highlighting red...

[dancap3286]

hi guys, I'm painting a red tunic on my colour sergeant 24th foot. I'm used to painting those draby WWII colors but now I'm dealing with red. I used a red base color, added some deep shadows that consisted of mixing red with some chocolate brown and was happy with that aspect. I then took the base red and lightened it up with some yellow as I never really liked the white and red effect. I'm pretty happy with the results but I feel that that deep red look is not there. Quite frankly it looks a little washed out. So i guess in a nutshell I'm looking for some opinions on an alternative. BTW I'm using enamels but I really don't think it makes a difference which medium I'm using. TIA.























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[Figure Mad]

Hi Dan

Have you tried starting off with a darker brown as a base colour and then working up to the mid red, then you would anly have to give a slight touch of yellow/orange to give the highlights then, at the end of the day it is all down to trial and error...

Dave

 

[Johan]

I'm at home with a virus, and I just happen to stumble upon an article "how to paint" a figure with a red uniform on the Vallejo website; they use a darker red as a base, and highlight with a light red; shadows are done by adding a bit of olive green to the base colour.

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/

go to "technicas de aplicacion" and get a Spanish dictionary :lol: - no, seriously, the pictures speak for themselves and they give the ref. numbers of the paint they use! Good luck!

OK I'm back off to bed!

 

[KeithP]

Try a flesh tone added to the base for your highlight. I recommend Vallejo sunnyskin tone. You can also try Prussian Blue + black for your shadows on red. Sorry. No enamel recommendations.

Keith

 

[Calvin]

What about mixing your base red with pale sand ?

 

[Guy]

I have been using enamels for 30 years and when doing red I will use several methods. I start out with the darkest red I can, even mixing a little dark brown or black to the base mix and then use Floquil Daylight Red for the highlight. Click on my gallery below to see examples

 

[dancap3286]

thanks for the help guys. I think starting with a darker base is the key. I will try that second time around. Guy your gallery is beautiful. Top notch painting and great photography. Very inspirational.

 

[slaj]

Dan , I paint in acrylics but as oyu said its not really important what medium you used. If I recall correctly , a while back someone asked the same question so here it goes again. As said above start with a darker red maybe adding a little green , black or blue to it. Work your way up to the highs using purer reds. I hate yellows , flesh oand the other colours that make red fade away unless I'm looking foer exactly that finish. Here's an example even though the pictures are a little dark you can see what I mean

Stephen Mallia

 

[Lou Masses]

Dan,

Although the phot is too bright and you can't see the various shades here, I posted something on this a while back in my VBench-

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/index.p...opic=1297&st=30

I paint in oils and mix cadmium red with Cadmium Green for shadows and add more green for darker shadows. If I want a faded look (natural) I add flesh to the red highlight which doesn't turn it as pink as white does.

For a "newer" garment, I stick to cadmium scarlet (or any scarlet for that matter). If the shaodws are deep enough the scarlet will make the red look bright and lively enough.

Hope this helps,

Lou

 

[Roc]

I agree with Johan, the way to paint red is to start out with a medium red,medium shadows violet, dark shadows purple, highlights pure light red.

Adding brown to the base red makes the red look dingy and adding orange or white for highlights makes the color look faded.



Cheers

Roc.

 

[dancap3286]

thanks again guy's. I used a little more deep red and I like the effect much better. Just need to finish up pants and boots along with the rifle, dullcoat to get rid of that nasty enamel blending sheen and viola, done! I'll try to figure out how to post pics of him when I'm done. Til then thank you all for your insightful help. I'm starting to feel like a regular around here.