Thursday, January 29, 2015

Don't get washed away...


So... shaded basecoat phase is complete, and out come the Secret Weapons.  Yes, Secret Weapon washes are brought out to glaze in the darker shades.


I also used some of the Vallejo shades and Reaper liner paints, which I frequently mix into those Secret Weapon washes.  You can see that I lay out as many different colors as I can, so that I can mix them together...


It's important to have them out in your line of sight like this in order to encourage a free flowing use of the glazes, and not be timid (or limit yourself in color choices).


I tend to use the watercolor approach of negative painting... that is, painting around the lighter areas, putting even more dark in that boundary line where the rocks will meet the water effects, for instance.


The #8 round craft brush I am using here is a little less distressed than the one that I used for the Shaded Basecoat phase :-)


You can see in this image just how much certain elements of the rocks are starting to stand out.  Be sure to vary the colors as you move from surface to surface!


Once I have all the colors as dark as I want, I will start to go back into the middle tones to bring out certain colors or details...


In this case, I am going back into the middle tones with various grays, so that the greens of the moss will stand out even more.  Since I have lots of nice warm colors in the darks, the grays will have a blueish appearance, which is what I want.


Those cooler gray colors mean that the skulls will also stand out nicely (also from Secret Weapob, by the way!).


OK!  Bases are ready for flock, grass, water effects... and miniatures!  Can't forget those.


4 comments:

  1. Always love your base work James. I know I say this alot, but it's a constant reminder that natural things are awash in tones and color. Rust is not just brown and orange, its a kaleidoscope of colors. Same with dirt, rocks, bark.

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    1. Thanks! I have to constantly keep searching for reference photos, other painters renditions, etc., to try an push the boundaries of color mixing ;-)

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  2. Really liking the base work.

    Your bases really need the best of models to do them justice! :-)

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    1. Many thanks! I think you will really like the minis that will be going on these bases! One is the most unusual piece I have ever painted.

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