Wash Question

[mikec55]

I'm a bit confused about the concept of washes. Once the figure is done, with all the shading & highlighting finished, is it always necessary to use a wash to kinda tie everything together? If it's necessary, do you wash with the base color, but after that, won't you then have to go back & retouch some of the deepest shades & highest highlights? I've read about washes around the internet & in some of my magazines but I'm a bit fuzzy on the concept. Thanks for the advice.

Mike

 

[Brad S]

Mike

I will use a wash or two at the end depending on the figure. I have a tendency to make the highlight and shadows a little stronger than needed, so a wash at the end tones it down a little and helps to blend in the colors.

Brad Spelts

 

[KeithP]

A wash can be useful on complicated patterns ie German pea or tartans. IMO, a light wash of raw or burnt umber can help tone down "too bold" tones.

I have the opposite problem from Brad. I have to remind myself to exaggerate the tones. :lol:

Keith

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by mikec55+Dec 22 2005, 04:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mikec55 @ Dec 22 2005, 04:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I'm a bit confused about the concept of washes. Once the figure is done, with all the shading & highlighting finished, is it always necessary to use a wash to kinda tie everything together?[/b]

No, in fact most experienced painters don't use washes much, if at all (just like with drybrushing). What this really refers to is not really a wash per se but more of a glaze.

If you're using acrylics this is a watery mixture like a wash but with very little of it on the brush, it's barely damp in some cases - which is how much of the subtle brushwork is done with acrylics and vinyl paints (many applications of incredibly thin layers). You'll see a lot of input on this area on fantasy-miniature sites like CoolMiniOrNot but basically if your thinned paint pools visibly inside creases there's too much of it on the brush, unload some and try again.

<!--QuoteBegin-mikec55@Dec 22 2005, 04:58 PM
If it's necessary, do you wash with the base color, but after that, won't you then have to go back & retouch some of the deepest shades & highest highlights? [/quote]
Sometimes yes, sometimes no; but the whole point of a unifying glaze is often to reduce contrast. You don't have to do this, but if you do it sometimes works better than others for complex reasons (which basically come down to the exact paint you're using) but it's almost always best to build it up in layers instead of trying to do it with a single application.

Einion

 

[PJ Deluhery]

I think the use and effectiveness of the wash technique is also related to the size of the figure you are painting.

In the 25mm and wargaming figure world, washes ( and drybrushing) are used often and with great results. If you are using wargame paints, some of these paints are designed to be used as a wash.

IMHO, that technique does not always work too well at larger scales, say 54mm and larger. At least you would not use a wash in the same way on a larger scale figure.

If you have friends that do smaller figures, be aware that what works for them may not work for you. I rarely use washes,and when I do it's corrective and usually not part of what I originally wanted to do.

 

[Hank57]

I agree with Mr Einion about washes. I use the glaze treatment on all camo patterns to tone down the colours. I lay the glaze in layers to tone down the camo which I think gives that worn look on the cloth. I'm sure that there are lots of guys out there that use washes and do a great job. Do what works for you and experiment.

Henry

 

[mikec55]

Brad, Keith, Einion, PJ, Henry--

Thanks for your help, I'm a little clearer on the idea but I do have 1 more question. What exactly is the difference between a wash & a glaze?
Thanks again,

Mike

 

[Brad S]

I should re-phrase what I said. Einion is correct. I use glazes, not washes. I would say a wash is a heavy glaze in which you want the wash to flow in crevices, valleys, the shadow areas. A glaze would be , LIke Einion said, a wash consistency but with very little on the brush to basically tint , ever so lightly the whole area being painted (not just the shadow areas).

Brad Spelts

 

[mikec55]

Brad-Got it! Thanks again.

Mike

 

[pmacko]

I found this very helpful as well...I've been doing it this way but didn't realise that there were names for the techniques. Thanks.