Questions from a new figure painter

[Chris Kelm]

I'm new to this site and so far I really like it here! Now I'm new to figure painting in general, meaning that I've painted figures before but not quite as serious as you guys are, but am very willing to learn. Now when I paint my figures I normally use Americana acrylic paints, which are a lot like tempa acrylic paints. I have used Vallejo but for the obvious reason of price of $4.00 for Vallejo and for a 2 oz bottle of my Americana paint which is between $.50 and $1.00, you cant beat that. So from what I have seen on this site the flesh tone are remarkable and of course is my biggest problem when painting my figures. How does one achieve the look of these flesh tones I've been seeing? They almost look like they have been airbrushed even for 54mm.
Thank you
Chris

 

[Helm]

A lot of folks use oils for faces I do especially on larger scale stuff like busts well worth a go if you haven't used them
Steve

 

[Chris Kelm]

Steve,
I've tried the verlinden method with oils but that seemed to be a big mess and for some reason after a couple of weeks,the oils never fully dried.
Chris

 

[Helm]

Oils do take a while to dry, best thing is look at some figures and ask the painter what they did, there is no hard and fast method of painting with oils I tend to use layers of very thin washes with oils myself and build up but there are a lot of much better painters on here than me who may well use different methods, you can dry oils a little quicker with gentle heat ie put them in the airing cupboard or use a light bulb
Steve

 

[ChaosCossack]

Vallejo acrylics are made specifically for figure painting. The Americana is more of a general craft paint... I've used them myself for posters and painting cloth and leather... but it's not really suited for the techniques used on figs. That $4 bottle of Vallejo will last for a long, long time. The colours that I use most, I've had for almost two years and I'm not even half way through them. You actually end up using more water than paint.

There was a really good step by step for painting faces in the articles section but it seems to be closed. Perhaps one of the administrators can re-open it. If you keep cruising around the site you will see as many techniques for fleshtones as there are painters here. Look for the type of style your looking for, ask lots of questions and try a few techs until you find one you're comfortable with. The members here are more than happy to help and advise, they're a great bunch.

Out of curiosity, what era are you into and what kind of figures have you had experience with?

Cheers

Colin

 

[Chris Kelm]

Colin,
Thank you for the great advice, and yes most definitely so far what I've dealt with these are a great bunch! Now as for what era I'm interested in, I mainly like civil war and WWII stuff but just recently, maybe a year ago, I've been swayed towards the Napoleons. Right now I've been trying to sell off some of my collection, because the collection is starting to so called "over populate" my RV. Not good, especially when the wife has to tell you that I maybe the next contestant on the show horders. Lol. Check out some of the stuff in the section where you sell/trade stuff.
Chris

 

[ChaosCossack]

Then we are on common ground... I'm into anything from the "Blackpowder era" but mostly I'm into Napoleonics.
You should see the Grey Armies of some of the members here... their work rooms look like good sized hobby stores... kits numbering in the thousands Mindboggling!!!!!
If you see a current thread you like, click the members avatar and go to their profile page... you can see more of their work in albums or on vbench. A good way to get to see someones past work if you like their style of painting.

Welcome to the Planet, enjoy and don't be shy about posting your work either... the best way to improve is to get feedback from other painters. You'll find everyone on here to be very constructive in their critiques and not bashers. If they point out a weakness, they'll give you advise on how to improve... not just take shots at your work.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Chris Kelm]

Colin,
Speaking of avatars, how does one get a avatar? Also, maybe a stupid question,but that's not you in the avatar picture is it? If it is very cool. Are you in a band?
Chris

 

[ChaosCossack]

Got to your profile (top right corner), then click avatar, pick a pic to upload... shazam... Avatar!
No that's not me, it's the late Jeff Hannaman from Slayer. He died a couple of months ago so the avatar was sort of a memorial, and I'm (slowly) working on a scratch sculpt of him as well. I did do the band thing back in the 80's but now I only play to piss off the wife and kid I switch my avatar all the time depending on my mood or what I'm working on.

Colin

 

[Chris Kelm]

Oh yes ok now I remember,sorry about that. Lol
Chris

 

[DEL]

Great advice from Steve and Colin. PM any of the guys whose work you like and they'll give you as much detailed info as you need.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Chris!

