skin tones

[Masked]

I just wanted to ask if I'm doing something dreadfully wrong. I never notice the problem when I do clothing, but when I do skin, I'm always getting either too much or too little paint on the mini. Thus it either gets streaky or grainy.

I'm using citadel paints and reaper miniatures. I feel like my succubus should have smooth alabaster skin, not the rough hide of a barbarian.

Any ideas?

 

[S'mon]

Can't help you, just wanted to say I have the same problem myself. Eg:
http://www.boman.biz/content/DDCharGallery/pages/Lilliana.htm

Check out those legs... *ugh*
Can anyone help us poor skin-manglers?

 

[Gizzard]

Well, you definitely want to thin your paints a good bit before applying them.

To paint skin, I use Citadel Dwarf Flesh & Citadel Elf Flesh mainly; I use a dark brown ink and a little splash of white also to get a full range of colors.

Here are some problems I have had; wont really apply if you dont use the same technique I do though:

1) I notice that Dwarf Flesh dries out really quickly in the pot. I always try to use this color just a bit too long instead of just going out and buying a new one. (I mention this first, because you say you have trouble with skin. Also, Dwarf Flesh is really too ruddy for an ordinary human skin tone, but it might make a nice barbarian or sea captain. ;-)

2) If I make a mistake and end up painting over and over, or if I use a drybrush technique then I tend to get rough textures.

3) Bad thinning. I get impatient and dont get the right thickness on my paints before applying them. Well thinned paints have a wash-y feel to them. (I assume your thinning is OK if you can paint clothing etc, well.)

 

[kengar]

Thinning is key. It's better to do a second thin coat than one thick one. Also, use flesh-tone inks to create depth and bring out things like facial features instead of washing or shading with paint. I usually thin flesh paint to about 3:1 (water to paint) and the inks 3:1 as well.

Be careful with the inks. If not diluted enough, you can get some serious tinting going on. I have a Reaper ogre that is one of my favorites, but I used too strong a mix on the ink for the face; he ended up looking sunburned!

 

[KnowTheToe]

I also struggle with shirtless humanoids. I am lucky enough to have found a class on the 19th that is teaching techniques for flesh and non-metal metalics. I am really excited.

I learned all of my painting methods through reading and am about as good as I can get without some instruction on how to improve. I am not a visonary artist and I am interested in what changes / differences I can learn.

I went to a paint and take and learned the importance of and consistancy to look for in watering down paints. All of the ratios written are not worth much because the consistancy of paints can be so different.

 

[Drakmar]

I have always found that the undercoat you use has a major effect as well. a nice white primer (the citadel ones over here in Aus are good).. and then a nice thin (my pot of flesh is the right thinness) coat works wonders.. then.. to get rid of the texture.. I have found that inking the flesh gives it a bit of a shine.. you can even ink it with the colour you painted it with.. I prefer to make it a little darker myself.