!!!!! ...Winney

Winney Jun 10, 2005

Oh yes...a taxidermist told me to " NEVER use mink oil on real fur" it will only serve to gum and yuck the whole dang thing up. Mink oil is for boots !..Winney

Dilu Jun 10, 2005

Hayley, I got a late start-I found out about Judi's class 2 days before it started.  But she gives wonderful instructions, detailed pictures and I felt that I learned alot.  I still need to download lesson 4. 

I think her idea of practicing on lill ol wallmart bears is great.

I am still practising-  between the rainstorms......ugh! Will summer ever get here???

i do reccomend her class.  I think the more we learn, even if after we learn it we don't use it on our own bears, helps us to appreciate this art form more.....

And boy do I have a lot to learn!!:D:D

Dilu:P

Winney Jun 10, 2005

Practicing on cheaper Wally world bears or goodwill bears is a great idea for any kind of facial coloring or painting you want to test or practice skills on...great idea ! ....Winney

Eileen Jun 10, 2005

I've used mink oil on boots--fantastic stuff.

Also on mink, trying to revive a scrap of a dull collar I'd bought. Just a mere whiff on the back of the pelt, and a merer whiff on the guard hairs. It seems to work for me, but who knows? :/

I'm sure that if the mink oil penetrated to the undercoat, you'd have a gucky mess, but that's not what minks use it for, after all. I think they use it to keep their guard hairs groomed, but don't quote me.

Eileen

Just Us Bears Jun 11, 2005

Dilu,
I have 10 bears that I bought off ebay for $200AUD..they are handmade from mock mohair and are all identical. I bought them with view to dressing them and onselling.....but am now quite excited at the prospect of practising my airbrusing on them as well. At least I can try different things on each bear!