Nervous wreck here, picking up other peoples works of art to inspect at close range - and yes
I need to inspect at close range these days cos the old eyeballs are gettin sumwhat decrepit. I am a bag of nerves, primarily because of the esteem I hold other's efforts in -especially when the results are "exceptional". That makes me a bag of nerves with other peoples figures
I have certainly for the past ten years beeen a rigid adherent of black undercoat when using acryllics. Horses and general wood tones have been undercoated white prior to the application of "oils".
With the advent of "the Army Painters" varnish tones, I have been experimenting, very much in the vein of things in this thread espoused here by Clarence, and have to say, that the white undercoat (just as Barry iterates) brings out the colours in the finished artifact.
I am taking "Army Painter" a step further along their literature claims, and have embarked on horses and basic figure uniform tones being in "spray applied undercoat, varnished with their "varnish tones", then highlighted, in acryllics.
Early days yet, but dark and strong varnish does seem to have the similar
effect on "grey" horses as applying black oil over white and "wiping" it clean. Chestnut and browns are still in the experimental stage, but I can see a positive time saving in the application of spray painted undercoats here. As for human figures, too early to say but am confident result will be same as for horses.
Clarence's comments re his painting of "French Plastic Battalion" is unequivicoble. "The proof is in the pudding" - look at the photograph size and figure scale. His painting is admirable, and method - well, I for one am trying to emulate it. Well done Clarence
, and certainly for me, an undercoat, whether black, white, or predominant base colour, will be a must for me unless I resort back to "basics"
Bob
PS Clarence - ur comments on scale and visual impact on the wargames table V's painting in detail - spot on, as a visual impact at a range of between 3 - 6 feet (ok 1 -2 metres) who needs to paint to painting competition standard
My compliments to Gordon Y of KWC who has already espoused this belief to me - he is not alone after all and - eye candy is in the eyes of the beholder - just get ur perspective right