colour question

[jknaus]

I am painting ( I say this very loosly) a Marcomanic warrior and I am to the footwear. What colour should this be? I know its leather but i9 have no idea how I would go about mixing oils to get a footwear thype colour. I've used Burnt Sienna ebamels before on my aircraft and tanks but I really dont know how to do this. I guess while I am here I may as well ask how you would go about painting the fur trim on his cape. I amm thinking wolf and would make this grey but I am not sure how to do it properly. I appreciate any help you might offer.
Photos are coming soon although I am loath to show my lack of talent.
James

 

[bwildfong]

I am painting ( I say this very loosly) a Marcomanic warrior and I am to the footwear. What colour should this be? I know its leather but i9 have no idea how I would go about mixing oils to get a footwear thype colour. I've used Burnt Sienna ebamels before on my aircraft and tanks but I really dont know how to do this. I guess while I am here I may as well ask how you would go about painting the fur trim on his cape. I amm thinking wolf and would make this grey but I am not sure how to do it properly. I appreciate any help you might offer.
Photos are coming soon although I am loath to show my lack of talent.
James

Hey James!

Always great to see a fellow Canuck posting here, and don't worry a bit about the photos you post - you'll find that the Planeteers are all about helping each other to improve our collective skills.

As to your questions, here's what has worked in the past for me:

a) leather work - I undercoat with Burnt Sienna acrylic, then brush over a coat of Burnt Umber or Raw Umber oils. I then use a dry brush to remove much of the oil coat, so you can see the acrylic undercoat showing through a bit. Blend in more Raw Umber for shadows (or even go all the way to Black for the outlining), and highlight with Burnt Sienna + White.

b) wolfskin - I'd start with a mid grey acrylic base, with a few brownish areas as well. You can then use a variety of darker grey/blackish oil washes to shade/define the individual hairs, finishing with a light silver-grey oil mix and a light tan oil mix for some selective highlights. I've only done this once, so others might have other ideas (?)

Hope this helps,

Cheers, eh !

Brian

 

[jknaus]

Thanks, everyone here has been quite helpful in all my questions. I'll try the suggestion for leather. One question though, how do you make silver-grey? I have just the basic oils and havent seen a silver oil paint at the store. Is there a mix to do? Thanks.
James

Hey James!

Always great to see a fellow Canuck posting here, and don't worry a bit about the photos you post - you'll find that the Planeteers are all about helping each other to improve our collective skills.

As to your questions, here's what has worked in the past for me:

a) leather work - I undercoat with Burnt Sienna acrylic, then brush over a coat of Burnt Umber or Raw Umber oils. I then use a dry brush to remove much of the oil coat, so you can see the acrylic undercoat showing through a bit. Blend in more Raw Umber for shadows (or even go all the way to Black for the outlining), and highlight with Burnt Sienna + White.

b) wolfskin - I'd start with a mid grey acrylic base, with a few brownish areas as well. You can then use a variety of darker grey/blackish oil washes to shade/define the individual hairs, finishing with a light silver-grey oil mix and a light tan oil mix for some selective highlights. I've only done this once, so others might have other ideas (?)

Hope this helps,

Cheers, eh !

Brian

 

[megroot]

James,
Even going further on highlighting leather you good also use Mars Orange. That's a great color for highlighting leather or even creating leather with burnt umber or raw umber.
Painting silver i advice you to stay away from the silver in oils. It looks worse. I have it, but use it once and stay away since then.
What i can advice is that you take some printers ink silver and mix it with black or raw umber.
After drying you can shade with black or raw umber and highlight with pure inkt.
I thought that Lou Masses did some articles on painting silver and gold without metallic paint. But Lou's website is temporarily not accesseble.
I hope he jumps in.

Marc

 

[bwildfong]

One question though, how do you make silver-grey? I have just the basic oils and havent seen a silver oil paint at the store. Is there a mix to do? Thanks.
James

Hi James,

Sorry for the imprecision in my previous explanation; by "silver-grey" I didn't mean to imply that you add a metallic silver into your mix. I was more referring to a shade of medium to light grey made with Titanium White, Ivory Black and maybe a bit of Raw Umber or Burnt Umber to warm it up a bit.

Hope this clears up any fogginess on my part.

Brian

 

[Wendy]

I can't be too helpful as far as colors go since I only paint with acrylics, but for the wolf fur, I suggest finding some pics of wolves to use as a reference. The real thing is the best guide. Besides, it's amazing the variety of coloration in wolves.

Have fun!