After looking at some of the minis on this site, I\'ve decided I\'m in the right place to ask for a few hints. What\'s the best method for washing and wetbrushing to REALLY bring out the different shades and details of a mini? I do some of both, and drybrushing as well, but I\'ve never been quite able to get the really rich look some of these minis have. Any ideas for shading and highlighting, especially for flat surfaces.
Washing and Wetbrushing
- Thread starter raperm
- Start date
Chrispy
Active member
I suspect by wetbrushing you mean wet blending. I\'v only used this one or twice on large areas, and though the effect looks nice, it can be tricky. Basically it\'s blending two colors while the paint is still wet. I pefer to blend wet, watered down paint onto already dry paint..
Another tip is that if it hasn\'t been sealed and it\'s dry to the touch, you can still make it \"bleed\" by adding water to it. I don\'t use inks too much now adays as mine looks kinda glossy. Instead, I start with a dark color and work up highlights. Drybrushing may be fast, but I don\'t use it except on fur and such because as much as you do it, the color you are using never fully shows, so you\'ll have to paint it on anyways.
Hope this helps!
Another tip is that if it hasn\'t been sealed and it\'s dry to the touch, you can still make it \"bleed\" by adding water to it. I don\'t use inks too much now adays as mine looks kinda glossy. Instead, I start with a dark color and work up highlights. Drybrushing may be fast, but I don\'t use it except on fur and such because as much as you do it, the color you are using never fully shows, so you\'ll have to paint it on anyways.
Hope this helps!
Flashman14
Member
Chrispy is right - limit drybrushing to heavily textured areas like fur and that kinda thing.
Lotsa folks (myself included) do what\'s called the layering technique - takes quite a bit longer but gives you mush richer colors with a lot of depth. Haley is one of the more famous and successful proponents of this and on her site she describes it at length . . .
Lotta masters display here and many have links where they describe how they achieve what they do . . . find those artists you like (scan the top 10 minis for starters) and see if they got a website. There really is tons of help to be had on such a broad topic that you\'ve brought up.
Lotsa folks (myself included) do what\'s called the layering technique - takes quite a bit longer but gives you mush richer colors with a lot of depth. Haley is one of the more famous and successful proponents of this and on her site she describes it at length . . .
Lotta masters display here and many have links where they describe how they achieve what they do . . . find those artists you like (scan the top 10 minis for starters) and see if they got a website. There really is tons of help to be had on such a broad topic that you\'ve brought up.
No Such Agency
New member
Jen Haley\'s site:
Paintrix Miniatures. Hope that helps
She\'s certainly not the final authority (nor is anyone) but she\'s very good.
Paintrix Miniatures. Hope that helps
She\'s certainly not the final authority (nor is anyone) but she\'s very good.Well... I\'d have to agree, wet blending can be a royal pain in the ass, so I limit it to large flat areas, or large areas with a gentle curve, since they have no hard edges and are difficult to highlight with layered paint, unless you build up several (dozen) layers of paint in succession.
Another really easy way to achieve the same look is to heavily water down your paint and have a go... but remember when you water down paint for a highlight, especially if you\'re using a lot of water, add more of the lighter color to the mix to help achieve contrast easier.
Drybrushing is messy, so I stay away from it, as much as humanly possible. I usually delegate it to bases and fur.
Joe
Another really easy way to achieve the same look is to heavily water down your paint and have a go... but remember when you water down paint for a highlight, especially if you\'re using a lot of water, add more of the lighter color to the mix to help achieve contrast easier.
Drybrushing is messy, so I stay away from it, as much as humanly possible. I usually delegate it to bases and fur.
Joe
