A few questions on blending/feathering

[BlackTooth]

Hello,

I\'ve tried my hand at this blending/feathering stuff and I\'m having mixed results. There seems to be some ambiguity over the net regarding what blending is, so I\'ll explain what I\'m doing. Hopefully I\'m usuing the right words to describe what I\'m doing.

Right-o. I\'m highlighting model by putting a layer of paint on top, cleaning my brush, and then smudging the edges so it makes gradual layers of highlights.

As said above, I\'m having mixed results. Some parts look really good, but others look patchy or grainy. I\'ve been using Scorched Brown as a base, and applying Bestiel Brown over the top. Am I supposed to mix the colours for layers in between? I was told not to, as by gently easing out the highlight colour it should give gradual highlights but mine looks a lot brighter than I expected.

Also, I was informed that in order to get this technique to look really good you need to do a lot of layers, yet I only do about 4 and the paint becomes as bright as it can. I\'ve tried watering my paint down to different levels. Sometimes it\'s too watery and doesn\'t stick the the model and pools in odd areas, so I water it down a little less and get only 4 to 8 layers out of it. Should I be adding some kind of glaze medium to help it or something?

Also, should I be starting with the darkest colour and working up? Or painting on a base and then putting in the shading and highlights?

Thanks for the help! :drunk:

 

[airhead]

It sounds like you are trying feathering or wet blending. (have a look in the articles section on those things).

Feathering is a good technique for large flat areas.

Wet blending is a way to get elaborate transitions across an area.

I am far from proficient with either technique, but I can give you the gists:

Two brushes help - three is better. All paint is fairly thin. 1:1 is a good start, you may want to go thinner. One brush has the darker color, the other the lighter color. Don\'t overload the brushes or they will dump paint in an area and you\'ll have no control.

Paint the dark color down in the valleys/shadows and part way out onto the highlight. Paint the light color on the highlight and partway into the shadow. The transition areas should blend. If not, the third brush with just a little water will help feather the two colors together.

Rinse all brushes. Move to next area.

*****

This is the reason most of us use layering. Paint suscessive layers of lighter colors in smaller areas until you are just hitting the hotspots with near white. The paint has to be dry underneath or you will damage it.

 

[Avelorn]

Sounds like you should go more gradual. Mix intermediary layers so to speak. If the transition shows, mix a midtone and glaze over it.

You are using feathering btw. Another thing to think about is to be really quick, if the paint starts trying you risk tearing it a part which leads to terrible results.