Question for Oil & Enamel Users

[theseeker]

I am still trying to get comfortable with acrylics with little success. So, for those of you that use oils or enamels or both, especially on faces of 90mm or less, could you please provide some tips? I am used to larger scale figures, 120-200mm and acrylics dry too fast and my oils seem to be a bit lumpy on the smaller scales. In other words, I need some help!
BTW, I hate to be a PITA with all of my questions.

 

[thegoodsgt]

If you use the Search feature at the top of this page and search for "faces," you'll find about 20 discussions about the topic. One in particular titled, "Order in painting faces" may address some of your question.

 

[PJ Deluhery]

Your paint is probably too thick - especially if you are used to more space. Oils should be thinned down to the consistency of milk. Use the paint sparingly and spread it around. What you want is a very thin layer of oils on top of your acrylic base coat. It's this layer that you will shade or highlight. Pop your figure in a dryer or crock pot to get a nice flat finish. Hope this helps. Good luck. Rocky!

 

[theseeker]

Your paint is probably too thick - especially if you are used to more space. Oils should be thinned down to the consistency of milk. Use the paint sparingly and spread it around. What you want is a very thin layer of oils on top of your acrylic base coat. It's this layer that you will shade or highlight. Pop your figure in a dryer or crock pot to get a nice flat finish. Hope this helps. Good luck. Rocky!

Thanks for the advice. I have only used the Verlinden way which states that you never thin your oils, you only wipe away the excess with the brush. This is easily accomplished with large scale figures, but it is much more difficult with smaller scales. I am also getting older and so are my eyes!

 

[Guy]

I use the Verlinden way on all scales. Might try to use smaller brushes as I do for the smaller scales. I also bought a set of extra heads to practice on. Really helped.

 

[theseeker]

I use the Verlinden way on all scales. Might try to use smaller brushes as I do for the smaller scales. I also bought a set of extra heads to practice on. Really helped.

Guy,

I always appreciate your input. I would appreciate your input on which brand and sizes of brushes you use for 90 and 70mm figures.

Rocky

 

[EasyOff]

WHEN DRYING OILS, DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE!!!!!!

Ya, like a knucklehead I was rushing to get a piece ready for a show that morning and I tried the microwave. It shrunk one of his arms a 1/4 inch. Luckly I didn't have his hand on yet and I was able to fix it in a couple hours before I had to leave. But, that was a couple hours that I could have used for sleep. What a mess!

John

 

[Einion]

I am used to larger scale figures, 120-200mm and acrylics dry too fast...

Use larger brushes. Might be obvious but it makes a huge difference in how you paint different scales for most painters. You could try this tip: use a scale of brush about the same for any given area - so for example say that you'd use a 00 to do the finer work on a 54mm figure's face, use a brush that's about the same relative size for the face of a 90mm, maybe a 2 or 4.

Failing all else you could try airbrushing the basic highlights and shading, then do refinements by brush The masking necessary can be a bit tedious but it's often worth it for the smoothness of the end result which is essentially unmatcheable for brush-applied paint, except maybe if you spend ten times as long.

...and my oils seem to be a bit lumpy on the smaller scales.

What brand(s) you using?

BTW, I hate to be a PITA with all of my questions.

That's what the forums are for

I have only used the Verlinden way which states that you never thin your oils, you only wipe away the excess with the brush.

That is just one way of using oils. Some great oil painters in the hobby, like Gianfranco Speranza (example 1, example 2) thin their oils and use them in a much different way.

I am also getting older and so are my eyes!

Aren't we all!

Einion

 

[Guy]

Hello Rocky,

Below are the brush manufacturer, size and type of brush I use for 54 - 70 - 90mm figures when painting flesh in oils.

Floquil Ultimate #2 (flat tip)
Floquil Ultimate #3 (flat tip)
*The Floquil brushes are becoming hard to find lately

Loew-Cornell #2 (chisel blender)
Loew-Cornell #2 (shader) extremely soft chisel for blending)
Loew- Cornell #2 (Filbert)

Robert Simmons #4 (Filbert tip) use on large flesh areas like a bare chest / legs

When I go to 120mm and busts I increase the size of the brush accordingly.

Hope this helps.
Guy

 

[theseeker]

Use larger brushes. Might be obvious but it makes a huge difference in how you paint different scales for most painters. You could try this tip: use a scale of brush about the same for any given area - so for example say that you'd use a 00 to do the finer work on a 54mm figure's face, use a brush that's about the same relative size for the face of a 90mm, maybe a 2 or 4.

Failing all else you could try airbrushing the basic highlights and shading, then do refinements by brush The masking necessary can be a bit tedious but it's often worth it for the smoothness of the end result which is essentially unmatcheable for brush-applied paint, except maybe if you spend ten times as long.


What brand(s) you using?


That's what the forums are for


That is just one way of using oils. Some great oil painters in the hobby, like Gianfranco Speranza (example 1, example 2) thin their oils and use them in a much different way.



Aren't we all!

Einion

I would like to understand his process! His figures are outstanding.