Painting Gold and Bronze

[Trysop]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had any good tips or techniques for painting gold and bronze?

I have models I want to paint up at statues. I would like a nice bright gold finish and a more weathered bronze look (not sure if I want a patina on it but would be grateful to know how it is done)

I have had  a bit of  a play with some GW metallic’s and found they do not seem to dry brush very well so was curious how anyone else did these colours.

Thanks for your time.

[revford]

For gold, I use cheap craft shop gold acrylic, then a wash of thinned black paint over it.  It seems to work better for me than drybrushing.

For Bronze, I'd use a dark green wash or maybe turquoise wash.

The cheap paint is much grittier than GW/VGC paint so give a nice, slightly rough texture that looks good with the wash.

[Jules]

I think you get the best results from undercoating in black first.

[Svennn]

I also use cheap craft shop paints for metallics but use a Burnt Umber wash over gold. I mix a dark base coat for Bronze from Gold and Black.

[Argonor]

If you want a 'polished' gold look, try painting silver first, then gold on top. Works for me!

[Geudens]

A dark brown as base colour, richly drybrushed with gold/bronze (+90% coverage), wash with GW Gryphonne Sepia Citadel Wash (bronze) and/or GW Devlan Mud Wash for a more weathered look (both with gold & bronze).

Rudi

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

The gold/bronze on the huntsman spider tank: (http://www.ramshacklegames.co.uk/nuclear/thingstocome.html)

I did it with the Vallejo metal paints. They are alcohol based and give AMAZING coverage. Unline wishy washy acryllic they look like real mteal straight away. I got a headache from using it though, but you have to suffer for your art. Cant spell painting without pain!

Anyway, I washed over with black/brown mix of normal acryllic( Cote D'arms). For the highlights I just painted more of the base colour on. I tend to apply highlights quite carefully on metal, I find drybrushing just doesnt give enough control.

[dodge]

It's a matter of choice and preference really.

If rough texture is what is required then Revford method is the one for you. Then just find the wash that suits what you want.

If you want polished then I have found painting gold first and a little silver afterwards on certain raised areas works well.

There are some really good suggestions there from the others.

[Argonor]

If you want polished then I have found painting gold first and a little silver afterwards on certain raised areas works well.

A very light silver drybrush also works - on my LotR high elves' armour, I have been experimenting with a basecoat of dark green (catachan or dark angels), heavy drybrush or 'wetbrush' with gold, then a light drybrush with silver...

Now with the washes, I'm tempted to try basecoat of silver, cover with gold, then a thinned thraka green wash... just to see the result 

[revford]

Cant spell painting without pain!

Now that's hardcore. 

[dodge]

Now with the washes, I'm tempted to try basecoat of silver, cover with gold, then a thinned thraka green wash... just to see the result 

That's the thing with both bronze and gold because it does go green with age and neglect I think your wash method there would be a good result. 

Dodge

[Trysop]

Hello,

thank you to everyone and their suggestions for painting gold and bronze, I now have a few ideas to try out and see what works best for me. Just need to get the undercoating done tonight before i can proceed with the painting.

Thanks for all the help