Dressing up a rawhide back?

[Rob W.]

I about have my first rawhide backed osage finished. I ordered some of the artificial copperhead skins but I'm already having second thoughts. They just don't seem to fit with the entire theme of a bow I worked down with a hatchet and draw knife.

So my question is how do you guys pretty up your rawhide? This piece of hide has a lot of white marbled into the brown.  

[Pat B]

I kind of like that look Rob but you can paint or stain or draw on rawhide. It makes a great pallet. I've used craft paint from Wal-Mart and used India ink to draw on it.

[ron w]

I have seen a few that had art work that looked like cave drawings from ancient hunters....that might fit in with that kind of bow style.

[Rob W.]

Thanks Pat. I may just leave it for now.

I suppose if I seal everything up I could add some real skins down the road? It does have a nice snakey to it.

[John Scifres]

I love a stained rawhide.  Get a light walnut stain and work it until you get the color you want.  Pen and ink designs, simple or elaborate, look really good on rawhide.  Do an image search for a "story robe" for ideas.

And, yes, you can always add a snakeskin later.  I used the fake copperheads once...once.

[Pat B]

Here is one I did for the TG bow trade a few years ago...  never mind. Photobucket is screwing with me again.
 I'll post pics of a few I painted or drew on a bit later when PB can learn to behave.

[Rob W.]

Thanks guys! I think I will leave it for now and get this thing finished up. May even get a couple days of deer hunting in with her before season ends.