Not happy with my painting technique

[Blacklab1]

Ok now that my test stock has about 15 coats of paint I'm starting to get the hang of it. Here's a couple different patterns and colors I've been playing with.
Again thanks for everyone's input.

 

[emp1953]

I'm trying to figure out how to do a decent camo paint job for my new rifle. I tried sponge painting and a Bob Ross approach with dabbing a round brush but I'm not really happy with either one. I'm trying to get close to something like a Manners sponge paint like the one I have a picture of but can't seem to get the bigger blotches. I tried trimming the natural sponge into different shapes but it's just not working out. I tried different pressures but if I press too hard it turns into a smudge and too light it's more like speckled. Any advice on how to get closer to a Manners?

I know that you want it to look great, but wild game don't care. So long as it breaks up the lines of the rifle you are good to go.

 

[DustThroughaFan]

I've rattle canned a few but I've yet to try the sponge trick. There's some pretty good tips in this thread. I'd have never guessed to soak the sponges first.

Here's my most recent rattle can job. A Ruger american 300blk that I did some stock work on so it required painting. Some tore up newspaper and krylon.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Just did my 25MBK today.

Started out like this...

I didn't get a photo of the first set of stencils where the black CF would be showing, but this is after the first coat of sage and forest greens.

Then applied the stencils for the green patches

Then hit it with the top coat of Khaki and sage green

After drying, I removed the two layers of stencils and hit the entire thing with a matte clear

I masked off the action and muzzle brake, applied some stencils to the CF barrel, and hit it with just the Khaki, and a couple coats of matte clear.

After reassembly.

 

[birddog 68]

Just did my 25MBK today.

Started out like this...
View attachment 619291
I didn't get a photo of the first set of stencils where the black CF would be showing, but this is after the first coat of sage and forest greens.
View attachment 619292
Then applied the stencils for the green patches
View attachment 619293
Then hit it with the top coat of Khaki and sage green
View attachment 619294
After drying, I removed the two layers of stencils and hit the entire thing with a matte clear
View attachment 619295
View attachment 619296
View attachment 619297
I masked off the action and muzzle brake, applied some stencils to the CF barrel, and hit it with just the Khaki, and a couple coats of matte clear.

After reassembly.


View attachment 619298
View attachment 619299

Excellent job it looks great

 

[CombsJa]

Krylon, sponge from Walmart, and airbrush blending. My first attempt, kinda happy.

 

[Blacklab1]

Krylon, sponge from Walmart, and airbrush blending. My first attempt, kinda happy.

Looks good did you spray over a mesh to get the snake skin affect?

 

[CombsJa]

Looks good did you spray over a mesh to get the snake skin affect?

I used an old laundry bag.

 

[William W.]

My attempt at sponge painting.

 

[blksno]

I'm trying to figure out how to do a decent camo paint job for my new rifle. I tried sponge painting and a Bob Ross approach with dabbing a round brush but I'm not really happy with either one. I'm trying to get close to something like a Manners sponge paint like the one I have a picture of but can't seem to get the bigger blotches. I tried trimming the natural sponge into different shapes but it's just not working out. I tried different pressures but if I press too hard it turns into a smudge and too light it's more like speckled. Any advice on how to get closer to a Manners?

I did the same thing...twice actually.
Both with a sponge and spray paint. I was happy with mine, maybe you just need to practice your technique on a piece of PVC pipe or something. Once you figure out how to "do it' it's not really that hard, just need to finangle your process to get the desired outcome.
Usually it comes down to layers or overlap

 

[Smok3y]

I love the paint jobs you all are doing! His is amazing. I keep seeing people talk about how easy it is, but I am not brave enough to try it. I might have to try it now after seeing this thread.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Couple shots from my complete failure of a coyote hunt today...