I about have my first rawhide backed osage finished. I ordered some of the artificial copperhead skins but I'm already having second thoughts. They just don't seem to fit with the entire theme of a bow I worked down with a hatchet and draw knife.
So my question is how do you guys pretty up your rawhide? This piece of hide has a lot of white marbled into the brown. :help:
I kind of like that look Rob but you can paint or stain or draw on rawhide. It makes a great pallet. I've used craft paint from Wal-Mart and used India ink to draw on it.
I have seen a few that had art work that looked like cave drawings from ancient hunters....that might fit in with that kind of bow style.
Thanks Pat. I may just leave it for now.
I suppose if I seal everything up I could add some real skins down the road? It does have a nice snakey to it.
I love a stained rawhide. Get a light walnut stain and work it until you get the color you want. Pen and ink designs, simple or elaborate, look really good on rawhide. Do an image search for a "story robe" for ideas.
And, yes, you can always add a snakeskin later. I used the fake copperheads once...once.
Here is one I did for the TG bow trade a few years ago... never mind. Photobucket is screwing with me again.
I'll post pics of a few I painted or drew on a bit later when PB can learn to behave.
Thanks guys! I think I will leave it for now and get this thing finished up. May even get a couple days of deer hunting in with her before season ends.