Creating a leather look surface on putty

[Dan Morton]

What works best to create a smooth leather appearance on putty? Not a suede leather surface. Smooth but worn cowhide leather like an aviation leather flight jacket or similar.

I read back through some prior posts for a clear answer, but couldn't find just one. Lots of opinions and suggestions, but I suppose what I'm looking for is the very best way to do this.

If possible, I'd like to avoid putting thinner or anything like that on the putty as a pre-treatment.

All the best,
Dan

 

[bigtodd]

What scale figure?

 

[Dan Morton]

1/16th scale. I'm working on a Spanish Civil
War officer figure wearing a waist length leather jacket.

All the best,
Dan

 

[bigtodd]

I have used a real cheap student version oil paint to get a rough look. I have found that since the pigments are not ground as fine and the more expensive brands that I can get a natural pebbly finish if I apply it on thick.

 

[Dan Morton]

Does it make any difference if you apply this after priming / before priming? What scales have you used this on? Does that matter?

Since Tony Dawe is using a similar technique to roughen khaki uniform cloth on the 1:9th scale Naked Army figures he's painting, I asked similar questions on his post.

Maybe these are stupid questions...I have no feel for this kind of process and maybe I'm over-analyzing. The roughened surfaces are of interest to me as a wannabee sculptor, not so much as a painter, but I guess the technique kills two birds with one brush. Eh?

All the same,
Dan

 

[bigtodd]

For me it was a 120mm scale, after it was primed. It was Georgian brand oil paint.