Gem Dragon: How to Paint?

[Marius Delphus]

Just what it says. I've used "pearlescent" paint, white washes, and on and on, and I'm at my wits' end on this one. It's the amethyst dragon from Council of Wyrms, and I just don't know how to make the darn thing look right. At the moment, it looks like what might happen if a purple dragon and a silver dragon had a baby with the skin texture of Ben Grimm as the Thing.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[alsih2o]

there is a product called stained glass paint. I have never used it on a mini, but it sounds like just the thing.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Never heard of it. What does it look like on non-mini pieces? Is it the sort of thing that would be available at a chain crafts store?

 

[pogre]

Is there any chance of posting a picture of this thing so I can get a better idea?
I have a technique for painting gems, but I have no idea if it is appropriate for your wyrm.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Okay, say hello to my first ever figure pictures (front and back). This is the point at which I gave up on the latest attempt (some while ago). I realize they are not so great as figure pictures, but I had limited access to the macro-capable camera.

The third image is Mykell the Great Wyrm Amethyst Dragon from the Council of Wyrms AD&D2E boxed set, so you can see why I think the figure is meant to be Mykell.

Any suggestions you can give would be great. Thanks!

 

[pogre]

Thanks for the pictures. I am going to type out my gems method, but let me go ahead and mention a couple of first steps. I think you need to strip the figure - use the method of your choice. Next, primer the dragon black.

To give you some idea of what I'm going to suggest - I would paint every scale like a lumniscent gem and go for a more transparent look on the wings.

Gems method to be posted in the next couple of days...

 

[alsih2o]

Never heard of it. What does it look like on non-mini pieces? Is it the sort of thing that would be available at a chain crafts store?

It is available at chains like Micheals and Hobby Lobby.

It looks like stained glass. You paint it on glass and it has the texture and color of stained glass.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Thanks Clay, I will look into that!

Thanks pogre, I am looking forward to that!

Wow, two EN World luminaries showed up to help me out -- I'm tickled.

 

[Axegrrl]

Have you tried Liquitex's interference purple? Describing an interference paint is difficult... but basically, it's a transluscent base, tinted with a color, and mica or something reflective in it. When you paint it over a white basecoat, it looks shimmery, sort of like a pearl of the color. When you paint it over a black basecoat, it looks sort of like a one-color oil slick (if that makes any sense).

The other thought I had: white base color, blended with varying shades of purple, and a pearl spray over that. Pearl spray is somewhat difficult to find-- last time I saw it was at a ceramics shop (the type where they pour the liquid "clay" into molds, then unmold & fire the stuff before painting or glazing it).

 

[Marius Delphus]

That sounds cool too... man, I'm going to need three more of these things to play with.