Guest Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 I know it takes time, patience, and practice but... How do you use your inks and washes? I don't like to get a lot of paint on my brush, yet when I go to put a wash or ink a mini, it doesn't run into the creases (even with thinning and extender). And drybrushing/highlighting. Ugh. I've done this in the past with great success, but when trying to highlight through drybrushing while most of it lightly goes on the very tips of the folds of cloth, some of it invariably ends up in the folds. Needless to say Neferu has gone into Pinesol... again. Everything was starting to look blotchy. I wanted a white skirt, but started with a granite grey for the base, washed with a darker gray, and began highlighting in lighter gray-dragonbone white. Frustrated, I added a black in wash (thinned with water and ink extender) then tried a dragonbone white drybrush again. ARGH !! I think I've lost my touch :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scowling Posted September 11, 2002 Author Share Posted September 11, 2002 Don't drybrush anything except hair and fur. Use blending and wet highlighting instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Froggy the Great Posted September 11, 2002 Moderator Share Posted September 11, 2002 What do you mean by "Wet Highlighting"? I'd love to be able to pick up another technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helixx Harpell Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 I know it takes time, patience, and practice but... How do you use your inks and washes? ARGH !! I think I've lost my touch †:( Man, I've been there.. I know how you feel. There was a time not too long ago where I felt that I was at the end of my painting rope in life. I had been painting alot during a 6 month period and was starting to feel a little "washed out" (pun intended). I stopped painting for awhile completely. Didn't touch a brush for at least 2 months. I think they call it "taking a sebatacle" (sp?) At any rate, maybe it's the type of brush you're using? What kinds of primer are you using? Some primers may say "flat" but really give you somewhat of a minor gloss sheen. That can really screw up a good wash technique. Also, is the mini primed so that you don't have a grain-like finish? Smooth and flat is the best. White primier(IMO) works best. And try to get a can that says, "metal primer" the paint grains are thinner and it will go on smoother. I've also got 2 other posts in "tips and advice" about washes and inks. It may help you with your dilema. I feel your pain.. Steve C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 I've been out of mini painting for about 6 or so years and have only recently started to rebuild my paints, brushes, etc. I've got some good brushes, Reaper paints, and have been using an old but still good Polly S rust colored brush on primer I've always used. I've tried spray primers, but living in a hot and high-humidity area, most times I can't get them to come out right (just tried a white Armoury the other day and it came out looking like Christmas flocking ) It's flat and not gloss at all, but I've never, ever done washes or inks before in my painting, so I'm really a beginner when it comes to that. As for the wet highlighting... the paint dries WAY too fast for me to do any kind of wetwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Froggy the Great Posted September 11, 2002 Moderator Share Posted September 11, 2002 That's what I find. I look at the tutorials on the Reaper site, and my first question on those little details is "How do you keep the paint wet enough to get it onto the mini?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helixx Harpell Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 Now I've heard of the term "wet highlighting" but have seldom used that technique. Maybe Scowling can chime in here and elaborate for us. For those who have followed the "creating flames" thread.... Inks and washes really do well with the flames technique. The crystaline structure of the epoxy/super glue mix really takes well to inks a little better than washes. I use GW's yellow, red and orange inks just for that purpose. Then a dry brush of some vibrant yellow to bring out the raised surface of the crystaline. What I should have done with my past flame efforts was to add some gloss coat to the flames that might have been a better effect. I'm going to try that on my next effort. Now.. to spend that $300+ on that digital camera! later guys.. I'm outta here for the day! Steve C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scowling Posted September 11, 2002 Author Share Posted September 11, 2002 Wet highlighting: highlighting by using wet paint. Use multiple layers of slightly thined paint and paint on the highlights instead of drybrushing them on haphazardly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Froggy the Great Posted September 11, 2002 Moderator Share Posted September 11, 2002 I guess so. Okay. Every time I try to do this, I get paint in the crevasses, and it's a quick race against the drying paint to fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helixx Harpell Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 Wet highlighting: highlighting by using wet paint. Use multiple layers of slightly thined paint and paint on the highlights instead of drybrushing them on haphazardly. Thats what I thought Scowling. Thanks for chiming in! I tried that technique once and like Frosch I fought to keep the mixture the right consistency. I haven't abandoned that technique yet though. I'm planning on experimenting with some really OLD (yes 20 yrs+) Old minis that I stripped last night. Could be rather interesting. It's all in the "mix" right Scowling? BTW.. I've been visiting your website today and I must say I really enjoy your work. You've seem to have captured that "GW" style made famous over the last 3 or 4 Golden Daemons. I remember way back in the early 90s (yes thats waaaay back! :) ) when that style wasn't present. it's really interesting the way the hobby has evolved. Now we've got these really cool Reaper minis and I'm glad they've given us GW hard cores a wider range to choose from. Man, last year at Origins(I'm from Ky BTW) I must have spent most of one whole day at the Reaper booth! Later fellas. Steve C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 How does one keep the paint wet long enough to work with it? That's my main problem with the blending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooding Paladin Posted September 12, 2002 Share Posted September 12, 2002 I use an extender. Even though I don't have an airbrush, I've found that the best extender is anairbrush transparent extender. The brand I buy is "Golden Airbrush Colors" and it has given me great results. After I've got my paint on my palette, I add a drop or two of this and mix it in. Your paint will stay nice and wet for much longer. A 4 oz. bottle only cost me $3.60 and it should last me a very long time. Plus, it has a dropper-top so you can really control how much you add. I hope you have the same luck I have had with this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Froggy the Great Posted September 12, 2002 Moderator Share Posted September 12, 2002 I guess I'll just have to try, then. Thanks for the tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokingwreckage Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 I haven't done it for a while, but if you get it right you can add just a little water straight onto the mini to keep your work area wet. Then you twist the brush (so that it's spinning on its long axis) and draw the one colour into the next, which blends them. Any comments from really good painters? I haven't done this in years as I got out of miniatures for a while and now have to rebuild my skills. I used this for cloaks etc on my Skaven for Bloodbowl- before I pronounced jihad on GW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokingwreckage Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 Umm, you want to have your layering colours ready to go for this technique, say three for a reasonable job, and If i recall, blend the darks out into the lights, thus generally working from crease to raised fold- this should I think help with the accidental wash/mudslide problem? Comments from paint gurus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.