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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: ErikB on 14 May 2014, 05:05:34 PM

Title: How to paint stubble
Post by: ErikB on 14 May 2014, 05:05:34 PM
I've seen some great stubble and super-short hair work on some minis, most frequently the Kasrkin Sgt. and many of those Big Boris minis out there.

Does anyone know how to create that effect?

Like this:
http://www.jollybodgers.com/2012/05/big-boris-iii-is-done.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiannastarfall.co.uk%2Fgallery%2Fgw%2Fslides%2Fkasrkin.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiannastarfall.co.uk%2Fgallery%2Fgw%2Fslides%2Fkasrkin.php&h=751&w=800&tbnid=Dw_ip9U9ePlBbM%3A&zoom=1&docid=aUkmlKfWirVjvM&ei=IpRzU_SoNYWbyASOtID4Bw&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CF0QMygJMAk&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=168&page=1&start=0&ndsp=15

Thanks!
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Cubs on 14 May 2014, 05:40:29 PM
Get yourself a dirty wash - kind of grey/brown - and mix it with a medium flesh shade. Keep it thin. Then just brush it on in layers. The thinner the layers, the more subtle the effect and the more control you'll have in building up the effect gradually in the places you want.

Keep the shade deeper along the jawline and under the chin and/or in deep creases around the mouth, fading gently as it gets to the cheekbones. Remember a black haired person might be expected to have a deeper stubble colour (possibly add a little blue to the mix) whilst a blonde or red haired person will have a much paler colour.
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Pijlie on 14 May 2014, 05:40:55 PM
I am no great artist and a lazy one at that, so several black ink washes on the chin serve the effect well enough for me.
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: has.been on 14 May 2014, 08:23:29 PM
Tamiya do a 'smoke' which does a fine job of representing 5 o-clock shadow or shaven heads (eg on Woods Indians). The original use was for tinted (or smoked) windows on model cars. I use it for many things: oil stains; to bring out the detail in anything mechanical; over piles of junk to unify them tonally, and over armoured figures (after polishing them up with a wire brush)
Tamiya do a range of translucent paints which are worth looking at, eg a wonderfully briliant scarlet can be obtained by applying their red over a (dry) white undercoat. It make those Red Coats stand out in green fields & woods of the Americas.
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Mick_in_Switzerland on 15 May 2014, 10:58:27 AM
The simplest way is to mix some grey in with your flesh tone.
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Remington on 21 May 2014, 10:00:03 AM
I use an acrylic thinner (called Open Thinner) from a company called Golden. A tiny bit of a warm grey colour and 2-3 drops of the thinner make a lovely wash that is slightly difficult to control, but effective in the result as it is see-through enough and distributes the paint particles evenly within the wash without pooling like a water based wash would do.

As seen on this mini

(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa49/Histamenos/PulpEntry_zps160d4986.jpg)

Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Hammers on 21 May 2014, 11:33:26 AM
I must complement you not only on the stubble but also at color and shading of that suit, Remington. It is quite lovely.
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Michi on 21 May 2014, 11:59:59 AM
I do not use washes, I paint it instead: If black/flesh mix doesn´t work for you, try either light olive/khaki or greyish blue. You would´nt even have to mix it with flesh probably.

(http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss205/BigP_from_the_GMG/Medievals/buddybuild005.jpg)
Title: Re: How to paint stubble
Post by: Remington on 21 May 2014, 12:10:15 PM
I must complement you not only on the stubble but also at color and shading of that suit, Remington. It is quite lovely.

I am looking for that *blush* smiley but my quest remains fruitless. Thank you! :) I should really base him...