The word you are looking for is Quill... the hard bit within a feather. As in Duck Down.. Down doesn't have the hard quill in the feather. So Down is soft.
I have a pen that’s similar to those watercolor pens but it’s prefilled with water-based black ink. Will that work or will it come out dull/gray instead of black? It doesn’t have to be *jet* black, as long as it looks black. Also, what kind of brush are you using? Would a soft hairbrush like a baby brush or a nail scrubbing brush work?
@@tebawihi5 I'm sorry, this method has worked for years on the craft feathers I've used. Could it be you used different paint or paint with a lot of thickness?
No, it's completely dry and color fast once it's brushed out. We haven't gotten them wet, however, I wouldn't expect the color to stay if that were to happen.
Emiley Johnson I don’t know if the colors run when they get wet. I can do a test but we are out of town for a couple of weeks. If you try it before then, please let me know!
I'm not sure what you mean. This dye method will make the feather stick together and look like a wet bird. :) If you want dyed feathers but not fluffy, you might try a VERY stiff feather. They are available at craft stores (usually quite large and come in 3-packs). But I honestly don't know if they will take the watercolor the same way. I haven't tested it. Let me know what you find out!