Help with Glazing

[Aliengod3]

I did a search in the forums and could not find what I was looking for so I was hoping to get some help with glazing. It is not something that I use but I am trying to figure it out and I wanted a couple questions answered.

1. How dilute should the paint be? 1 part paint 5 parts water?

2. Once the glazing is done is it fairly common to have to re-highlight and shade the glazed areas?

3. Can an area that is highlighted and shaded be glazed with some other color that is not similar to the colors used to highlight and shade to create a smooth blend? For instance glazing an area that is highlighted and shaded red with a bluish color.

4. Is glazing easier when using a medium or is water pretty good?

5. What is the difference between glazing and nuances?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Aliengod3
1. How dilute should the paint be? 1 part paint 5 parts water?

Like with most things I would strongly recommend not going in terms of formulas, since apart from each colour varying anyway if yours is a little drier than someone else\'s you need to use more water even for the same colour.

Basic answer then is: enough to make the paint do what you want. I would generally make the paint pretty dilute, at or near the level of a wash but there\'s very little of it on the brush when you apply it.

That\'s the basic difference between a wash and a glaze - apply lots for the first thing, a thin layer for the second. And just like with washes you can also glaze with a heavy solution or with something so dilute it\'s just dirty water.

Originally posted by Aliengod3
2. Once the glazing is done is it fairly common to have to re-highlight and shade the glazed areas?

Sometimes. Depends a bit on the colour (and how heavily you glaze obviously) - when you glaze with a paint that\'s a bit too opaque it will lighten the shadows as well as subduing the highlights as you\'d expect. So in that case you may have to re-establish both.

One way around this if you plan to use a glaze, to smooth transitions and unify the colours a bit, is to deliberately go a little lighter and darker than you would otherwise. Then the glaze will bring the contrast down to the level you want.

Originally posted by Aliengod3
3. Can an area that is highlighted and shaded be glazed with some other color that is not similar to the colors used to highlight and shade to create a smooth blend? For instance glazing an area that is highlighted and shaded red with a bluish color.

Yep, certainly. But you\'ll want to try it on a case-by-base basis to see the effect as it can look very weird.

Part of the problem is that most hobby paints are made to cover. Traditionally glazing was done using the most transparent of paints and certain effects are best done with very transparent pigments.

Originally posted by Aliengod3
4. Is glazing easier when using a medium or is water pretty good?

Medium can definitely help. But by all means try water first.

Originally posted by Aliengod3
5. What is the difference between glazing and nuances?

Are nuances just a type of glaze with a fancy new name? Sounds like it.

Einion

 

[Necroghast]

What would be a good medium to use? I\'ve only ever used water.

 

[Einion]

Well there are many prior threads with suggestions on mediums and additives. The one I can think of off the top of my head is W&N\'s Watercolour Blending Medium, supposed to work very well (used instead of water, as well as with water) with Vallejo Model Color for layering so it should help with glazing too. But there have been many other things recommended previously.

In addition to anything someone might already have suggested the acrylic paint makers all make mediums or additives that might be worth trying; between Golden and Liquitex only we\'ve got more than a dozen to choose from.

Einion

 

[Aliengod3]

Thanks Einion! :beer:

 

[Einion]

:beer: