how to decorate rawhide like Mike Yancey?

[Bob Barnes]

I have quite a bit of rawhide and it's real easy to back my bows with...so I see Mike Yancey's beautiful decorated bow and want to do something like that...how do you do it?  What type of paint and where do you find the patterns?  Mike is a friend but he makes part of his living by making his bows...so I will not ask him his secrets...Thanks,
Bob

[Ricker]

Bob,
I doubt if it's a thing of secrets.  Mike would probably tell ya he does it like Ed Scott does.  Felt tips, paint pencils, model paints, etc. then goes over it with a clear coat after they dry.  
Mikes and Ed's bows are sure nice and also it is the artistic ability to do the artistry on their bows.  Yours will likely look good too, just in your own imaginative way. Some of the works are recreated from historically decorated Native Indian bows.  Look them up in books and use whatever colors strike your fancy.

Rick

[Pat B]

This is a copy of Jay Massey's Medicine Bow I built a few years back. It is sinew backed hickory with a decorated rawhide covering. I painted the design with craft paint from Walmart.
 
 
 
 

[Bob Barnes]

thanks guys...very very cool bow Pat...
Bob

[ranger 3]

Here is an Osage with raw hide backing