Painting Question

[mark126804]

Hi All,

Ok, So I use acrylic paint mainly Valejo and Andre. I’m still learning and always trying new thing. So here I go. I’ve tried painting with just adding water, I’ve tried using Valejo’s retarder (did not like it one bit). I went a bought Windsor & Newton water color blending medium, have not tried it yet. I’ll do some testing and practicing this weekend, but I was just wondering. What does everyone here use to get the awesome blending in your painting.

Personally I think my painting is ok, but I really want the super smooth blending that I see. I’ve tried thinning the paint more, like I said I’ve tried the Retarder, wet blending, yeah right can get that down even if I had a million years to get it right lol.

Any tips, techniques or other additives to try?

Thanks in Advance
Mark

 

[AusieBrad]

Invest in a Wet Pallet mate, thats me personally. Its made in the states, so you should be able to get it cheaper I guess. http://theartshop.com.au/sta-wet-handy-palette-857

 

[jai]

https://www.amazon.com/Ferrero-Rocher-Hazlenut-48-Count/dp/B000KJVIOI?th=1


https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/ferrero-rocher-24pc-box-300g-319629
eat chocolate. insert foam rubber and baking paper .... easier than that

 

[AusieBrad]

https://www.amazon.com/Ferrero-Rocher-Hazlenut-48-Count/dp/B000KJVIOI?th=1


https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/ferrero-rocher-24pc-box-300g-319629
eat chocolate. insert foam rubber and baking paper .... easier than that

I tried that and found it all varies on the Over paper, as to how well the paint preforms. so you will prob spend more money trying to work out which ones better where the Sta-wet has a special paper in it. Again personal opinion. Option are there mate

 

[sippog]

Glazing medium can buy some time when you're blending. Matte medium too to a certain extent.

I'm intrigued by the techniques some 'maestros' use of stipple blending acrylics like oils or putting 'blending washes' over contrasting colours.
Aythami Alonso, Ben Komets and Alfonso Giraldes are all interesting painters and have videos on YouTube.

FYI Giraldes is doing a masterclass in London in late February and there were still a few places when I last heard

 

[mark126804]

Invest in a Wet Pallet mate, thats me personally. Its made in the states, so you should be able to get it cheaper I guess. http://theartshop.com.au/sta-wet-handy-palette-857

Thank AusieBrad, I’ve tried a wet pallet for a while, sorry just not a big fan.

Glazing medium can buy some time when you're blending. Matte medium too to a certain extent.

I'm intrigued by the techniques some 'maestros' use of stipple blending acrylics like oils or putting 'blending washes' over contrasting colours.
Aythami Alonso, Ben Komets and Alfonso Giraldes are all interesting painters and have videos on YouTube.

FYI Giraldes is doing a masterclass in London in late February and there were still a few places when I last heard

Sippog, I do use various techniques for achieving textures and different looks or appearances. I’ve watched videos from all you mentioned. What an inspiration they all have been.

I’m just looking for that technique that pushes my painting over the edge. That smooth look between the tones, shadows and highlights, unless I’m shooting for a textured look.

Thank You Everyone for you input, much appreciated.

Mark

 

[sippog]

You might find the Kirill videos on Miniature Mentors useful. He doesn't use a wet palette and applies the paint like oils - stippling over the joins
I always remember Horan saying: keep the shades separate
Before and after pics;

 

[theBaron]

Personally, I think a wet palette makes working with acrylics much easier. After Scott Hershbell (oldtrousers is his forum handle) demonstrated the technique for me, I was convinced. Scott uses the Masterson product, but I'm Dutchy (Pennsylvania slang for "cheap"), so I made my own. I took a plastic Chinese take-out container, which seals air-tight, found a kitchen sponge to fit, and then I cast about for paper to use, instead of the Sta-Wet paper. Yes, you can use oven paper, or more properly, kitchen parchment paper. However, you must be aware that if the paper is treated with silicone to enhance its non-stick properties, it will not be as porous as we need it to be. I found that out through trial and error. I was told that I could boil the paper and that would make it more porous. But I abandoned the idea of using kitchen parchment paper. I found that brown package wrapping paper, the kind used for shipping parcels, works pretty well for me. However, though I like the idea of getting something on the cheap, I do concede that you'll probably get the best results using the Sta-Wet paper. I have some of that, too. I just have to cut it to fit in my wet palette, which is about 7"x5".

I use my Andrea, Vallejo, and craft-store acrylics with the wet palette. I also use Tamiya acrylics, but in my experience, they cannot be thinned properly with anything but Tamiya's proprietary acrylic thinner. So with those paints, I just use my ceramic palette, with thinner and color in the various wells.

I don't use a retarder at all, just paint and thinners.

But keep experimenting, and you'll find a process that suits you!

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

A followup....

I just checked prices online for the Masterson Sta-Wet paper, and a pack of 30 sheets is going for around six bucks. That's not bad at all, twenty cents a sheet. And since I'd have to cut them in half to fit in my palette, that's ten cents apiece. My Dutchy senses are tingling...

 

[samson]

You can also check you tube . And make 1 of your own does not look that hard to do