Re:[OT]-ish : Figure painting question

Washes are an acquired knack. It takes a lot of experimentation to 
get the right. Generally, you want to err on the thinner side. It's 
easy to let it dry and do another layer, but difficult to remove a 
wash. I have found that acrylic paint rarely washes well - you want 
inks instead. And don't buy 'em from a hobby shop (especially GW 
inks). The formulation for a wash is different, so you want artist's 
color acylic inks. The quality will be better than gamer inks (GW) or 
washes (Dragoncolors) and will cost less [1].

The real trick is to keep practicing and varying the density of your 
wash. There's no help for that.

Try mixing a bit of brown into your sand cammo and washing with the 
combo. You'll want to do your highlight coat after the wash, not 
before. Chestnut ink works wonders over sand.

All this is, of course, why I prefer drybrushing.

[1] Generally speaking, artist's acrylics will cost less and have 
excellent color. Any art supply shop will have an excellent selection.

At 10:30 PM -0400 5/23/01, Thomas Barclay wrote:
>Okay, let's just say I've got some figs painted,
>but they lack a certain shading/depth. I'm
>happy with my work on the camouflage, etc. but
>I think what I need is a nice wash to pick out the
>depths.
>
>Only..... I'm scared. :)
>
>I've used a dirty brown wash on brown and tan
>figures to good effect. I've used a black wash
>on grey-black figures to good effect. But now,
>having a base colour of sand/desert yellow
>(with green and brown and wee black bits), I
>have no bleedin' idea what to use as a wash.
>I'm afraid brown or black will blech-ify (yes I just
>invented the word) the yellow/sand based camo
>but I can't see how else to get the highlighting.
>
>I've had one less successful wash venture: UN
>white armoured figures, tried washing with mid-
>grey. Not dark enough to be effective.
>
>So, any thoughts? What's the usual mix ratio for
>washes and do you usually just slap on lots of
>the stuff and let the dilute nature of the solution
>wash the pigment off the raised areas? Or do
>you use a cloth or wipe and take off any
>pigment that settles high (or dry brush over it
>later?).
>
>Thanks for any advice.
>
>Tomb Raider.
>Working on figs for Campcon on June 1-3 in
>Towanda PA.

-- 

Michael Carter Llaneza	 
Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1991-1950

Devolution is very real to me.

Whenever I hear the "Odd Couple" theme, I get this image of Dennis