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Fowl Foolers Launch Pad
Decoy Designs
PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS
Skip to a specific waterfowl species:
Puddle Ducks
Black Duck
Blue Wing Teal
Gadwall
Green Wing Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveler
Widgeon
Wood Duck
Diver Ducks
Bluebill
Redhead
Canvasback
Painting Tips
It is recommended to use a primer that is specific for use on plastic surfaces, on the decoy heads before following the topcoat color design schemes. Even if a paint is listed as a paint + primer, many times it are not designed for direct-to-plastic surfaces. Follow the instructions of the paint you plan to use. In the past, Fowl Foolers has used Sherwin-Williams Duracraft. The difficulty of using Duracraft for a small amount of heads is that it is only sold in gallons. Sherwin-Williams does offer another exterior paint called Resilience and All Surface Enamel in quarts, both available in water-based latex options. However, even a quart is sometimes too much paint and can get expensive quick if you are in need of 5+ colors. For this reason, we have heard customers having success with getting 8oz color sample containers at Home Depot. Although color sample paints are typically not high quality, if used in conjunction with a bonding or etching primer for use on plastic, we have heard successful results can be achieved. It is of course Fowl Foolers goal to ensure all decoy builders have the tools necessary to complete their decoy designs and more importantly enjoy using them on the water. If you have any further questions regarding painting, please reach out to us at info@fowlfoolers.com, and we would be happy to provide more guidance/suggestions.
Regarding the decoy bodies, if using Fowl Foolers adhesive and burlap, due to how porous the material is, topcoat paint sticks great even without a primer. If using a different adhesive, check to ensure paint can stick to the adhesive after drying. Some adhesives are designed so that nothing sticks to them like mold/mildew, etc so paint may have a difficult time adhering.
Fowl Foolers Paint Colors
Fowl Foolers Colors | Sherwin-Williams Color Code/Name | Home Depot Color Codes/Names |
|---|---|---|
PURPLE | 6825 - Ismir Purple | M560-7 - Muscat Grape |
PINK | 6860 - Eros Pink | P140-5 - Lovebirds |
ORANGE | 6355 - Truepenny | PPU3-01 - Moroccan Sky |
GOLD | 6677 - Goldenrod | PPG1209-5 Yellow Coneflower |
MAROON | 2801 - Roodwood Dark Red | PPU1-02 - Divine Wine |
RED | 6328 - Fireweed | PPU2-02 - Red Pepper |
BLUE | 6528 - Cosmos | M530-3 - Perennial Blue |
BRIGHT GREEN | 6924 - Direct Green | P390-7 - Park Picnic |
DARK GREEN | 2846 - Roycroft Bronze Green | PPG1009-6 - Armory |
LIGHT GREEN | 6193 - Privilege Green | PPG1129-6 - Lottery Winnings |
LIME | 6918 - Humorous Green | P330-7 Luscious Lime |
DARK BROWN | 6069 - French Roast | N160-7 Brown Velvet |
LIGHT BROWN | 6061 - Tanbark | N150-5 - French Truffle |
TAN | 6129 - Restrained Gold | S300-4 Flax Straw |
TAUPE | 7038 - Tony Taupe | PPG1021-4 - Diversion |
GRAY | 7018 - Dovetail | PPG1007-5 - Lazy Afternoon |
WHITE | 7006 - Extra White | 52U - White |
BLACK | 6258 - Tricorn Black | Black |
Sea Duck - Eider
Eider
Eider Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint semi-circles on each side and back BLACK
Eider Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head WHITE
2. Paint entire beak GOLD
let dry
3. Paint a horizontal dash over each eye BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal dash under each black dash TAN
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Eider Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Stipple entire body BLACK, dark on the lower sides
Eider Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Stipple entire head BLACK, darker on the mohawk
4. Insert Amber Eyes
Sea Duck - Old Squaw
Old Squaw
Old Squaw Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint front BLACK
3. Paint three long lines across the top BLACK
let dry
4. Paint thin dashes on the top rear WHITE
Old Squaw Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head WHITE
let dry
2. Paint a circle around each eye TAUPE
3. Paint entire beak BLACK
let dry
4. Paint a smaller circle behind each eye BLACK
5. Paint front of beak PINK, leaving the tip black
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Old Squaw Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint front and lower sides WHITE
Old Squaw Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head WHITE
let dry
2. Paint mohawk TAUPE
3. Paint a dash under each eye BLACK
4. Paint entire beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Sea Duck - Scoter
Scoter
Scoter Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body BLACK
let dry
2. Paint triangular mark on each back side WHITE
Scoter Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head and beak BLACK
let dry
2. Paint a horizontal teardrop around each eye WHITE
3. Insert Amber Eyes
Scoter Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body BLACK
let dry
2. Paint triangular mark on each middle side WHITE
Scoter Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head and beak BLACK
let dry
2. Paint dot on each side of beak behind each eye WHITE
3. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Black Duck
Black Duck
Black Duck Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body BLACK
let dry
2. Paint feathers on the top rear TAUPE
Black Duck Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak LIME
let dry
3. Paint mohawk BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal dash over each eye BLACK
