How to Paint Black Duck Decoys

Start off as always with surface prep, make sure each decoy is clean and dry. Coat the entire bird with Gesso, I recommend 2 coats. Then mix up the decoy paint for the entire body. Start with burnt umber with a touch of ultramarine blue and use light coats. Each coat of paint will darken the decoy. Next, paint the head with a mixture of white and raw sienna and a touch of burnt umber to make a dusky color.

Next, mix some burnt umber and black and use this color to make the tiny feather marks on the head. Try to make them thicker on top to darken the top of the head.

Next, mix up some raw sienna and white, and use this color to outline the feathers on the body.

Give the decoy plenty of time to dry. Then, mix burnt umber with a touch of raw sienna and use this color to wash the entire bird, head and body. Washing is accomplished by thinning the paint until it is watery and able to read through it. Apply this one coat at a time and it will darken and soften the entire bird. Be careful not to let any runs occur with the wash or it will dry into a darker line. Keep washing until bird is soft looking and to your liking. Next comes the bill. Paint the bill with a mixture of yellow ochre with a little black mixed in to make olive, be sure not to make it too dark. Once all is dry, hit it with a few light coats of flat sealer and start shooting blackies. If you have any questions, drop me a pm through the site. (crewchief252)