View Full Version : Cheaty Skin Method
I've been asked on other forums how I paint skin, particularly for my celtc horde (Pictures of which are in the gallery) and so I made a tutorial.
I figured I may as well upload it here also so here goes;
Hwd's Cheaty Secret Skin Painting Method
(i must find a catchier title...)
1 - white undercoat (GW spray)
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/1.jpg
2 - Ogryn Flesh wash all over - quite heavy to it darkens in the recesses but not too heavy that the raised ares over darken... (tok me a while to find the right balance)
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/20.jpg
3 - Leviathan Purple wash in the shadow areas - very thin, too much and they begin to look purple but just the right amount darkens the skin just fine
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/30.jpg
4 - Devlan Mud wash in deep recesses such as 6 packs etc - again keep it thin and go for multiple coats as you don't want it spreading over the raised areas
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/40.jpg
5 - Baal Red wash - very small amounts on knuckles, cheeks, noses etc - again thin layers where there may be raw skin or colour from running, hang overs etc...
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/5.jpg
6 - The rest of the mini gets painted
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj11/hwd48/Celts/skin/60.jpg
Artsoldier35
08-12-2010, 11:32 AM
WOW! Cool!
Consadine
08-12-2010, 01:53 PM
This is pretty handy. Only works if you prime white, though :sad:
Pherion
08-12-2010, 02:04 PM
Very nice! Quick and simple.
@Cons - Thats what Foundation Paints are for. Paint it Dehneb Stone, then paint it White - Then proceed as above. Or, learn to us white primer.
Consadine
08-12-2010, 02:23 PM
I can use white primer thankyouverymuch, it's just left miles behind in preferability compared to black primer.
I used to undercoat everything with black primer but ran out one day and decided to use white instead.
To be honest I have never looked back, its all personal preference...
I've never tried taking a black undercoated model back to white in order to use this method... If someone tries please show us how it turned out!
Consadine
08-12-2010, 03:45 PM
I've never tried taking a black undercoated model back to white in order to use this method... If someone tries please show us how it turned out!
Challenge accepted :sunglasses:
Skringly
08-12-2010, 05:42 PM
I prime alot Grey...
Artsoldier35
08-12-2010, 05:50 PM
I also prime grey!
I'm not sold on grey undercoating. Used it on one model and while the painting and shading was certainly easier I think the final model lacks something, the colours all seem a little muted somehow?
Perhaps I will give it another go, i'm trying out some muted painting soon and I had forgotten about grey undercoating until now.
LutherMax
08-12-2010, 09:33 PM
I like the method, using just washes over white. I think Nomad uses similar techniques.
When I first started I used a white undercoat. Have experimented with black recently but I think I do favour white. It seems to make more sense in a way – you have a blank canvas like a piece of paper to work on and you can paint any colour on white which is not quite true of black. I still use black for Ania's Orks but generally I find it easier to go from light to dark. I also tried grey but like hwd found it dulled the subsequent colours quite a lot.
Each to his own I guess!
Nomad
09-12-2010, 02:50 PM
I like the method, using just washes over white. I think Nomad uses similar techniques.
Nomad does indeed use similar techniques and uses a white undercoat. Nice to see others are adopting it also.
This is pretty handy. Only works if you prime white, though :sad:
So, prime white... easy!
I can use white primer thankyouverymuch, it's just left miles behind in preferability compared to black primer.
What is preferable about an undercoat that conceals detail, is hard to buid colours upon and which dulls the overall finish of a model?
Something for you to think about Cons:- if you UC a model white, you can add a single coat of Chaos Black to any area you want dark UCed. If you UC a model black it takes a grey layer (or 2 or 3) before you can even think of going White and even then the white is not true.
Nice work hwd. Very much like my technique except I mix a bit of the Ogryn flesh with Skull White and use this as a base coat, adding white as I build a few highlight layers and then going on to the washes. I utilise Sepia and Azureman in most of my washes too.
Consadine
09-12-2010, 03:19 PM
I don't see how black primer obscures details; any primer will do that if you use too much. As for building color, depends what paints you use and how you apply them. As for not getting a "true" white, so? I like having shading and highlights on my colors, even whites. UC with white and you still have to add shades, unless that's not your style.
Nomad
09-12-2010, 04:06 PM
I don't see how black primer obscures details; any primer will do that if you use too much. As for building color, depends what paints you use and how you apply them. As for not getting a "true" white, so? I like having shading and highlights on my colors, even whites. UC with white and you still have to add shades, unless that's not your style.
Mate, shading and highlights are not even in the argument. It is so much easier to apply ANY colour, including highlights, to white that it is not even worth going into. None of this "foundation paint" crap to go on with either.
I shade my white by mixing a little of either Azureman (blue-white), Badab (grey) or Devlan Mud (off-white[bone] or ivory) with my Skull White and then blending back to true white. You should know I shade my whites (and black) by now and have more sense than to issue that challenge...
