I keep smudging my work!!

[gearsmithy]

So I just made a very expensive mistake. I've got an intricate carving that is natural color but the background is dyed black. I like the super-high contrast look it gives, but I keep smudging my work! Despite the pot of coffee coursing through my viens, I was able to keep my brush on point, but forgot about my the heel of my hand and ended up swiping black dye all over the nicely-tooled foreground. I was thinking that it would be a lot easier to "paint" the foreground with a relief of some sort but I'm strictly an oil dye person, and I don't know of any relief that could stop oil-based dyes. Some sort of blocker would be perfect because it would make quick work of dying the background and keep my hands and eyes in tact. I had the idea of using wax or liquid latex to paint the foreground but I wanted to see if anyone else has a homemade remedy. Thoughts?

[Mike Phelps]

Hey gearsmithy,

Here's what I have done. Paint with acrylic and let dry. Then paint several layers of rubber contact cement over them. Let dry and used dye. Then take an art gum eraser and remove rubber cement.

Attached is some work I did done that way. The stars of the strap were painted, the strap dyed.

[gearsmithy]

Thanks Mike, the rubber cement trick works like a charm. The only problem is it gunks up my brushes. Do you know the proper solvent for rubber cement? I tried denatured alcohol but it doesn't really work that well.

[Mike Phelps]

I'm sure there is but I haven't found one yet. I just use the denatured alcohol, it has a LOT of uses around here, then peel it off. Mineral Spirits works just as well to keep it soft until I clean up. Got a whole jar of different size brushes that are just used for contact cements, Barge etc. Found an old rusty can of turpentine the other day. I'm going to try it soon. Figure if I use enough stinking stuff it'll keep the in-laws and assorted nerdowells at bay.