Varnish on eyes

[Edward]

Hi everyone, I am painting a 1/9 scale bust (Pegaso's French hussar). My question is, do you think it's necessary to put a gloss varnish on the eyes at that scale? I have already painted a catchlight/white dot in the eyes. I don't want to risk making it look like he's crying! - but at the same time it may make it look more real..

Edward

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Edward,
For me the catchlight is enough, if you add varish on top you may get a confusion of white dots on the eye.
So for me one or the other not both but that's just me. I will be interested to see the views of others.
Cheers,
Keith

 

[Edward]

Thanks Keith. That's true, not sure if catchlights + varnish would work..

 

[megroot]

I don't paint catchlights. Simply because when you look at the bust from another angle then the front it looks weird.
That's why i choose for a gloss varnish who gives a natural catchlight.

Marc

 

[Edward]

Thanks Marc.

 

[Martin Antonenko]

I also would say: Either - or!
If you have painted cathlights, dont take varnish too, because the smooth surface may produce "own" cathlights then, which may not match with the painted ones.

Cheers

 

[Edward]

Thanks Martin. Seeing as I have already painted catchlights I will not put varnish on. Not sure which is best at that scale, catchlights or varnish?

 

[bonehead]

I would never say "either/or". In 1/9th scale, the only realistic way to paint the eyes would be with a nice gloss coat. In my opinion, catch-lights are a crutch. They only look okay when the lighting in a room matches the small little dot you have painted onto the eye - from the particular viewing angle used by the observer. These are such circumstance-specific qualifiers that it makes me wonder why people still do it.

I paint gloss onto eyeballs in 1/32nd scale. In 1/9th scale it is not even a thing that needs consideration in my opinion. The question is, do you want a realistic looking figure or one that looks pretty good only when the lighting and viewing angles are in perfect accordance (a situation which is most often beyond your control) with your little contrived dots?

This is a no brainer for me. In my opinion, catch-lights are not an issue - they simply defy realism. In making choices between realism and not-realism.... do I even need to say it? Yes, this is just an opinion, but it is one that makes a choice between realism and something less than that. As a modeler who aspires to make realistic models, the choice is pretty clear as far as I am concerned.....

 

[Edward]

Mike thanks for commenting. I have only recently begun to use gloss varnish - on my last figure in fact - and am still a bit wary of it. I will do some experimenting I think.

 

[housecarl]

I'm a glosser too Edward, (as most people that know me will testify )and a touch of satin on the lips.
Carl.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

I'm a glosser too Edward, (as most people that know me will testify )and a touch of satin on the lips.
Carl.

Satin on the lips Carl ,well I never!.

Seriously though ,Humbrol satin coat works well in the eyes ,personally I think catch lights look ok in photographs of
the model but in three dimensions can look like cataracts especially if varnished .

Ron

 

[housecarl]

Got to moisturise Ron, got to moisturise.
Carl.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Got to moisturise Ron, got to moisturise.
Carl.

Who's lips

 

[Edward]

Ok I've painted over the white dots and put a coat of gloss on. Thanks for your help guys.