im new to paint/miniatures.

[MonkeySloth 9148]

Its only good for oils.

[azizcansaythis 11]

I don't. I imagine if it is used it's to break surface tension of the wash and allow it to flow more evenly into the lines and crevices on a figure. There are other mediums that do the same. ranging from art supplies made for that, to improvised such as Pledge future floor cleaner

@shadow raven - lets say, i only painted the armor chest (base) army green wait until it dried out then i washed it w/ the same color (example P3 ratio 1:1 paint:water), will that color shade work out?

this mini. figure for the armor chest   http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/shop/index.php/male-high-elf-warrior.html

 

same thing as the blue robe w/ a different base "same" color/wash, keep repeating in a different section after section. ty adv.

Edited April 13, 2014 by azizcansaythis

[ShadowRaven 55968]

I don't think so, no. Washes tend to work best when they are a few shades darker than the base so they create the illusion of shadows in the recessed areas

[buglips*the*goblin 93778]

I don't think so, no. Washes tend to work best when they are a few shades darker than the base so they create the illusion of shadows in the recessed areas

 

Yes.  Also you can use them to tint a surface a different colour.  When I do "monster mouth" I paint the mouth area a very pink colour, then use Coat D'Arms flesh wash.  This both shades and tints the pink to give a more realistic look that's not very pink at all.  Or to age armor I might paint it with a basecoat of silver or chainmail, and then give it a wash of chestnut.  

 

Miniature painting is complexity from simplicity.  The basic rules for techniques are pretty simple, but there are countless ways you can do different things with them.  Figuring out what, and what you like, will come with time and practice so try not to get overwhelmed at first with all the options and terminology. 

[RouterMike 2210]

As an example here, using the Cygnar color pack you wanted to pick up.

 

You'll notice it has colors for the Cygnar blue base and blue highlight. If you like the blue base and highlight colors enough to use them as base and highlight, you could pick up a bottle of a darker blue at your local game store and use that for a shadow/wash

 

You could also get creative and use the blue base as your shadow color for washes. Use the blue highlight as your base color, and mix some blue highlight with the arcane blue to get another shade lighter highlight color.

 

There's absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to the color label on the bottle, use whatever colors for whatever purpose you want.

 

Quick edit: The mercenary pack does have the Exile blue, but I'm not sure that's going to give you enough contrast for shadows. You'll hear people on here recommend quite often that the newcomers need more contrast. Deepen your shadows, lighten your highlights.

Edited April 13, 2014 by RouterMike

[ShadowRaven 55968]

not just 'newcomers' I get told deeper shadows and higher highlights quite regularly myself

[Mad Jack 48712]

 Same here - I sometimes spend hours doing what I think are decent highlights and then post pics only to see them completely disappear in the images... Crank those highlights and shadows - you can always tone them down afterward.

[azizcansaythis 11]

As an example here, using the Cygnar color pack you wanted to pick up.

 

You'll notice it has colors for the Cygnar blue base and blue highlight. If you like the blue base and highlight colors enough to use them as base and highlight, you could pick up a bottle of a darker blue at your local game store and use that for a shadow/wash

 

You could also get creative and use the blue base as your shadow color for washes. Use the blue highlight as your base color, and mix some blue highlight with the arcane blue to get another shade lighter highlight color.

 

There's absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to the color label on the bottle, use whatever colors for whatever purpose you want.

 

Quick edit: The mercenary pack does have the Exile blue, but I'm not sure that's going to give you enough contrast for shadows. You'll hear people on here recommend quite often that the newcomers need more contrast. Deepen your shadows, lighten your highlights.

 

i was debating either to buy blue or green colors. now that you mentioned about the blue colors im just gonna get that then. thank you.

[kay13 14512]

 

As an example here, using the Cygnar color pack you wanted to pick up.

 

You'll notice it has colors for the Cygnar blue base and blue highlight. If you like the blue base and highlight colors enough to use them as base and highlight, you could pick up a bottle of a darker blue at your local game store and use that for a shadow/wash

 

You could also get creative and use the blue base as your shadow color for washes. Use the blue highlight as your base color, and mix some blue highlight with the arcane blue to get another shade lighter highlight color.

 

There's absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to the color label on the bottle, use whatever colors for whatever purpose you want.

 

Quick edit: The mercenary pack does have the Exile blue, but I'm not sure that's going to give you enough contrast for shadows. You'll hear people on here recommend quite often that the newcomers need more contrast. Deepen your shadows, lighten your highlights.

 

i was debating either to buy blue or green colors. now that you mentioned about the blue colors im just gonna get that then. thank you.

 

 

Depending on where you are based, if you can buy Reaper paints they come in "triads" which contain a shadow tone, mid tone & highlight.  This can definately come in handy.  Also, it is possible to buy directly from the reaper site... or other sites.

 

Ie  examples of the triads in blues.  Even you you choose not to use reaper paints, the pictures below might help in getting colours for your shadow, mid & highlight.

 

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09719

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09707

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09706

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09777

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09726

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09739

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/triad/latest/09763