As to building colour on black, it matters not what colour you use, it will always take more efforet, time and paint to build colours on black than white.
Trust me, I was painting these silly bloody things before you were born.
As far as obscuring detail, I did not mean by applying a coat too thickly. Black is black and shows no other detail. White, however, allows a painter to see the details the are painting. If in doubt, you can always black ink a model to make the detail stand out if it is undercoated white, you cannot do this with black.
For those that don't know, yes I can and do paint on both undercoatings and have found white to be preferable to bleck in every instance. I even put off painting a Warmachine figure for 6 months because it was undercoated black and I couldn'r "see" where I was going with it until I drybrushed it white to expose the detail.
For differences in the black/white undercoat/primer debate, see my articles on metal model building. Link in sig...
Pherion
09-12-2010, 04:33 PM
Trust me, I was painting these silly bloody things before you were born.
That sounds like a painting competition to me... 1 on 1!
As far as obscuring detail, I did not mean by applying a coat too thickly. Black is black and shows no other detail. White, however, allows a painter to see the details the are painting. If in doubt, you can always black ink a model to make the detail stand out if it is undercoated white, you cannot do this with black.
I will often drybrush my black prime minis with gray, or multiple shades of gray in order to provide detail, and additional depth to the base colors. For example, this is a Vyper canopy before I've begun to apply the Dark Angels Green basecoat.
http://arolkay.com/SiteImage/Tutorials/BielTanVehicles/Green1_2.jpg
Nomad
09-12-2010, 04:46 PM
That sounds like a painting competition to me... 1 on 1!
I can use white primer thankyouverymuch, it's just left miles behind in preferability compared to black primer.
I believe this is where the challenge was made Pherion...
I will often drybrush my black prime minis with gray, or multiple shades of gray in order to provide detail, and additional depth to the base colors. For example, this is a Vyper canopy before I've begun to apply the Dark Angels Green basecoat.
http://arolkay.com/SiteImage/Tutorials/BielTanVehicles/Green1_2.jpg
Much easier to go white with a black wash...for much the same effect IN THE AREAS YOU WANT IT!!!
LutherMax
09-12-2010, 04:56 PM
I see what Cons is saying: when undercoating black you don't need to touch the darkest areas or deepest recesses – just leave them black – whereas with white you need to shade these areas. It all boils down to whether you prefer painting light to dark or dark to light.
Pherion also has a point: you can drybrush a black UC'd model in a similar way to washing a white UC'd one to reveal the details. Again, it's all down to your personal preferred process of light to dark or dark to light.
Not trying to diffuse the debate, because frankly, it's quite entertaining ;) but I say again, each to his own!
My first thread that has spawned into an internet 'debate...
I'm so proud of how my baby has grown up!
And now back into the fray;
I agree with LutherMax in that each person will have their own preference for producing the results they like. From looking over professional mini painters websites it appears the most commonly cited 'best method' is a black undercoat dusted with white. While this may help them, I for one cannot be bothered to go to this much effort while my painting skills do not warrant it...
Nomad
10-12-2010, 08:48 AM
My first thread that has spawned into an internet 'debate...
I'm so proud of how my baby has grown up!
And now back into the fray;
I agree with LutherMax in that each person will have their own preference for producing the results they like. From looking over professional mini painters websites it appears the most commonly cited 'best method' is a black undercoat dusted with white. While this may help them, I for one cannot be bothered to go to this much effort while my painting skills do not warrant it...
Have tried black UC and hated every single moment of it.
Whilst it is personal preference, I do not think there can be any debate about my main point. It is now and always will be easier to darken areas you want dark than to lighten them. It is simply the way it is, no opinion counts.
LutherMax
10-12-2010, 10:13 AM
It is now and always will be easier to darken areas you want dark than to lighten them.
Easier? May be. So are you saying painting from black requires more skill? Take a hand for example: I would say it's easier to paint it all one colour then shade the gaps between the fingers with a wash. Painting each finger individually leaving a darker colour in between is more difficult and requires more time and skill. I favour the former method as it is quicker, easier and gives comparable results in my opinion, however hwd is correct that most world class mini painters use predominantly a black undercoat and would probably favour the latter method.
If you have the skill and favour the results a black undercoat gives, why not?
Nomad
10-12-2010, 10:21 AM
Black actually requires less skill as it is more forgiving of poor painting and missed areas. White makes all mistakes glaringly obvious. It is not simply a case of slapping some paint on and washing them. You have to build the contrasts and highlights and this can be somewhat harder as you don't have the dark areas already in the crevices. The skill is not what I was refering to, the coverage of the paint and the ease of putting black over white as opposed to white over black is what I was talking about.
What you really meant to say at the end there is:
If you have no skill and favour the results a black undercoat gives, why not?..
Take a look at the metal models tutorial in my sig for a comparison of white/black undercoats.