Popular Post heppnerguy Posted February 10 Popular Post Report Posted February 10 I am posting these so that I might receive some helpful suggestions that I am not considering as I go through my effort to learn to paint some of my woodworking. I also hope that in time I will be showing some progress as that is what I am after with these posts. It the first one Used black followed be a gray. It blended in so much that it was really difficult to see much so I added a reddish color and that seemed to help some. The last piece I cut years ago and I stumbled on it and decided to give it a go and this is the results of that effort. Dick heppnerguy Dak0ta52, meflick, RabidAlien and 11 others 13 1 Quote
ChelCass Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 Both look really good. What paints are you using? heppnerguy 1 Quote
Jim McDonald Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 I know you said you were going to study about Unicorn Spit, but I can attest to the colors and ease of use. Can be either a paint or thinned to be a stain. The only one I have had a problem with is yellow--but I am not happy with most yellows. ChelCass and heppnerguy 2 Quote
JJB Posted February 11 Report Posted February 11 Those look really great and now you have given me more ideas for new projects! Thanks! I have had really good results using TransTint dyes on my projects. They come in about 18 colors and you can mix colors to get others. The dye also allows the grain to show through. heppnerguy 1 Quote
JimNC Posted February 11 Report Posted February 11 You did a great job. My wife is a professional artist/teacher and taught at Wake Forest University for many years. I showed your work to her and she was impressed she said "wonderful" which is a 9 out 0f 10 in her speak. heppnerguy 1 Quote
Hudson River Rick Posted February 11 Report Posted February 11 @heppnerguy Dick, what substrate are you using, I asume it's Baltic Birch. If that is the case, does the paint raise the fibers on the plywood? You are moving right along on your new journey. Thanks for sharing. Rick heppnerguy 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/10/2026 at 3:06 PM, ChelCass said: Both look really good. What paints are you using? I am using acrylic water based paints. I try to use it lightly and add a second coat if I feel it needs it. Thank you for your comments, I am just trying to understand and perfect my lack of skills because I am wanting to also paint a project I cut and I hope to understand what I am doing after I paint a few more of my many extra projects I really did not bother finishing them or I did finish another copy I had cut so these are sitting on a closed shelf in my shop. Dick heppnerguy ChelCass 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/10/2026 at 3:17 PM, Scrappile said: Looks good to me. I know I have a long, long way to go but hopefully, Paul, I will be able to do the project I am wanting to finish with colorization and feel good about my efforts when I actually try my new understanding about how to go after what I are my intentions and end up being happy with my efforts instead of wishing I had never even bothered to try and colorize them. Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/10/2026 at 4:50 PM, Jim McDonald said: I know you said you were going to study about Unicorn Spit, but I can attest to the colors and ease of use. Can be either a paint or thinned to be a stain. The only one I have had a problem with is yellow--but I am not happy with most yellows. So would you recommend these instead of acrylics, or have you used both and now have a favorite one. Not sure how to take your statement. On 2/11/2026 at 6:41 AM, barb.j.enders said: Both look great. I have to say, they are a little better than most others I have tried to paint but I have not come near what I am after yet. Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/11/2026 at 6:47 AM, JJB said: Those look really great and now you have given me more ideas for new projects! Thanks! I have had really good results using TransTint dyes on my projects. They come in about 18 colors and you can mix colors to get others. The dye also allows the grain to show through. thank you for your comments about TransTint dyes, I will take a look at them. I do have a lot of acrylic paints and that is what I am using in the ones I have posted so far. I also make different colors by mixing two or more together and so far I have been happy with them. Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/11/2026 at 7:14 AM, daveww1 said: great job thank you Dave. I think I am doing a little better than I have in the past but still striving to get a feel for what i am doing and understanding where I need to work on more. Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/11/2026 at 8:25 AM, JimNC said: You did a great job. My wife is a professional artist/teacher and taught at Wake Forest University for many years. I showed your work to her and she was impressed she said "wonderful" which is a 9 out 0f 10 in her speak. Wow, I can't believe my work efforts would ever get that kind of results, especially from someone as obviously as talented as your wife is. I would REALLY like to hear some critique from her. That could be so very helpful to my efforts. Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/11/2026 at 9:15 AM, rjweb said: Very nice, RJ Thank you so much for your nice comments. Do you have any correctional comments that you might share with me so as to help me in my learning efforts? Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 13 Author Report Posted February 13 On 2/11/2026 at 4:06 PM, Hudson River Rick said: Dick, what substrate are you using, I assume it's Baltic Birch. If that is the case, does the paint raise the fibers on the plywood? You are moving right along on your new journey. Thanks for sharing. Rick No Rick, I have seen no raise on my wood's fibers as of yet. I am using BB PLY as you mentioned though. Thank you for your encouragement on efforts, they are very much appreciated too Dick heppnerguy Quote
Jim McDonald Posted February 13 Report Posted February 13 Dick: I have both acrylic and Unicorn Spit, but the Unicorn seems to fit my style a bit better. Ever since high school (last century), I have mixed colors as needed and I can control the amounts better with Unicorn. heppnerguy 1 Quote
JimNC Posted February 13 Report Posted February 13 11 hours ago, heppnerguy said: Wow, I can't believe my work efforts would ever get that kind of results, especially from someone as obviously as talented as your wife is. I would REALLY like to hear some critique from her. That could be so very helpful to my efforts. Dick heppnerguy Dick, If you would like, just post more of your work and I will pass them off to my wife. WARNING! She is very critical at times.....she hates all of my work. LOL heppnerguy 1 Quote
ChelCass Posted February 13 Report Posted February 13 13 hours ago, heppnerguy said: I am using acrylic water based paints. I try to use it lightly and add a second coat if I feel it needs it. Thank you for your comments, I am just trying to understand and perfect my lack of skills because I am wanting to also paint a project I cut and I hope to understand what I am doing after I paint a few more of my many extra projects I really did not bother finishing them or I did finish another copy I had cut so these are sitting on a closed shelf in my shop. Dick heppnerguy Remember you can thin acrylic paint with water to give you a thinner paint. This can give you a stain like coverage or go a bit thicker for a overall coverage. I use a scrape of wood to apply the paint first to see how it covers and then go from there. Just keep practicing with different techniques you will find what works best for you. heppnerguy 1 Quote
WayneG Posted February 13 Report Posted February 13 adding paint gives you so many options...your doing fab at it! heppnerguy 1 Quote
Denny Knappen Posted February 13 Report Posted February 13 You are getting this painting thing down! heppnerguy 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 17 Author Report Posted February 17 On 2/12/2026 at 10:10 PM, Jim McDonald said: Dick: I have both acrylic and Unicorn Spit, but the Unicorn seems to fit my style a bit better. Ever since high school (last century), I have mixed colors as needed and I can control the amounts better with Unicorn. I have so much money tide into acrylic right now that I need to stay with it and do more experimenting. I will keep this in mind and hope maybe down the road I will be able to try Unicorn paint as well Dick heppnerguy Jim McDonald 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted February 17 Author Report Posted February 17 On 2/13/2026 at 5:43 AM, JimNC said: Dick, If you would like, just post more of your work and I will pass them off to my wife. WARNING! She is very critical at times.....she hates all of my work. LOL I love anything she might be willing to give to me, both positive and negative as well. That is what I am looking for so I can understand where I can improve and getting advice from someone like your wife would be so helpful. Thanks for letting me know. I should have something to post in the next couple of days or maybe even sooner, I hope. Dick heppnerguy Quote
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