Feathering? (Argghh!!!)

[Sigmork]

Hi just been trying to feather for the first time, argh! Its impossible, and I need to complete 60 miniatures by the end of this week!

Been looking on the site and found this:

Take some of the base color and start to apply it to the raised surfaces ONLY. As the paint drys very quickly, you will need to work FAST and do one section at a time (e.g., start with one lower leg front, then do the lower leg back or sides, then move to the next area). In order to blend you have to feather the line between the colors. That is, put your highlight color on one small area, then use a clean damp brush to soften the line between the two colors. Some people use two brushes for this, I have been doing it for so long I prefer to use just one brush. I quickly give the brush I am using a swirl in a pot of clean water and dab off the excess water on a bunch of wadded tissue. The end result is that my brush is damp and contains a small trace of the highlight color, which I feel helps with the blend. If you do it quickly enough (i.e., BEFORE the paint starts to harden!) then you will see the sharp line between the two colors disappear! If you find that the paints are drying too quickly, add a LITTLE flow enhancer, not too much or you will end up with a wash again!

I been going from grey to white, Ive basecoated grey, put a blob of white (slightly watered down, with some acrylic retarder in it) to the raised areas, dampened my brush, attempted to feather. But then, it all goes into the cracks, looking all unevenly distributed and blothchy:flame::flame::flame:

Can anyone help? Or is there an easier/ quicker way to do 60 in a week? (doesn\'t have to look to good)

Please reply soon as I am running out of time.

 

[Arkzein]

Sounds like you\'re using either too much paint, too damp a brush or both. The paint shouldn\'t be pooling or running into the cracks. (I know, it can seem to dry too fast when you use less, but the retarder should be helping with that)

Personally I use a kitchen towel and touch the bush to that before the mini which gets off most of the excess, should do the same for the clean brush and water. (Though I just plonk the brush I\'m using in my mouth to clean it/remove the excess and then straight back to the mini, not for everyone that but it is quicker if fighting something drying out fast )

As for 60 a week... I can\'t even imagine how, I don\'t paint that many a year! Sounds like either something for a simple drybrush/wash or perhaps just edging the highlights (Mind you a quick feather could work there) and then picking out a few details.

 

[Sigmork]

Thanks for the tips, I\'ll see if I can make it work any better.

The 60 a week aren\'t display models, just an army I have left a little to late

 

[Ritual]

Originally posted by Arkzein
Sounds like you\'re using either too much paint, too damp a brush or both.

I think the latter is your problem. You say you put a blob of white on, which to me suggests you put too much paint on. It\'s always better to put too little paint on than too much as that will make you lose control over the paint. You can always apply a new layer if the first one didn\'t give enough effect.

That the paint goes into the cracks immediately when you start with the damp brush suggests to me that the brush is wet rather than damp. Again, this will make it impossible for you to control the paint. It should only be damp enough so that you can stretch the paint over the darker area until it is blended into the underlying colour.