5. Paint tip of beak BLACK
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Black Duck Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body BLACK
let dry
2. Paint feathers on the top rear TAUPE
Black Duck Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak LIGHT GREEN
let dry
3. Paint mohawk BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal dash over each eye BLACK
5. Paint tip of beak BLACK
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Blue Wing Teal
Blue Wing Teal
Blue Wing Teal Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAN
let dry
2. Paint fade top and back BLACK
3. Paint dots on side and front BLACK
let dry
4. Stipple over the black dots LIGHT BROWN
let dry
5. Paint a vertical dash on each side WHITE
6. Paint a horizontal dash on each side BLUE
Blue Wing Teal Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head BLACK
let dry
2. Paint a vertical dash in front of each eye WHITE
3. Insert Amber Eyes
Blue Wing Teal Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint top and top of sides LIGHT BROWN
let dry
3. Paint feathers on rear top TAUPE
4. Paint a horizontal dash on each side BLUE
Blue Wing Teal Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint a mohawk BLACK
3. Paint a horizontal dash over each eye BLACK
4. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Gadwall
Gadwall
Gadwall Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body GRAY
let dry
2. Paint back BLACK
3. Stipple top and sides DARK BROWN
4. Stipple front BLACK
let dry
5. Stipple front and bottom sides WHITE
6. Paint a horizontal dash on each side WHITE
Gadwall Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
let dry
2. Stipple entire head DARK BROWN
let dry
3. Stipple entire head BLACK
4. Paint entire beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Gadwall Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint feathers on rear top DARK BROWN
3. Stipple front DARK BROWN
4. Paint a horizontal dash on each side WHITE
Gadwall Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
let dry
2. Stipple entire head BLACK, darker on the mohawk
let dry
3. Paint a horizontal dash across each eye BLACK
4. Paint entire beak ORANGE
let dry
5. Paint top of beak BLACK
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Green Wing Teal
Green Wing Teal
Green Wing Teal Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint back BLACK
3. Paint a horizontal dash in middle of each side BLACK
4. Paint front TAN
let dry
5. Paint a horizontal dash in back of each side WHITE
6. Paint dots over the tan on front BLACK
Green Wing Teal Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head RED
2. Paint entire beak BLACK
let dry
3. Paint a horizontal teardrop mark around each eye DARK GREEN
let dry
4. Outline the horizontal teardrop mark TAN
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Green Wing Teal Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint front TAUPE
3. Paint feathers on rear top TAUPE
4. Paint a horizontal dash on each side LIGHT GREEN
Green Wing Teal Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint a mohawk BLACK
3. Paint entire beak BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal dash over each eye BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Mallard
Mallard
Mallard Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint back, top, and sides BLACK
let dry
3. Paint a horizontal line across the back WHITE
4. Paint a triangular dash on bottom of each side WHITE
5. Paint front RED
Mallard Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head DARK GREEN
2. Paint entire beak GOLD
let dry
3. Paint mohawk BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal line on bottom front of head WHITE
5. Paint tip of beak BLACK
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Mallard Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint top LIGHT BROWN
3. Paint a horizontal line across the back WHITE
4. Paint feathers on the top rear TAUPE
Mallard Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak ORANGE
let dry
3. Paint mohawk BLACK
4. Paint tip of beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Pintail
Pintail
Pintail Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint front WHITE
3. Paint back and rear top BLACK
4. Paint a horizontal teardrop mark on the middle of each side BLACK
let dry
5. Paint feather lines on the rear top WHITE
6. Paint a vertical line on the middle bottom of each side WHITE
Pintail Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head DARK BROWN
let dry
2. Paint a vertical line on each side WHITE
3. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
4. Paint a strip on top of beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Pintail Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint top LIGHT BROWN
let dry
3. Paint feathers on the rear top TAUPE
4. Paint a horizontal line across the back WHITE
Pintail Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint mohawk LIGHT BROWN
4. Paint strip on top of beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Shoveler
Shoveler
Shoveler Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint top and back BLACK
3. Paint semi-circles on each side MAROON
let dry
4. Paint feathers on top WHITE
5. Stipple over maroon semi-circles WHITE
Shoveler Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head and beak BLACK
let dry
2. Stipple entire head BRIGHT GREEN
3. Insert Yellow Eyes
Shoveler Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Stipple entire body TAUPE
3. Paint top TAUPE
let dry
4. Paint feathers on rear top DARK BROWN
