discussion 75mm Aradia Miniatures, The Green Knight

[PaulinKendal]

Well I put some images in my previous post, but they seem to have disappeared. I'll try again.

Oil on:


Oil off:


Lots of wet paint everywhere:



​ ​ For the rider, I've pre-shaded his head and beard, and I'll be blocking in main colours in acrylics, to see if that makes life easier. ​
​

 

[Jim R]

That is going to be a stunner. Smaller than I imagined.

 

[Richard48]

Wow looking great so far.
Richard

 

[Steven000]

Nice paintwork so far Paul, interesting figures

 

[PaulinKendal]

Rider with main colours blocked in with acrylic paint. The black parts (actually very dark grey) will be metals.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking interesting Paul. Steep learning curve with oils, but the colours are always really vibrant so should suit this subject. They are really nice to handle, mixing smoothly like butter. Not done that much with them myself apart from a lot of experimentation and a few hundred ACW gaming figures back in the nineties, but I did discover liquin, and found it a useful tool to have in the armoury. It is an additive that is useful for fine detail as it increases the fluidity of the paint and makes it easier to put on thin coats and make glazes. My favourite was the fine stuff. Using it I found that oils handled much more like the paints I was used to, but retained the easy blending for which they are renowned. It also reduces drying times. It is essential to put the work under cover while it dries as well. It is a veritable dust and fluff magnet otherwise….

 

[PaulinKendal]

Thanks for the helpful comments, Tim Marlow . It's certainly a steep learning curve - where I'm at now I'm not sure I'll be inclined to continue using oils after this figure is completed. I'm missing the clean, quick-drying nature of acrylics, and the confidence in handling them that's not there with oils - I'm all at sea!

I'm currently thinking of reverting to acrylics for the final detailing - I just can't see myself achieving a precise finish with the slippery, shape-shifting qualities that clearly make oils so good for smooth blends.

And my choice of pinto markings for the horse was definitely a mistake - the filigree of patterns on the horse's coat, coupled with those black and white markings make for a really confused look.

I'll plug on with this and decide on whether it's worth trying again with oils once I've finished - his cloak could be an interesting test of the smooth blending potential of oils. Perhaps I'll introduce elements of oil painting together with acrylics, playing to their distinctive strengths?

 

[Tim Marlow]

Not sure acrylics over oils would work that well Paul. Oil and water really don’t mix. Might need a barrier varnish coat between them? Worth a try on the liquin, by the way….

 

[PaulinKendal]

Not sure acrylics over oils would work that well Paul. Oil and water really don’t mix. Might need a barrier varnish coat between them? Worth a try on the liquin, by the way….

I'm intending to varnish before doing any acrylic detailing. We'll see how it goes.

 

[PaulinKendal]

This is nearing completion. I've struggled a lot with it, but learnt absolutely tons, so I'm well-happy over all. I'm going to put some snow on that base and call it done, I think.

 

[Jim R]

Looks bloody marvellous to me. Very "stylised" (if that's the right word) but a real eyecatcher.

 

[Steven000]

Second Jim, lovely paintwork

 

[Richard48]

Agree with Jim.Stunning work.
Richard