It boils down to personal tastes, I'm sure, but I'm curious about people's thoughts on base coating in terms of whether you block in all the main colors first then go back and shade/highlight them, or if you shade and highlight as you go, each new base color being painted as you go? And if there's specifics reasons why?
Thoughts About Base Coats?
- Thread starter Chris '75
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Einion
Well-Known Member
Yep, I think that'll be most of it.
Have you tried both approaches yourself, if so any conclusions? I've never been much of a fan of basecoating the whole figure but really that's just because I didn't start out working that way, there are certainly a few things to recommend blocking in the entire model compared to starting and finishing each colour at a time.
Einion
"Have you tried both approaches yourself, if so any conclusions?"
Thanks, guys and yeah that's what prompted my to ask the question... I learned as a youngster to go from the skin and work your way out and have done that since getting back into the hobby as an adult (I'm still new at this). I'm doing my first block in all the "major areas first" technique as we speak and thought I'd ask just to see what others thought, things to look for as I went. I'm doing a Napoleonic Grenadier at the moment, so really only a few large areas of different colors... not sure what I think yet, but not sure if one method would be better over another on this guy specifically. I've a few books, read a bunch of SBS, etc. and seen both approaches, but never really any points on pros/cons (except maybe blocking in first gives better idea of overall look sooner). Most books it seems one is always preferred by the author over the other as it seems only one is referenced. *shrug*
I guess it's best to consider each piece on a case by case basis; that seems like the most sound approach.
Thanks, guys and yeah that's what prompted my to ask the question... I learned as a youngster to go from the skin and work your way out and have done that since getting back into the hobby as an adult (I'm still new at this). I'm doing my first block in all the "major areas first" technique as we speak and thought I'd ask just to see what others thought, things to look for as I went. I'm doing a Napoleonic Grenadier at the moment, so really only a few large areas of different colors... not sure what I think yet, but not sure if one method would be better over another on this guy specifically. I've a few books, read a bunch of SBS, etc. and seen both approaches, but never really any points on pros/cons (except maybe blocking in first gives better idea of overall look sooner). Most books it seems one is always preferred by the author over the other as it seems only one is referenced. *shrug*
I guess it's best to consider each piece on a case by case basis; that seems like the most sound approach.
Chris if you ask 10 painters how to paint a given figure you'll get 12 answers 
What ever method works best for you fellah is the one to use. As a rule I usually do a face more or less to finish first as to me I then get a "feel" for the rest of the figure but some folks leave the face till last
Steve
What ever method works best for you fellah is the one to use. As a rule I usually do a face more or less to finish first as to me I then get a "feel" for the rest of the figure but some folks leave the face till lastSteve
Gellso
A Fixture
I stick to highlighting shading the colour I'm using before moving onto another colour. It's simply because the paint is in the palette and if it's a mix of paints you've used for the basecoat you'll need to use it as you'll never match the original colour...unless you're pro.....like some people.
Gells
Gells
Aveleira
A Fixture
Hi,
I also think you should do as you feel comfortable.
But if you want my contribution, I normally paint each part completely (base, light and shade).
Sometimes, I basecoated a part while paint other, but it's to see if the colours look good together. But this happens when the colours of the figure are of my choosing. When are army uniforms that must be of certain colours, I don't need that, because are those specific colours.
Pedro
I also think you should do as you feel comfortable.
But if you want my contribution, I normally paint each part completely (base, light and shade).
Sometimes, I basecoated a part while paint other, but it's to see if the colours look good together. But this happens when the colours of the figure are of my choosing. When are army uniforms that must be of certain colours, I don't need that, because are those specific colours.
Pedro
ChaosCossack
A Fixture
Generally I do the "skin, out" system but occasionally, once the face is done, I'll block the colours immediately adjacent to the face to see if the tone is too light or dark then adjust as needed. Then continue working out from the skin.
But that's just me
Colin
But that's just me
Colin
tonydawe
A Fixture
I paint the face first and then block out the main areas in their base coat colours. I find that by doing this I can gauge how the colours will balance with each other when finished. If they look wrong, I can make changes before I go to all the trouble of shading and highlighting.
The bottom line is to find a system that works for you. Everyone has a slightly different approach and many of us have a different approach with every figure we paint. Don't feel compelled to do things the same way all the time. Some if my best results have come from experimentation.
The bottom line is to find a system that works for you. Everyone has a slightly different approach and many of us have a different approach with every figure we paint. Don't feel compelled to do things the same way all the time. Some if my best results have come from experimentation.
