How to paint microscopical drawings...

[Calvin]

Please, dont reply 'with a brush'...
Seriously, I would like to reproduce drawings like the black/red on white of this picture:

but I have no idea on how (the figure is a 54mm). Is there some technique, trick, expedient and so on ? Any help will be really appreciated.
Thanks, Luca

 

[arthur]

Luca,
For intricate patterns like that I usually use architectural drafting pens.
They come in super fine diamiter .001, and are available (at least in Canada) in black,red and blue.
They are also very handy when doing tartans etc. since they give you a continous line at unchanging width (unlike a very fine brush).
Cheers,
A

 

[Pete Wenman]

Luca hi

For a different solution, you might want to consider making your own decal

You can pick up either white or clear decal paper (and fixer) from most good
online hobby stores that will work with ink jet printers.

All you then need to do is to draw the pattern in a PC art program (this allows you to draw it in one size then reduce down) before printing to the decal paper.

When applying the decal remember to lay a gloss coat down first, as this reduces silvering.

Aircraft modellers do this all the time, and I can see it having massive potentail
for us figure types.

HTH

Pete

 

[Einion]

Hi Luca, if you want to be able to paint detail like this the only way is to practice (and obviously use the best brushes you have!) I'd suggest trying the same pattern off the figure on a scrap of plastic card, primed and undercoated just as your figure will be so that the drag on the paintbrush will be the same and try it again and again until you become comfortable doing it at the size necessary. Some of the difficulty doing fine patterns is merely one of confidence - I can assure you from personal experience that once you've tried something difficult once it's much less intimidating the next time, which is how I taught myself to sculpt ears

For painting details like this I suggest lightly loading the brush and use the paint thinned to just the right consistency - not too thin or thick. Also, if you have trouble seeing detail this fine at scale, as I do now, it would be worth investing in something like a magnifying desk lamp or a head-mounted magnifier like the Optivisor.

Initially at least I would also suggest you not use acrylics for this sort of thing, enamels or oil paints are a much better choice as you can quickly correct mistakes with a damp brush so you can clean up as you go along; if you must use a water-based paint try casein (Pelikan Plaka is the only brand available in Europe I think) this type of paint is initially soluble but will become waterproof over time. With acrylics if you make a mistake you can quickly grab a wet brush to wipe it off to some extent but you have to be quick and overpainting to correct errors will usually show up under close inspection as slight roughness.

Einion

 

[Calvin]

Hi guys and thanks for your replies. I'll try all the solutions you propose and show you the result.
Thanks again, Luca

 

[Arminous]

Hi Luca!

For micro-drawings should use Winsor&Newton brush,series 7,number 000 short-hair.It's the thinnest brush possible and it will help you work with it as a pen,but with the colors of your choise.Better practice on a piece of paper or something before you try to draw on your figure .Remember to highlight your drawings.Start with the darkest color,then give highlights only,no shadows.You could also start with black thicker lines and draw upon them thiner lines.This way your drawings will have a thin black line as a boarder,which in some cases gives an impressive result.





Cheerz!