Undercoating

[joroas]

Not sure why I never asked before but............

At one time I undercoated white, but tht often lead to gaps in the finished figure that had to be filled/ washed, but the figure looked light and bright.  So, I started with black and spent time, partly drybrushing.  I painted faster but the results look very dull, especially faces. 
Any ideas?

[Dewbakuk]

Try grey?

[cheetor]

Hammers does it this way (via Captain Bloods technique I think).  It seems to give a happy medium between the brightness of the white undercoat versus the definition of the black.



Maybe that might be what you are looking for?

The thread is HERE.

[Aaron]

I split the difference. I prime black and then do a heavy drybrush of white over the whole miniature most of the time. It builds in a highlight and helps my aging eyes to see the details of the sculpting better.

[Hammers]

Not sure why I never asked before but............

At one time I undercoated white, but tht often lead to gaps in the finished figure that had to be filled/ washed, but the figure looked light and bright.  So, I started with black and spent time, partly drybrushing.  I painted faster but the results look very dull, especially faces. 
Any ideas?

Or basecoat white and give it a black wash. Also known as 'Priming the Blood way'.

[Orctrader]

I often read things about "prime white for bright figures...."  And "you can't paint white over a black undercoat" which always makes me chuckle.

I have used both white and grey in the past, but rarely and not for years.  I prime BLACK.  I find it easier to paint over black and people often comment - occasionally complain  - about the "brightness" of my figures.




I think it's more to do with the way people paint.  Many are aiming for a "realistic" or "drab" look.  Personally, I aim for something that "pops."  This is achievable, I believe, even with dark colours.


I think it's a style thing.

[cheetor]

Fabulous painting as ever Orctrader.

Where does the figure holding the child (or is it a doll) come from?

[Svennn]

That is top notch painting on a Frothers Unite sculpting comp mini which I think is now OOP.

[Orctrader]

Fabulous painting as ever Orctrader.

Where does the figure holding the child (or is it a doll) come from?

Thanks.  And Svenn is right. It isn't available.  I believe the sculptor sold the rights but whoever bought them didn't produce.

Not seen many painted examples so there must be some around.  You could try asking.  Try Frothers.

If I ever decide to sell this painted one, I'd advertise the fact.  Doubtful though.  I like it too much to easily part with it.  Child/Doll?  I painted it as a child.  The sculpt was actually called "Beauty and the Beast."  But it will always be "Frankenstein's Creature" to me.  I think it's based on a scene from one of the Boris Karloff films.

Back on topic though, this was primed BLACK.  And I think it's quite bright.

[joroas]

Will have a bash with the Blood way and white undercoat is easily purcheased from Poundland, so a fraction of GW prices............

[cheetor]

Thanks to Svenn and Orctrader for ID-ing the figure. 

It looks great and while I dont really have a lot of uses for a figure like it, I would definitely like to have had a look at other figures that the sculptor had made, if he had a website or online store or something.

Good luck with "priming the blood way" Joroas

[Cosmotiger]

I have not tried the white primer-black wash method, but it's something I want to experiment with on figures that are wearing light colored clothing.

I usually prime black, but I find with light colored schemes that I leave a very minimal  black outline around the edges and shadowed areas.  IMO, it's sort of working against myself to prime all black, and then cover up all that black with light colors.

[demi_morgana]

sometimkes when I want to get deep shadows on paintjob I undercoat model black and after that spray white or grey from above - works fine for me and it's fast

[HerbyF]

I use white or light grey most of the time. Sometime a dark grey or primer rust color. It depends on what I am planning to paint over it & what I want the finish to look like. I have used black in the past, but didn;t really like the effect.

[bulldogger2000]

I have a few methods of undercoating depending on the figure to be painted.  But, one that I found works to solve the dullness issue of which you speak with black prime and yet allow the paint to be a bit brighter as if it was white primed is this:

I use black  prime on the entire figure.  I then go back and dry brush the entire figure with white.  The nooks and crannies stay dark for shading purposes....but the higher areas are going to show more brightly because of the white highlight.  Always worked for me and solved the problem that you wanted addressed.