removing bad paint job

[Sickie Ickie]

Need help from all you artists out there.

I picked up a tabletop Santa statue surrounded by little stuffed animals from Curby's. Price was still marked on the bottom as $200! I think I got the better end of the bargain. heh

Here's my challenge. It was obviously owned by a black family who decided to paint Santa's skin color to match african american culture.

The paint job is on the hands and face, and looks awful. Very streaked and uneven. I'm going to try to take it off. It may be acrylic paint . His face and hands are either ceramic or porcelain or something with a Caucasian flesh tone.

Any ideas how I should go about removing the paint???

[putrid]

Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser? LOL Seems to work on everything for me. If it is acrylic try a good long soaking in warm soapy water. That might help break it loose. I'm just guessing here, I have removed paint form a stove top ceramic spoon rest by soaking it. But the paint was already flaking off.

[Sickie Ickie]

can't soak it. the face and hands are attached to a stuffed body.

[Carrie]

Sickie, 3M makes a really safe and non-toxic stripper. Its called Easy Stripper and I think it might be what you're looking for. I use it alot on my molds and it has no odor, isn't bad for the environment..can rinse it down a sink, so you can use it in the house. I've had this stuff on my hands with no ill effects, but it really gets the job done. I think it would do the trick.

[Sickie Ickie]

Where can I get it? Think Michael's would have it?

[Carrie]

I get it at Ace Hardware. Menards does not carry it and I don't remember if Home Depot does or not. If you can't find it, let me know..I'll send you some.

[putrid]

Might check Wal mart for that Sickie Ickie. I know they sell 3M products there. And Congrats on the find dude! Totally cool.

[Sickie Ickie]

I'd love to share a pic, but I can't find my camera...still!

[Sickie Ickie]

well, couldn't find the same type of remover, so I used ace's remover instead. Worked beautifully! Almost instantly the paint dissolved. Took a lot of time using q-tips and toothbrush, but the bad paint came off the hands and left the flesh color on. The face wasn't so lucky. I had to remove all paint from the entire face. But, at least I have a clean slate to work from. :)

[putrid]

That's totally cool to hear Sickie Ickie.

[Sickie Ickie]

yep, now I have to figure out a paint that wont streak when painted on.

[putrid]

You could try, I think it's called, 'Ceramcoat' (?). It's a paint designed to go right on to tile and other ceramic items and doesn't need firing to be permanent. If you do try it do it on an easily stripped area. Might be what the folks tried before and ended up streaking.
Or an oil based paint might do. Just guessing here, I've never painted on ceramic or porcilain.

[Carrie]

Sickie, Putrid hit the nail on the head. I have painted a lot of ceramics over the years. Delta Ceramcoat is an acrylic paint that I use on ceramics (and I also use it for face painting! LOL). It can be bought at Michael's and doesn't require firing. It flows very nicely and if you use a high quality sable brush, the streaking is minimal, if at all. It comes in a bazillion colors too and its great stuff to use. They even have some beautiful pearlized colors that are perfect for Christmas (i.e. White Mist is perfect for a beard on a Santa or white fur trim). Its water soluble too, so if it gets a bit thick, it thins very well and clean up is a breeze.

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Carrie and Putrid. I've used it before and I have liked it. Good to know I can use something I'm already familiar with.

[putrid]

Sickie Ickie, have you started on the Santa yet? Be cool to know how it's going.

[Sickie Ickie]

I ended up getting off thepaint, but haven't re-painted it yet due to working on my secret Santa gift. A lot more involved than I first planned, but I'll get it done. :D