Barn Owl Skillet
Just in time for Father's Day...a fabulous barn owl, makes a great gift for Dad!
By Debbie Huska
Learn how to use QuikWood® Epoxy Putty on a cast iron skillet to add dimension to create a one of a kind barn owl decoration.
Profile
I have been painting for about 20 years, a friend at work showed me the brush strokes. I have painted every day since then. I love painting on anything that does not move.
I started molding with QuikWood® Epoxy Putty, just playing around, about 4 years ago. I started to create all kinds of different creations using this unique putty. I love creating unusual, one of a kind items.
Supplies
Surface 6” Cast Iron Skillet – Flea Markets, yard sales, etc.
Paints
DecoArt Americana
Cool Neutral (DA089) Burnt Umber (DA064) Moon Yellow (DA07) Warm White (DA239) Raw Sienna (DA093) Sable Brown (DA061) Snow (Titanium) White (DA01) Lamp (Ebony) Black (DA067) Burnt Sienna (DA064) Buttermilk (DA03) Light Buttermilk (DA164) Honey Brown (DA163)
Mediums
DecoArt Americana
Dura Clear Matt Varnish DS60
Triple Thick Brilliant Brush-On Gloss Glaze
Brushes
½ Loew-Cornell #7120 - Rake
18/0 Papillion Artist Club – Liner
12 Papillion Artist Club – Shader
3/8 Vienna Artist Club – Angle Shader
½ - 13mm Crafter’s Choice R9113 Royal & Langnickel – Stencil Brush
¼ - 6mm Crafter’s Choice M77DR Royal & Langnickel – Stencil Brush
1” Majestic Royal & Langnickel R4700 – Wash
# 4 Majestic Royal & Langnickel R4150 – Shader
¼ Artist Club – Comb Miscellaneous Supplies
2 oz. QuikWood® Epoxy Putty #9024 QuikWood.com
Strathmore Palette Paper 365-9
Cheap moisturizer lotion
Gemplers 8-mil Powdered Nitril Gloves Small (8) #198251
Johnson’s Baby Powder
1/8” Artist Green Masking Tape
Paper Towels
Rubbing Alcohol
Fine Point Stylus
2 ea. Plaid Mod Podge– Podgable Glass Domes – 6 pcs (use 1” 25mm Domes) Jim Holtz Idea-ology
Center Finding 12” Clear Ruler
Eraser
Americana Accessories Transfer Paper – White (optional) White Charcoal Pencil E6000 Glue
Fine Grade Sand Paper
Helpful Tips: When working with QuikWood®, read all instructions and warnings, this is very important. I use rubber gloves. Knead the QuikWood® until it is one color without any white streaks. This step is very important, if not all one color, it will not harden completely. Rub a little baby powder on your hands before putting on the rubber gloves, this helps to slide on the rubber gloves easier. When kneading the QuikWood®, I use a cheap moisturizer or lotion, a drop on the rubber gloves, so the QuikWood® doesn’t stick to your gloves. If you use any more than that when kneading the QuikWood®, it will get slimy. If you need to smooth QuikWood® out on your project, put approximately a drop in the middle of the palm of your glove that you are wearing and using your palm of your hand to smooth it out. Before painting your QuikWood® project, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. If you have any rough spots you can use sandpaper when it has hardened.
I have found out if you tape around the bristle of the dry brush, or stencil brush, you will have more control.
Preparation:
Clean 6” cast iron skillet and let dry.
Paint the flat surface of the 1” domes with Lamp (Ebony) Black using #4 shader brush – apply 2 coats then let dry.
Find the center using the 12” centering ruler, mark with white charcoal pencil.
Mark an inch from the center on each side of the centerline for the eye placement or use the line drawing. Glue 1” painted domes on the outer edge of each inch line from the center. Let cure at least 1 hour or overnight.
Wearing rubber gloves, pull off about ½” of QuikWood, knead until it is one color. Roll into a ball, place ball on centerline on the skillet, shape into a beak. Let harden.
Wipe down the hardened beak with alcohol. Sand if needed. Tape around dome eyes.
Using the #12 shader brush, basecoat the skillet and beak around the eyes with matte varnish. Let Dry. Basecoat Cool Neutral using #12 shader brush, avoid the eyes.
Trace the pattern with stylus and tracing paper or draw on the owl face.
Paint the dark area with Burnt Umber with #12 wash brush.
Load the ½ rake brush with thinned Raw Sienna (see drawing for direction of the feathers) just using the tip of the rake brush.
Work from the outside toward the inside. Repeat with Sable Brown then again with Honey Brown. With thinned Burnt Umber, rake lightly over the Honey Brown.
Thin Lamp (Ebony) Black, using the 18/0 Liner tip, dot the top of the head.
Basecoat Moon Yellow on the beak with the #12 wash brush, apply two coats. Let dry.
Using the 3/8 angle shader, shade with Burnt Sienna around the base of the beak.
Using the 1/2” stencil brush and Snow (Titanium) White drybrush the center of the beak.
Using thinned Buttermilk and using the tip of the ½ Rake Brush follow the line drawing for the direction of the face feathers and sides of the beak. Repeat with Light Buttermilk, Warm White then lightly rake thinned Snow (Titanium) White.
Remove tape around the eyes. Shade around the beak and eyes with Raw Sienna using a 3/8 angle shader brush. Repeat with Honey Brown. Dry brush Raw Sienna around the eyes and the beak with a ½ Stencil Brush. Repeat with Honey Brown. Dry brush Raw Sienna with the ¼ stencil brush making lines from the peak to the beak and the outside and inside of the eyes.
Dry brush Raw Sienna around the face following the directions of the feathers.
Dip stylus in Snow (Titanium) White and dot the eyes in the 2 o’clock position.
Varnish with 2 coats of Triple Thick avoiding the eyes. Let Dry.
Dot Stylus in Triple Thick on the dots on the eyes, Let Dry.
Enjoy your finished owl skillet.
LINE DRAWING PDF
Original Word File
Original Photos File
Pattern and Photos ©2020 Debbie Huska