Polka Dot Patterns

[PropBlast]

Hi.
I need to paint a bust which has a head scarf (I'm painting it red white polka dots) but would love to know how to get a really good pattern and how to get the dots perfectly round.

 

[DaddyO]

An old sign writing trick for painting dots is to use the end of the brush rather than the bristles. Works pretty constantly, but it might not help when painting the dots on the folds.

Personally I'd practice off the figure to get a feel of it, but painting small circles isn't too bad one you've done a few. An alternative would be to cut some small masks from friskit film (or similar) and if you are really lucky you might be able to track down some water slide decals . . . .

Paul

 

[bigtodd]

Watch some of these video's on dot painting.

 

[valiant]

I can recommend Posca paint marker pens for that sort of work. You can get them in different tip widths.....

 

[arj]

How about a leather punch to cut masking tape discs, like perhaps this one:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/nuoshen-Le...10402474&sprefix=Leather+punch,aps,350&sr=8-7
Most leather punches only go down to 2mm. This one will cut 1mm and 1.5mm also.
Then it should be a simple task of painting the headscarf the colour of the dots.
Lay out the dot pattern however you like, and overpaint with the colour of headscarf.
Then the fun will start with the very careful removal of the masking tape discs.
Just a thought.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Banjer]

I

How about a leather punch to cut masking tape discs, like perhaps this one:-

Most leather punches only go down to 2mm. This one will cut 1mm and 1.5mm also.
Then it should be a simple task of painting the headscarf the colour of the dots.
Lay out the dot pattern however you like, and overpaint with the colour of headscarf.
Then the fun will start with the very careful removal of the masking tape discs.
Just a thought.

Cheers,
Andrew

I have used this method with reasonable results, it works best if the surface is pretty flat as it's not easy applying the dots around creases etc.

Bill

 

[PropBlast]

The surface is not flat at all.

 

[Blind Pew]

The surface is not flat at all.

....and therein lies the problem. Some things are extremely difficult to pull off when painting figure. Polka dots are one of them. Very difficult to do, and it gets worse as the scale gets bigger. To paint a perfect circle is extremely difficult to make look 'right.' One reason for this is the fact that we all know what circles are and what they look like, so we kind of instinctively know when one is 'off.' You just know. This is exacerbated by having a few of them as you have to keep things uniform - again another real pig to do. This is the reason you don't exactly see them everyday...
As Arj has rightly said, and Bill, too, the undulated surfaces of a figure don't help!

You know I like to end on a high, so I'll suggest this. Is it feasible to stick the paper circles that a hole punch makes and then paint those? Similar to Andrew's suggestion. Worth a try!

 

[Blind Pew]

I've just thought. Are decals an option?

 

[skeeterbuck]

If you have access to an airbrush? If so, you could mark the scarf where you want the dots. Then using appropriate sized hole punch, make a hole in a piece of masking tape. and then position the mask over each location and lightly spray in the dots.

 

[PropBlast]

The bust is 1/12 in size (a lot smaller my usual scale)

 

[Blind Pew]

I've had an extra thought. Is it feasible to glue on small plastic dots that those nail artists use to decorate ladies' fingernails? They come in really small sizes and are not expensive at all on ebay, etc. They also respond well to superglue.

 

[PropBlast]

I've had an extra thought. Is it feasible to glue on small plastic dots that those nail artists use to decorate ladies' fingernails? They come in really small sizes and are not expensive at all on ebay, etc. They also respond well to superglue.

I shall look into it. Never thought of that.

 

[Blind Pew]

That's what PF is all about!