I'd like to use acrylic paint accents on a holster. Tutorials? Suggestions?

[Tallbald]

I drew and carved sunflowers on the flap of a full flap holster for one of my Ruger Old Army black powder revolvers. Basically, I'd like to accent the petals and leaves with water based acrylic paints (lots on hand I use for painting fish wall plaques), not necessarily so thick that the paint is opaque, but to give the holster a splash of color. I've been looking unsuccessfully for a tutorial. Any advice please? Would Super Shene by Tandy be a suitable light topcoat over the water based acrylic? One concern I have about painting is cracking of the paint with flexing of the flap. Suggestions please? Thank you as always. Don

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've used an airbrush and thinned leather dye to get such an effect. Perhaps you could thin the acrylic similarly and use one of those pressure cans with a rattle can spray nozzle.

[GunClick Rick]

SHEESH,nice bag Marshall!

[Tallbald]

Wow that's handsome!! I know that is beyond my skill level. Have an airbrush but don't have skills yet to use it. My only option at this time are artists brushes.....Don

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, pards.

Don, if you already have the airbrush, get it out and practice on a few scraps to get the feel. If the acrylic pigment is too big, it may not work great through it but there's a sure way to find out. I found that Lincoln dye worked better in my airbrush than other brands. I could really dial it down to a fine mist and put it on slowly. Also, if I shot it from too far away, the dye dried too quickly and wouldn't penetrate the leather very well.

[Massive]

Will, do you have a bigger picture of the saddle bag?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I made that years ago and that's the only picture I have of it. The picture got scanned in from a slide.

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I know several folks who use the water based acrylic paints. the colored sharpies work good however I like the effect of colored dyes on leather much better than paints but that is just my preference.