oil wash on 1/35 figures?

[wilber]

Many times I will do an oil paint wash of mineral spirits and artist oils (Ivory black) over my painted figures. I find that this cuts contrast, some of the wash goes into and brings out crevices and overall makes the figures look more realistic, at least to me. Like anything else it has to be done in moderation with a developed technique.

Does anyone else do this? I was curious if people who do just figures did anything like this?

Thanks Men.

 

[Guy]

I use something similar. I use a black enamel wash mixed the same way over enamel paint. Then I go back over it and dry-brush it lightly.

 

[Einion]

Does anyone else do this? I was curious if people who do just figures did anything like this?

If you're talking about a flooding wash (like some armour modellers still use on their vehicles to darken panel lines and around raised detail) this type of thing is widely used in fantasy mini painting for one, when going for speedy results - army painting. It's not much used for quality work and for good reason.

The basic idea of a light wash, which functions as a glaze of sorts, is sound but if there's enough applied that it settles visibly into sculpted creases on the clothing it will give a generic light/shadow effect. When the wash dries it's partly on the upwards-facing flanks of creases, not on the underside surfaces where you'd actually want it, violating the light direction.

Einion