Newbie Question: painting schemes for Gauls
ArtBeau
I have begun collecting an army of 25 Gauls. The minis are mostly from Old
Glory's Gallic Wars line, but a few are also from Wargames Foundry. I am a
skilled painter, but sometimes I heed help with the research end of things. I
would apprecie advice in any of the following areas:
1) Hair: All of the books say that Gauls put lime in their hair to make it
stand on end. However, what color would lime covered hair be?
2) Clothing Colors: A recent wargames magazine (forgot which one) showed
photos of Gaul miniatures. They were painted in very bright colors--purples,
astro-turf greens, brilliant reds, and clean blues. The colors seemed too
unrealistic to me. What colors would Gallic clothing most likely be?
3) Plaid patterns: Many illustrations show Gauls wearing clothing with plaid
patterns. What is a quick, but effective way to get realistic plaid
patterning?
How can plaid be painted on a surface with many folds?
4) Shields: Would the surfaces of the shields be painted with bright patterns,
or would the shields be painted in solid, dull colors?
5) Helmet: Were most helmets made from iron or bronze? In addtion, the
artifacts that still exist are dark and correded. Would bronze helmets be
polished to a high shine, or would the bronze look dull and dark from the
beginning?
Thank you in advance for taking time to respond.
Matthew Beauchamp
Ross Macfarlane
> stand on end. However, what color would lime covered hair be?
White. (Lime used to be used to whitewash things)I tend to paint the hair as per
normal then dry brush white. Not having seen anyone with their hair limed I am
guessing about the effect.
> 2) Clothing Colors: A recent wargames magazine (forgot which one) showed
>
Thye mostly likely used vegetable dies so muted reds&blues&greens&browns&yellowsare
likely.
> 3) Plaid patterns: Many illustrations show Gauls wearing clothing with plaid
> patterns. What is a quick, but effective way to get realistic plaid
> patterning? How can plaid be painted on a surface with many folds?
Paint in a base colour then lay on a series of lines paralleling 1 edge of the
garment. Thenlay in another series of lines at right angles. It gets a little
tricky with folded or drooping
items like cloaks but just try follow the contours and keep your eye on the edge.
For a more
complex look you can add an overstripe. Checked as opposed to tartan may have been
more common
but is harder to paint. Basically it calls for a base coat then painting a series
of squares in a line with the gaps inbetween the same size as the squares. Next
draw another line of squares offset so the corners touch and on and on. Can look
really good when down even if not perfect.
> 4) Shields: Would the surfaces of the shields be painted with bright patterns,
> or would the shields be painted in solid, dull colors?
Geometric and spiral patterns would have been common esp on the wealthier types.
> 5) Helmet: Were most helmets made from iron or bronze? In addtion, the
> artifacts that still exist are dark and correded. Would bronze helmets be
> polished to a high shine, or would the bronze look dull and dark from the
> beginning?
>
Both are possible and both would be polished. The bronze would be similar to whatwe
call brass.
Hope this helps
- Ross
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/kcrane/macduff.html
Steve H.
>
> Hello,
>
> I have begun collecting an army of 25 Gauls.
Only 25?? Call that an army....?! :o)))
(I know, I know... apologies all....)
Steve H,.
--
(spam proofing: remove the *'s in the id. above when replying by email)
moses
as per
>normal then dry brush white. Not having seen anyone with their hair limed I
am
>guessing about the effect.
Just for another opinion, I actually disagree. If you drybrush white, then
the highlights would be white. The way I see limed hair, is that the lime
would be deep in the roots, and the bits that got knocked off by wind/shrubs
etc would actually rise to be their natural colour. To achieve this, I
painted my gauls (I only have a few for a Greek army, but none the less) is
to paint their hair normal, heavily drybrush with cream (or white, but I
used cream) and then again drybrush lightly with the natural colour. Again,
this is just an opinion, because as Ross said, I've never seen Limed hair.
<snip>
<re: metal surfaces>
>Both are possible and both would be polished. The bronze would be similar
to whatwe
>call brass.
To highlite this point, the Gauls were great workers of metal and gold (as
I'm sure you know) and would therefore be skilled at polishing such things
as metal helmets etc). I considered this when painting their
standards/instruments/and armour.
>Hope this helps
Me too
Ian