having trouble with white

[godfather]

Painting 90mm templar knight base coated acrylic white. Using oils I then base coated with Titanium whit and a small amount of buff titanium get an off white. Shadows were base with raw umber adding more for darker shadow. The problem is it looks "dirty" the raw umber doesn't cover the white enough so i get an almost transparent effect. I also found that I get this when base coating with sepia (ala Hardy Tempest) and then adding highlight it just looks like the tunic is caked with dirt. Any suggestions?

 

[KeithP]

My nightmare as well.

I have found that white in oils really depends alot on how white the undercoat is. It is really difficult to bring up or brighten white with Tit white if you undercoat is dark, IMO.

I don't use black or sepia. I know others like these but they always look to dirty to me..

Next time try a warm version instead of the cold white. Any warm brown will do.

Keep at it. It is very challenging!

Keith

 

[elvis]

ciao godfather. when you panting the acrilic undercoat, dont start with the pure withe. used a dark withe. withe + english uniform + prussian blue. the same thing when you used the oil. my mix is titanium withe+ raw umber, and a little touch of cobalt blue. for the shadow, more raw umber and cobalt blue in the mix. for the light pure white. in all colors used withe spirit medium. when all is dry, for the high light use one more pure withe with withe spirit. ciao Luca

 

[garyjd]

Joe Hudson, White is one of your favorite colors. C'mon and add your two cents.~Gary