The Rustoleum is hard as epoxy when it has cured and is difficult to bang off. It adheres very well and comes in excellent colors that mix well to make other colors. It offers excellent UV protection, too! I'm sure Monet never used it but hey, I'm not Monet. Heck, I'm not even a Da Vinchi or Warhol - I'm just me.

I work with electrical tape to outline the graphics. I don't do any intricate detailing because I'd probably mess it up. I use long sweeping lines because they look nice on a long kayak. I don't think much about what I am going to do for graphics, I just start unwinding the tape and start laying it out on one side and adjust it as the need arises. It is truly a seat-of-the-pants effort for me. Any lettering I've had to do, such as the kayak's name, was done by laying out a layer of electrical tape on the area I wanted to paint the name on, then cutting out the name using a stencil and craft blade, then painting paint into the cutout spaces.

When I do the graphics for the Raven I'll have to get into some detailed drawing. I want to do a picture of a raven flying off across the bow clutching the coaming in its talons (if ravens have talons). When done it should look like the raven is pulling me along. Superstitious? Yep! I'm hoping it helps me go faster when I use the raven to compete in the Games next year.

Robert N Pruden