[Sue Peery]

How should one prepare an ostrich egg for painting?

[Clough]

I know just the person to answer your question, and that would be jrebel7! I will let her know about your question.

[jrebel7]

Hi there Sue. Has the egg been drained, rinsed and disinfected? That is the first step using bleach and water allowing it to soak. Let me know where you are in your knowledge and I will take it from there. I don't want to address a lot of things that you already know about. Let me know. I will be back on line a bit later tonight. Looking forward to visiting with you about Ostrich Eggs. I also paint on Emu Eggs.

[baron12035]

Yes, the egg is clean, disinfected, bleached and ready to be painted but I don't know how..!

[jrebel7]

Yes, the egg is clean, disinfected, bleached and ready to be painted but I don't know how...!!!

Do you mean that you don't know what type of paints or brushes to use? Let me know in a little more detail your questions. I will be more than happy to address them. Some things I need to know in order to better assist you are the following:

Are you going to make a lamp where light needs to show through?

Will you be painting flowers, landscapes, animals, etc.

There are many kinds of "stands" for them to be displayed on that I could also suggest.

Just get back with me with your questions. I will check mail through the day today. Ostrich Eggs are such fun to paint on! Later then! :p

[baron12035]

I simply have to paint an ostrich egg for a charity bazar.
Since I NEVER painted such an egg, I don't know what type of paint I have to use (watercolour or acrylic or oil) and whether I haveto preparethe egg's surface with any primer or similar. I think to paint either flowers or animals or maybe a landscape.

Many thanks for your advice and suggestions.

[jrebel7]

I simply have to paint an ostrich egg for a charity bazar.
Since I NEVER painted such an egg, I don't know what type of paint I have to use (watercolour or acrylic or oil) and whether I haveto preparethe egg's surface with any primer or similar. I think to paint either flowers or animals or maybe a landscape.

Many thanks for your advice and suggestions.

Thank you for the information. That makes it so much easier to give suggestions.

I would go to the local Hobby or Craft store, purchase a small bottle of Gesso along with your acrylic paint colors you desire. You will need such a little amount of Gesso, just enough to cover the egg with one or two thin coats to prepare the surface. If the egg is new, it will be fairly shiny and would turn out best if you use the Gesso but you could just give it a coat of white Acrylic. If it is an older egg, it will be dull and take paint easily without Gesso. I would wash the outside of the egg first with soap and water or vinegar to remove oil that might have gotten on it from your hands just in handling it. I like the Gesso because it is designed to prepare almost any surface for painting so I use it on canvases, wood and other surfaces.

I use acrylic paints. I would just purchase some 2 oz. bottles of Acrylic paints. The consistency will be fairly good to use straight out of the bottle. They are water base. They dry fast, mix easily, adhere well and give a great finish and brushes can just be cleaned with water immediately after use (I always use just a bit of soap to get all residue of paint then, rinse). If you thin the paint down with water, you can use as a wash of color, using two or three colors to give the egg a marbelized look for background and then paint your flowers or birds or landscape, whatever you choose. The bottles of paint are sometimes just fifty cents a bottle but on regular days not much more than 99 Cents a bottle. I like the brand Americana but Delta or others are just fine. 2 oz bottles.

After the paint has dried totally, I like to give it a couple of coats of a product called Polycrylic. You can purchase this in small cans. It is like the Polyurethene but made for use on acrylic paints rather than oil base like the Polyurethene. I like a high gloss but it is available in matt finish.

I hope this helps. I will check mail from time to time in case you have other questions I might help you with. If you wish, I can post a few of the eggs I have painted on this thread if you would like to see a few. Just let me know.
HAPPY PAINTING! :p

[baron12035]

Thank you very much indeed.Now I'll try and if I have any other query, I'll come back to you.Cheers.:)

[jrebel7]

Thank you very much indeed.Now I'll try and if i have any other query, I'll come back to you.Cheers.:)

You are welcome and I wish you great success! Take a photo of finished egg if you have time and post for us to view and enjoy! :p