Newb Wash Help

[nesbit37]

I just started painting minis again after about a 15 year break, and am having a huge problem getting washes to work for me. I was about 13 the last time I painted and was self taught, so all the techniques I am teaching myself now are off the net. I am trying to make my own washes, and they are either too thin and don\'t do anything, or too thick and cover everything and fill detail. I am using cheap acrylic paints from a local craft store for the time being, which I know are not the best, but are all I have to work with for the time being. Anyone have any tips of water to paint ratio, or anything like that? I really want to use washes effectively to greatly improve my poor skills currently, but its just not working for me

 

[PegaZus]

Ten parts water to one part paint is what I\'ve usually heard bantered around. It sounds like that maybe the cheap acrylics are too cheap, but I\'ve used Folk Art, Americana, and others with some success. They aren\'t as nice to use and will show on really close inspection, but there shouldn\'t be that much of an issue.

And remember, a wash really isn\'t suppose to do that much! Just enough to dirty things up a little and provide some shadowing. Maybe several layers of wash is what is needed here.

 

[demonherald]

could be the paints... key things to remember...
1)when making the dilution make sure the water you are using is crystal clean.
2) don\'t put too much paint on. you want a damp rather than wet brush ..probably the biggest mistake people make with washes is putting on too much...as a rule of thumb before applying hold the paintbrush bristles down and tap the handle.. If a droplet forms you have too much on.
3) when applying apply in one direction..if shading paint towards the shadow pushing the pigment along.
4) thin layers several times always get better results than one big layer.

without having the paints to try the best thing I can suggest is to get a clean white tile or similar.Add 1 part paint to around 4 water...
Draw a line on the tile..you are aiming for a fairly transparent effect . play about and add water until your happy..

 

[nesbit37]

Thanks, you were both very helpful. I tried out a Medusa last night using both of your tips and it looks infinitely better than what I was previously doing with washes. The 10 to 1 mix seems to work better with these paints, and 2 or 3 washes seem to do the trick. Hooray for patience!

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by nesbit37
I am trying to make my own washes, and they are either too thin and don\'t do anything...

No such thing really. If a wash is light enough that it doesn\'t really colour that much then it\'s easy as pie to put down another one on top when the first one is dry. And again and again if necessary

A lot depends on the quality of the finish you want (and how fast you want to work) but generally for almost all painting a couple of thinner coats is better than one thick coat and building washes in stages can give quite different - usually better, but not always - results than a single heavy wash.

Originally posted by nesbit37
Anyone have any tips of water to paint ratio, or anything like that?

Add enough water for the wash to work the way you want it to. Sounds trite but really, that\'s the way you do it - too thin? Add less water (or a little more paint to the existing wash). Too thick? Add more water. Some paints, including individual colours in a single range, just don\'t wash well though.

Einion