Like most, on here I tend to use a, 'Mish-Mash', of both, Oil and Acrylic's,.. and dare I say it, 'Enamels', as well! .. Like yourself, I too started with the, 'Verlinden', method, and yep! mine were also a 'Unholy mess'! that sent the, Devil Running! ... However! remember 'Patience, Perseverance, and Research. Will allow you to advance, quicker than you may think!

Regards,

Mark

 

[housecarl]

http://www.planetfigure.com/articles/painting_faces_acrylics-jaume_ortiz/painting-faces-acrylics.php
That's the acrylic face painting article.

 

[ChaosCossack]

http://www.planetfigure.com/articles/painting_faces_acrylics-jaume_ortiz/painting-faces-acrylics.php
That's the acrylic face painting article.

That's the one, Carl... Thanx. Excellent SBS... Simple, effective and well explained

 

[Helm]

A few links for eyes painting them that is
http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-eyes.12330/

http://www.planetfigure.com/pages/Mark-Benette-Eye-Tutorial/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-eyes-is-easy-sbs.46333/

Steve

 

[tonydawe]

I think for any modeller who is new to figure painting, the face and flesh tones are always the most daunting issue to tackle, and always seems to be the area they struggle with initially. I'll give you a tip; even the most experienced figure modellers struggle with faces and flesh tones. Now matter how good you are, it's still only a representation of a face, so it will never be perfect. For most of us, the goal of achieving realism is a goal we chase, but we know we'll never achieve.

The challenge for all of us is to develop a painting style and technique that we are comfortable with and produces results that we are satisfied with. Except for the professional figure modeller, most of us are hobbyists who paint figures to relax and unwind and as a sort of therapy (I know I do). It should be fun

My advice (for what its worth) is to closely examine the figures that you like the look of, and ask the painters who painted them if they'd share their technique with you. Many of the painters here on pF explain their techniques in quite some detail on their VBench posts so you can get a great running commentary on how they achieve certain effects. Asking questions is the best way to learn and to get good advice. Most of the people on pF are very helpful and friendly and would be happy to share their tips and experiences with you.

 

[Mirofsoft]

Flesh tone
Well, I will say first : what the size of the figures you are trying to paint ?
You can not reach the quality of a face of a bust ( big size ) on a 54mm ..., there is not enough space ( for exemple ) to paint eyes with the same amount of détails .
My way for flesh for 54 to 120mm is to prime first white, than prime the flesh with Humbrol flesh ( mat ), then using oil colour , paint with Burnt Umber, wipe off with a sponge ( with a mouvement coming from the light source ) and you have already all the shadow effects , then add accordingly very, very small ammount of lighter colour and blush them, with a round brushe ( no point ), like a lady adding blushing ... Blush also the remaining darker colour in the hollows, add some mor if needed .
Put the figure upside down, eyes white ( with a hint of blue ) Humbrol , darken the uper lid with Chinese Ink ( sepia ), I do that with a pen, then add the eyes ( remember 1/3 is bellow the upper lid ), I do that also with China Ink and a pen . Do not center them, or the guy will look as if squinting .
Now they are almost as many ways as they are painters
Best

 

[Chris Kelm]

Very cool thank you all for all the great advice! You all are inspiring!
Chris

 

[theBaron]

I'd ditch the craft-store paint, for painting anything other than weathering ordnance. I have a collection of those acrylics, too, attracted to them by my Dutchy senses, ie, I'm cheap. But I discovered that their pigments are generally too coarsely ground, you wind up with a rough texture to the finished surface.

I have been picking up more and more Vallejo and Andrea colors, for figures. The Americana and Apple Barrel paints are still on my bench, but as I said, I use them really just for weathering, any more. I also have acrylics by model companies like Tamiya (I use their proprietary thinners--again, my own experience from trial and error), Testor's and its subsidiaries; enamels of all brands, and oils. Each has its use and a place on my bench.

Prosit!
Brad

 

[Chris Kelm]

Brad,
Thanks for the info. But as you know vallejo and andre are so much more expensive about $4.00 pre bottle. Yes I know the paints are great but for what little paint you get from these brands it just doesn't make sense compared to the 2 oz bottles of the other brands. Also, if you are on a set budget, then vallejo and andrea brand of paints are a little out of that budget.
Chris