Blending, artist oil paints and 25mm figures
Mark Wensnahan
miniatures. I have been using water based acrylics primarily from Ral
Partha. However, now that I am doing more shading and highlighting I have
run into problems. The major problem is blending shadow to base color and
from base to highlight. The acrylic dries to quickly to allow me to
actually blend the two colors. I have tried mixing intermediate colors
and blending that way but to get a smooth transition you have to mix a
lot of colors (a real pain). I've tried using ink washes over crudely
highlighted figures and wasn't that happy with the result.
So my real question is this: has anyone tried using artist oil paints on
their figures? Is the paint to stiff to be easily applied to such small
surfaces? How hard is it to blend over very short distances?
Thanks, MarkW
TOH YUNG CHEONG
: So my real question is this: has anyone tried using artist oil paints on
: surfaces? How hard is it to blend over very short distances?
Sure, oil paints are excellent. Just a few tips.
1) Let them dry out on a index card for about 15mins
2) never,never use thinner. If you've just cleaned a brush with thinner,
don't use it until an hour or so.
3) Use clean, DRY brushes.
4) Blending. It requires practice. Oil paints are semi-glossy, that makes
seeing result of blending difficult for complex things like faces. You
just have to have faith :). After you spray clear flat, all will become
clear...
4a) IMPORTANT : many painting books for larger miniatures will inform you
that you can blend 1 hour after laying on the first coat. This does
not work for tiny miniatures. Its better to let the first coat dry
overnight before blending. (thats under 98% humidity - probably less
in other places 8))
5) for very short distances, I take this to mean *very* short, isn't it
better to just highlight? And yes, you can use oil paints to highlight
as well, just let them dry out on the index card a bit longer.
6) Many experts use enamels & oils mixed together as well. Sorry, I'm no
expert so I can't help you 8)
7) The drying time, use it to your advantage. I paint faces over the course
of a few days.
8) Flesh colours? Naples Yellow,Burnt Sienna,White,Cadmium Red (personal
preferences only)
Rick Rutherford
: So my real question is this: has anyone tried using artist oil paints on
: their figures?
Oils are wonderful for blending, but they have two major drawbacks:
1) They have a rough texture when dry, giving the figure a different
look than you think it will have when you first start working with it.
2) They take FOREVER to dry, and if you get impatient you stand a good
chance of smearing that beautiful blending job you did four hours ago
because you *just can't wait* to get back to painting that cool new figure.
--
Rick Rutherford rthr...@hamlet.umd.edu The above opinions are mine.
Thank you for letting me re-arrange the electrons on your hard disk.
"The four lay aloo in Laolao Bay." - Tom Clancy
Michael Joseph Speca
While I have no answers about oil paints, I do have several techniques
for blending the water-based acrylics. I would recommend against
oil-based paints of any kind because they are a real pain to manipulate
(becaused you need an oil-based thinner) and clean off your brush (or
mistakes on your models).
To blend the acrylics, thin them down a bit first before you apply them
to the model. Start with a basecoat of the darkest shade of the color
you are using over the whole area, that way, when you add the translucent
thinned color of the next lighter shade, a bit of the darker color will
still show through. Then, "feather" the edge of the lighter color with a
dry brush, which should blend it fairly effectively. You can get nice
results this way with only 3 layers, and I use up to 10 on character
models and other special troops.
If your blending looks a bit too light or not smooth enough, adding
layers of thinned paint (NOT a wash, but a glaze) of the median color
over the entire area will help smooth out the tones.
Hope this helps...