So today I had to run errands and prime a bunch of models to work on for various projects. I got to prime the Storm Warden Librarian today and put a little bit of paint on him late this evening. I figured I would do a little step by step on how I painted his face. So here goes...
I first thin down Vallejo Game Color Tan (GW Tanned Flesh) 2 parts paint, 1 part water, 1 part flow improver. I then paint this on the model anywhere the skin will be, it can be messy, but should probably take you about 2 coats to cover it.
Next I take Vallejo's Dwarf Skin (GW Dwarf Flesh) and do the same mixture. At this point I paint it on all areas except the deepest recesses of the face. I also paint the eyes black at this stage.
Finally I do a mix of Dwarf Skin and Elf Skintone 50/50 but thin this with additional part of water. Trying to be careful to paint on the raised edges of the dwarf skin areas. And I try to get in the eyes with the white. Pretty simple recipe, and a lot of painters use it. Maybe it's just me but I feel like the GW colors blend a bit better, for some reason the Vallejo Game Color paints don't like to mix it seems. Oh well, progress is progress. I just have to decide if I want to leave his eyes white (which I like doing on Librarians) or finish them off...
Very impressive highlights in the head.
ReplyDeleteNot practical for the squadies but I´ll try it in my HQ´s.
The only problem is... I don´t even know what flow improver is :( (I can make a supposition but I´ve never heard of it till now)
You can get it from most art supply shops. I found this description which sums it up pretty well
ReplyDelete"Flow improvers, sometimes referred to as "thinners", affect acrylic paint in exactly the manner in which their name implies -- they enhance fluidity and "flow." Unlike water, however, flow improvers don't dilute the pigments within the paint but instead work to maintain color strength and vibrancy by suspending the pigment in solution rather than allowing it to sink, as it will in water. A number of flow improvers also adjust surface tension, which in turn allows the paint to flow more smoothly from the brush."
Amazingly simple yet a stunning result. I'll have to give this a try at some point. Would windex be a viable thinner? I know it can be used with airbrushes but would you consider it a possibility when painting with a brush. And since I'm already asking one question I'll ask another. What are you using for the Librarian hand? It looks like the devastator hand for the missile launcher.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Messanger
Hey Messanger. I would definetly say No to the Windex thing. From what I have seen, Windex is awesome for cleaning paint off surfaces, which would lead me to think it would do the same when thinned down and put into your paint. You can stick with just plain old water. I have only been experimenting with the flow improver. I have tried it off and on and really don't see a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are correct, the left hand is from the Devastator missile launcher.
Thankyou for the quick reply. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the Librarian painted.
ReplyDeleteMessanger