Blending Problems

[Aliengod3]

So I have been trying to practice with dilute paint and I am running into some problems. I dilute my paint to about 75 - 80 percent and here is my issue.

I am having trouble with the push and pull of the paint. I get how it works and understand the control of it but I am not sure how to handle this method when I am highlighting and having to push the paint into smaller areas for the lighter highlights. Should I be tapping the brush on the mini for the lighter highlights in the area I want the paint to rest? Should I dilute my paint less or more?

Painting for me was so much easier when I used to paint with 1:1, wateraint. But I believe that I can make better blends and better minis with more dilute paint but it is so difficult.

I went to LA Gamesday and had a chance to see some real successful pieces. The painting was so solid and the blending was so precise that the minis looked impeccable. Normally when I try to make such sharp blends the blend just ends up looking blurry and not too crisp or sharp. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make blends more sharp, or good answers to my earlier question, PLEASE HELP! Thanks

 

[mattrock]

Can you post a link or a pic of something you think is blended \'sharply\'?

I\'m not sure I\'m following what you\'re after. Seems like the less sharp the blend the better in most situations, but I may just not be on the same page with you yet.

 

[Aliengod3]

Explaining what I mean by sharp is difficult but basically it is a high quality blend. Alexi Z makes real sharp blends meaning that each transition is clear and each color in the blend is as prominant as the darkest shade and highlight. The midtones look just as brilliant as the lightest and darkest colors and do not look blurry. Again it is difficult to put in to words but I hope this is better.

I guess sharpness, to me, is smoothness. I can blend but I have problems making them really smooth and opaque. \"Pushing\" highlights, with dilute paint, into smaller and smaller areas as the highlight gets lighter is difficult and the smoothness of the blend is causing some trouble and I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on how to make them as smooth as possible.

 

[Ritual]

I\'m not sure I understand your problem completely, but my initial thought is that you may be using too much paint on the brush, which is a very common problem. When doing highlights and shadows it\'s always better to have too little paint on the brush than having to much. When you have little paint on the brush you will automatically get a transition of sorts when you drag the brush along the mini, as the paint is almost immediately running short. If you have a slightly moisty brush to begin with you will get more dilution of the paint as the amount of paint lessens and thus the paint will become more transparent the further you continue the brush stroke.

Once on the mini, you shouldn\'t have to push or pull the paint any further. That is a technique unsuitable for acrylic (or vinyl) paint as it dries so quickly. If you apply very dilute glazes, you can pull the paint a bit using a dry brush, but for applying smaller, controlled highlights, for instance, you should aim for getting the paint in the right place at once.

 

[Avelorn]

You can do the lightest tone solid and then blend the transition.

When you have to drag paint around it is like ritual say, you are using too much paint on the brush. That is no problem when you can blend towards an edge as you have a natural cut off point for the blend, somewhere to lift the brush, but when doing rounded shapes like spacemarine shoulderpads that can be a headache.

If the colours look off when blending it can also be rather that you use too much white in the highlights or similar. You can always fix the tones with glazes afterwards.

Pictures would of course help.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Ritual
I\'m not sure I understand your problem completely, but my initial thought is that you may be using too much paint on the brush, which is a very common problem.

Ditto.

Aliengod3, generally when you\'re working with very dilute paint you want the brush to be just damp, not truly wet. The paint in the brush should still be controllable, that\'s what you want to aim for so unload or blot enough of the watery mix out of the brush to get to that stage.

Einion

 

[Aliengod3]

I guess my problem is that the highlight, after my layers, still looks blotchy. As if I just put one strong highlight in which the edges of the lighter color are easily seen.

While painting I have been diluting about 4:1, water: paint and putting a super small amount of paint just on the very tip of my brush. There is barely any paint on the brush but I still have trouble controlling it. Maybe I should give up on dilute paint. Or use a smaller brush - the one I am using is a size 0 Raphael 8404. I have up to a 0/4, maybe I will try a smaller brush.

Maybe refined is a better word than sharp. Like sculpting the more an area is worked into smaller and smaller details the more refined the detail becomes and the better the sculpt looks. I have having trouble refining my blends to make them really good.

Here is a pic of blotchy unrefined highlights: http://www.coolminiornot.com/152707

Here is a pic of refined and smooth highlights: http://www.coolminiornot.com/88650

@Ritual: Understanding what you said earlier, is it better to dilute the paint less for smaller areas?

 

[Ritual]

Have you tried doing what you do now, but divide the process into more steps with less change in colour between each step? Pretty much like layering. It will be easier that way to ensure that you get enough midtone in your dark-to-light transitions.

 

[Aliengod3]

Until recently I used to use paint thinned to about 1:1 and I used to add real small amounts of lighter colors to my mix as I thought layering subtly was the best way to blend. But after seeing what artists like Automaton and Allan C could acheive with real dilute glazes I decided to change my style. So far it has not worked out for me but I do not give up easily. At this point I am trying to find a happy medium between my old way of painting and my new way.

Aside from my lengthy psychobabble, to best answer your question, I still paint in the same fashion (with small amounts of highlight to my mixes) but I just dilute the paint more. I guess I am still used to less dilute paint - meaning quick change in color. Maybe I need more time to build up the opacity with dilute paint... I guess I am rushing and my blends look too rough and far from refined.

 

[Ritual]

Yeah, with more diluted paint you need a LOT more layers. I painted all of the skin on my Enigma gnome with glazes over an opaque base coat. I am not sure how many layers I put on, but it was more than 50. Quite possibly a lot more, even. It is important to make sure the previous layer is fully dry before applying the next one, or you risk breaking apart the previous layer and create a rough, grainy surface.

 

[Aliengod3]

More than 50 layers with just one color before highlighting with another?

 

[Ritual]

No, not that many, but perhaps 10-15 layers before adding more light paint to the mix.

 

[Aliengod3]

Ok I will apply what you have told me and see how my results end up. Also I will post some WIP pics so you can take a look and critique. I am currently working on a demon mini sculpted by Automaton.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[Ritual]

You\'re welcome! Remember to be thorough... It\'s SO easy to fall for the urge to take shortcuts and go against what you know, just to get quicker results. But it\'s really worth it taking the time and doing things properly.

 

[chaos877]

what? 85% water? cripes, I just put in a brushfull of water, depending on how much paint there is... I kinda hope I discover some kind of painting technique that gives me those results without so much water, but it wont happen :/

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by chaos877
what? 85% water? cripes, I just put in a brushfull of water, depending on how much paint there is...

Lots of us paint thin layers, very thin layers; quality work demands it.

10:1 dilution is commonplace and much higher dilution is often used for subtle effects.

Einion