Painted Bows lets see them

[twitchstick]

I would like to see bows you have painted or own. I have a bow that I might put a design or a paintnig on it snd I' looking for ideas. Thanks for your imput.

[twitchstick]

aaaaaa...I ment and!

[CaptainJ]

These are arrows one of my students painted at an arrow building seminar we had at youth camp a couple of years ago.
I always thought that would look cool on a bow.
A little girly though. It would depend on who the bow is for.





Pat B. has some cool examples:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=003231#000004

CJ

[Swissbow]

This is a Rattan bow I made for my daugther Caroline. I used a black edding marker.



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Andy

[b.glass]

The paint isn't very good and the pictures aren't very good. I wasn't going to show them but here they are anyway. The grey is fire ash in hide glue. I was trying for white I'm thinking the hardwood ash made the difference. And the red was too dark and the yellow didn't show up very well. I'm trying for natural pigments. I ordered a book online this morning that sounds like it's full of good info.

[twitchstick]

I like what I'm seeing!    


B.glass I think natural pigments are interesting,what book did you order?

[don s]

my daughters bow. she wanted it purple. she named it "lucky shot" and asked me to paint a horse shoe design on it. don

[Pat B]

This bow is a copy of a Jay Massey Medicine Bow. It is sinew backed hickory with a painted arrow design on rawhide over the sinew. I used accrylic craft paint from Walmart. Sorry for the poor quality pics...
 

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Wow Pat you are quite the artist. Good work.

Swissbow- Are you also a tattoo artist? Cause I think I have some ink on my arm that looks strikingly similar to what you drew on that bow.
I love tribal designs, first time I've seen any on a bow and it looks awesome. Good Work Andy.

Next time I get bored I'll try my hand at doing some artwork on a bow. You all inspire me.  

[sadiejane]

lovely work on these painted bows. what do you fellas use to protect em after painting? im getting ready to paint  on a rawhide backed bow and was wondering what i might use that would protect the rawhide but not affect the paint(the paint will be natural earth pigments mixed with hide glue for sizing)?

sure would like to see more painted bows!
thanks

[b.glass]

"Earth Pigments and the Paint of the California Indians" by Paul Douglas Campbell. It's the only book on earth pigments I could find in relation to how they were used by Indians. I also found a good site to order earth pigments like red ochre that are processed into a fine powder. It's called The Earth Pigments Company.

[b.glass]

Silent Bear paints his bows but I don't know how to get them on here.

Sadie, Silent Bear says he doesn't put any protective coating on his bows but I was planning to use Tru Oil. The hide glue should hold up long enough for the first coat and after that it shouldn't be a problem for the rest of the coats.

If you could find some examples of Steve Allelys west coast bows I bet they are stunning.

[Knawbone]

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/Knawbone/?action=view¤t=212.jpg " target="_blank">http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/Knawbone/?action=view¤t=212.jpg Not a very good picture but thought I throw it in.

[Pat B]

I use Tru-Oil on this bow just like most of the other bows I make.

[sadiejane]

thanks pat! thats what i was thinking of using but havent used it on painted rawhide before...

[John Lipinski]

who said butterflies had to be girly?

[b.glass]

I wanted to come up with an original design and was having trouble with ideas when I started doodling and I've now got a few decent ideas.

[b.glass]

This is a kids bow I made a couple of years ago. The design is not original.

[Mike Yancey]

Here are a couple of sinew and rawhide backed osage.
Mike

[b.glass]

My book and my pigments came in like 5 min. ago and the book is amazing even though I only skimmed through it! There is a section on bows and arrows with color photos of actual artifacts. I'm going to start reading right now!