Shoveler Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak ORANGE
let dry
3. Stipple entire head LIGHT BROWN
4. Paint stripe on top and side of beak BLACK
5. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Widgeon
Widgeon
Widgeon Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body GRAY
let dry
2. Paint back and rear top BLACK
let dry
3. Paint a horizontal dash on each middle side WHITE
4. Paint a vertical dash on each bottom side WHITE
5. Paint thin lines on the top rear WHITE
Widgeon Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head GRAY
let dry
2. Paint mohawk WHITE
3. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
4. Paint teardrop mark around each eye BRIGHT GREEN
5. Paint tip of beak BLACK
6. Insert Amber Eyes
Widgeon Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint back and top LIGHT BROWN
let dry
3. Add a horizontal dash on each side WHITE
4. Paint feathers on rear top TAUPE
Widgeon Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head GRAY
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint tip of beak BLACK
4. Insert Amber Eyes
Puddleduck - Wood Duck
Wood Duck
Wood Duck Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body BLACK
let dry
2. Paint feathes on each side TAN
3. Paint front RED
let dry
4. Paint outlines around tan feathers WHITE
5. Paint vertical line on each side front WHITE
6. Paint dots over red front WHITE
7. Paint feathers on top BLUE
Wood Duck Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head DARK GREEN
2. Paint entire beak RED
let dry
3. Paint collar around bottom of head that extends into lines on either side WHITE
4. Paint thin horizontal lines on each side near top of head WHITE
5. Paint dash on top of beak where it connects to head GOLD
6. Paint dash on each side of beak running lengthwise WHITE
7. Paint tip of beak BLACK
8. Insert Red Eyes
Wood Duck Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint front TAUPE
3. Paint top rear BLACK
let dry
4. Paint feathers on top BLUE
Wood Duck Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint teardrop mark around each eye WHITE
3. Paint entire beak BLACK
4. Insert Red Eyes
Diver Duck - Bluebill
Bluebill
Bluebill Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint front and back BLACK
3. Stipple top BLACK
Bluebill Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head BLACK
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint tip of beak BLACK
4. Insert Yellow Eyes
Bluebill Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint fade semi-circles on each bottom side TAUPE
Bluebill Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head LIGHT BROWN
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint collar around start of beak WHITE
4. Paint tip of beak BLACK
5. Insert Yellow Eyes
Diver Duck - Redhead
Redhead
Redhead Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint front and back BLACK
3. Stipple top and sides BLACK
Redhead Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head RED
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint tip of beak BLACK
let dry
4. Paint collar around black beak tip WHITE
5. Insert Yellow Eyes
Redhead Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint lower part of each side TAUPE
Redhead Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head LIGHT BROWN
2. Paint entire beak BLUE
let dry
3. Paint tip of beak BLACK
let dry
4. Paint collar around black beak tip WHITE
5. Insert Yellow Eyes
Diver Duck - Canvasback
Canvasback
Canvasback Drake Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint front and back BLACK
Canvasback Drake Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head RED
let dry
2. Paint a mohawk BLACK
3. Paint entire beak BLACK
4. Insert Red Eyes
Canvasback Hen Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint front and back DARK BROWN
Canvasback Hen Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head LIGHT BROWN
2. Paint entire beak BLACK
3. Insert Red Eyes
Goose - Blue Goose
Blue Goose
Blue Goose Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint top rear BLACK
let dry
3. Paint bottom rear WHITE
Blue Goose Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint bottom of head LIGHT BROWN
2. Paint top of head WHITE
3. Paint entire beak RED
4. Insert Red Eyes
Goose - Brant
Brant
Brant Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint top of body LIGHT BROWN
3. Paint vertical dashes on each side LIGHT BROWN
4. Paint rear top BLACK
5. Paint front BLACK
Brant Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head and beak BLACK
let dry
2. Paint collar around top of neck WHITE
Goose - Canadian
Canadian
Canadian Goose Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body LIGHT BROWN
let dry
2. Paint back WHITE
3. Paint front TAUPE
4. Paint top rear BLACK
Canadian Goose Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head and beak BLACK
let dry
2. Paint mark on each side and underneath head WHITE
3. Insert Amber Eyes
Goose - Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body WHITE
let dry
2. Paint feathers on top BLACK
Snow Goose Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head WHITE
2. Paint entire beak RED
3. Insert Red Eyes
Goose - Specklebelly
Specklebelly
Specklebelly Body Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire body TAUPE
let dry
2. Paint top of body LIGHT BROWN
3. Paint top rear of body BLACK
4. Paint bottom rear WHITE
5. Paint dots on front BLACK
Specklebelly Head Painting Steps:
1. Paint entire head TAUPE
2. Paint entire beak ORANGE
let dry
3. Paint collar around where the beak connects to the head WHITE
4. Insert Amber Eyes
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