Cova Color Vs Acrylic Paint

[glockanator]

Not sure if this is the right place or not but can I use acrylic paint or should I just buy some cova color? Thanks

[Tina]

Use some good quallity acryllic paint, it works like a charm and no need for Cova colors :-)

[Spinner]

I don't like Cova color myself, but that's just a preference of mine. Here's one I'm working on currently with acrylics on to give you an idea:

The better quality paints will have UV ratings & lightfastness & adhesion ratings on the back. My favorite is Golden Fluid Acrylics. Don't forget to thin them some and apply in lighter washes versus applying on medium to heavy coat. It may take more time but the results are much better.

Cheers,

Chris

[glockanator]

I don't like Cova color myself, but that's just a preference of mine. Here's one I'm working on currently with acrylics on to give you an idea:

The better quality paints will have UV ratings & lightfastness & adhesion ratings on the back. My favorite is Golden Fluid Acrylics. Don't forget to thin them some and apply in lighter washes versus applying on medium to heavy coat. It may take more time but the results are much better.

Cheers,

Chris

Thin them with what?

[Spinner]

Thin them with what?

The most cost effective way is with water. However water can cause the paints to dry even faster than they do normally so I prefer to use an acrylic medium like Golden Airbrush Medium.

In dry areas or during high temps I'll also add a drop or two of Retarder to the mix. The retarder doesn't thin the color it's simply an untinted medium with a longer drying time that extends the working time of the paints by 50-100%.

[glockanator]

Ok thanks

[lightingale]

I read somewhere that paints used on ceramics are superior to acrylics. I can't vouch for that though, as my craft store doesn't carry ceramic paints to test it out.

[Art]

Paints used today for ceramic or china painting (fire to 360F or let air dry) are acrylics. In the past, they used enamels but today it is acrylic that is the desired medium.

Underglazes are used on greenware, and are fired at cone O4 or even hotter. These are ceramic in nature and there is a chemistry involved depending on the body etc. Glazes and underglazes generally develop their color when fired. I don't think they would ever be used on leather.

Art

[Toolingaround]

Hi Everyone

Spinner, nice work!!!

Thought I would add a few thoughts here. Nice to see someone who knows ceramics too. I love porcelain. Don't have my kiln hooked up because all my money has gone into leather tools this last year, imagine that LOL.

Anyhow here is a photo of a leather jacket I painted with Delta Ceramcoat. That painting was on there for 23 years at the time I took the photo and was never sealed or anything. Ceramcoat is used on ceramics that are already fired to bisque then sealed with a clear acrylic. They area also very popular for painting on wood. Paul Burnett (G-d rest his soul) used them on leather until they changed the formula in 2008. I have used both my ancient 25 year old paint, (still good) and new bottles of Folk art acrylics and varnish from Walmart with good results. Of course I have only been doing leather tooling for a year now so can not vouch for the longevity yet. Warning don't use Saddle Lac over acrylics or anything containing alcohol as it will lift them. I may have come across a way to overcome that cause I loves me my Saddle Lac. If my tests pan out I will post to the group at some point.

Anyhow I thought I would throw in another photo done witha mix of old Ceramcoat and new Folk art paints and finished with Ceramcoat varnish.

Cheers, Toolingaround

[Spinner]

Spinner, nice work!!!

Warning don't use Saddle Lac over acrylics or anything containing alcohol as it will lift them. I may have come across a way to overcome that cause I loves me my Saddle Lac. If my tests pan out I will post to the group at some point.

Thanks Toolingaround, appreciate the compliment. Yours are nice as well, the ceramastuff looks like it could have some fun applications.

Not sure if this is an update to their formula or what but I have good news. Saddle Lac in the aerosol can doesn't affect acrylics that way anymore. I bought a new can from Springfield recently to test something else and while I had it I shot it over a test piece painted with acrylics. Everything went well. So after I finished the eagle painting last night I decided to bite the bullet and put my money where my mouth is...worked beautifully, no muss, no fuss. I'll post pictures last tonight after I get it all laced up.

Cheers,

Chris

Edited September 17, 2012 by Spinner

[Toolingaround]

Hey Spinner

Can't wait to see it laced :-)

I am glad to know it can be sprayed without problem! I find it is great stuff for sealing in my antiquing, stopping dye transfer and waterproofing. I bet I will love "neat lac" type products when I get a chance to try some. I have had it lift the paint when I sprayed in on sheep skin and rubbed it in. Once it is dry it seems fine though. I know alchohol will sure take off ceramcoat as I had to strip some leather armor painted with it and repaint it a different color. Doesn't take it down to nude leather completely but may save an "oopsy". I agree with you on the good acrylics and mediums. My good stuff got lost in a move so for now the Walmart stuff works. Right now I am saving up for some leather, Angelus dyes and of course more tools ;-)

Cheers eh

Thanks Toolingaround, appreciate the compliment. Yours are nice as well, the ceramastuff looks like it could have some fun applications.

Not sure if this is an update to their formula or what but I have good news. Saddle Lac in the aerosol can doesn't affect acrylics that way anymore. I bought a new can from Springfield recently to test something else and while I had it I shot it over a test piece painted with acrylics. Everything went well. So after I finished the eagle painting last night I decided to bite the bullet and put my money where my mouth is...worked beautifully, no muss, no fuss. I'll post pictures last tonight after I get it all laced up.

Cheers,

Chris

[Curley Fryes]

Use some good quallity acryllic paint, it works like a charm and no need for Cova colors :-)

I'm a little confused. According to Tandy, Cova color IS acrylic paint. Can someone clarify?

[Tree Reaper]

Cova Colors is the registered trademark name of an acrylic paint.

[Spinner]

I'm a little confused. According to Tandy, Cova color IS acrylic paint. Can someone clarify?

Yes it is...but when compared to many of the available brands out there, Cova Colors lack a serious color range, are too thick out of the bottle, have a lower UV resistance and cost more per ounce.

Even the high quality Citadel & Golden Fluid Acylics I use are the same or less expensive per ounce and perform much better. GFA has a true artists color range so mixing colors or just finding the right one out the bottle is much less of a headache and Citadel has some of the coolest mixed colors out there and a color palette of around 150 colors.

Cheers,

Chris

[Tina]

Yes, Cova colors is acrylllic paint for almost $5 a 1.5oz bottle (I hope I'm not wrong here).

There's a huge market with paint that can be used, example Plaid has a line of 'Folkart' acryllic paint that is way better then you might think for around $1,99 2oz bottles or @2.99 for the metallic line. I have used these a lot, I personally only use white/black and red at occasions and the metallic line, they all seams to hold upp just fine for the job even on a fairly long time basis, I have not done leatherwork long enough to have decades of experiences yet :-)

Then there's Angelus leather paint too...Very nice and pigment strong acryllic paint made for leather, 1oz $2 and 4oz $5 at turtlefeathers.net for example.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Tina

[glockanator]

Anyone try to use paint markers? I bought a pink one and trying it on a test piece. Will post my results when I'm done.