Shading to do

GaryG64 · Nov 9, 2022

Ok. This is my attempt at painting people and I have 4 more figures I would like to incorporate into this future diorama.
How would I bring out detail on black or dark uniforms?
Including the washes (attached) I have 42 different German Colors, (aircraft & armor). Would any of these work for hilighting detail or should I mix up one?

Thanks.

blakeh1 · Nov 9, 2022

For painting black you would actually highlight to a lighter color leaving only the pure black for the shadows

If you wanted to do washes, that would mean staring with a color that is dark but not black, then you could do black washes

Personally I prefer highlighting up from black. Looks like you started to do that already with some of the edges

So starting with a black base coat, basically mix either some brown, blue, or grey into your black so you have something that is very dark without being black, then go and paint over all but the deep recesses with that color

That is the process I used for the Alien Queen and Alien below

I primed Black. Then used Army Painter Sith Robes (which is more like greyish black with a hint of brown seen here in the third row down in this color sample
I painted all but the deepest recesses that were to remain shadow like

I mixed in a bit of grey and brown to that and did some of the higher parts

then I also did a drybrush with white/grey/brown mix of oils since it was easy to blend which basically hit things like the edges of the plating etc...

And here I did a similar thing but stuck with all acrylics and shifted it more grey and blue than brown for a different tone

start from black, add more blue and white as highlights increase

at normal viewing distance something like this

zoomed way in to show the exaggerated contrast you can see it is actually mostly a blue black with highlights with only pure black being in the undercuts and creases

If you go to light in your highlighting you can then do a straight black wash to tone it down a bit

Hopefully that helps?

GaryG64 · Nov 9, 2022

blakeh1 said:
For painting black you would actually highlight to a lighter color leaving only the pure black for the shadows

If you wanted to do washes, that would mean staring with a color that is dark but not black, then you could do black washes

Personally I prefer highlighting up from black. Looks like you started to do that already with some of the edges

So starting with a black base coat, basically mix either some brown, blue, or grey into your black so you have something that very dark without being black, then go an paint over all but the deep recesses with that color

That is the process I used for the Alien Queen and Alien below

I primed Black. Then used Army Painter Sith Robes (which is more like greyish black with a hint of brown seen here in the third row down in this color sample
I painted all but the deepest recesses that were to remain shadow like

View attachment 95070

I mixed in a bit of grey and brown to that and did some of the higher parts

then I also did a drybrush with white/grey/brown mix of oils since it was easy to blend which basically hit things like the edges of the plating etc...

View attachment 95069

View attachment 95071

And here I did a similar thing but stuck with all acrylics and shifted it more grey and blue than brown for a different tone

start from black, add more blue and white was highlights increase

at normal viewing distance something like this

View attachment 95073

zoomed way in to show the exaggerated contrast you can see it is actually mostly a blue black with highlights with only pure black being in the undercuts and creases

If you go to light in your highlighting you can then do a straight black wash to tone it down a bit

View attachment 95074

View attachment 95072

Hopefully that helps?

Yes it does! Thanks for your help.
I'll continue with that process this evening.

GaryG64 · Nov 9, 2022

blakeh1 said:
For painting black you would actually highlight to a lighter color leaving only the pure black for the shadows

If you wanted to do washes, that would mean staring with a color that is dark but not black, then you could do black washes

Personally I prefer highlighting up from black. Looks like you started to do that already with some of the edges

So starting with a black base coat, basically mix either some brown, blue, or grey into your black so you have something that very dark without being black, then go an paint over all but the deep recesses with that color

That is the process I used for the Alien Queen and Alien below

I primed Black. Then used Army Painter Sith Robes (which is more like greyish black with a hint of brown seen here in the third row down in this color sample
I painted all but the deepest recesses that were to remain shadow like

View attachment 95070

I mixed in a bit of grey and brown to that and did some of the higher parts

then I also did a drybrush with white/grey/brown mix of oils since it was easy to blend which basically hit things like the edges of the plating etc...

View attachment 95069

View attachment 95071

And here I did a similar thing but stuck with all acrylics and shifted it more grey and blue than brown for a different tone

start from black, add more blue and white was highlights increase

at normal viewing distance something like this

View attachment 95073

zoomed way in to show the exaggerated contrast you can see it is actually mostly a blue black with highlights with only pure black being in the undercuts and creases

If you go to light in your highlighting you can then do a straight black wash to tone it down a bit

View attachment 95074

View attachment 95072

Hopefully that helps?

Also, great work! Your details and shading are really awesome!

GaryG64 · Nov 10, 2022

First group of guys are finished I have 4 more to do.
My dio idea is this tank and crew are out on patrol on a nice early afternoon where they meet a few infantrymen at an abandoned farmhouse off an old country road having some bread and wine talking about their future plans after the war. They soon forget there is a war and have a lighthearted afternoon.

I've never built a diorama, so this will be a big learning experience for me.

Phil57 · Nov 10, 2022

Good job. I just watched a fairly comprehensive video on Youtube about painting figures in oils. It is called Painting Alpine Miniatures and is really good and the end results are stunning. This chap does not use white or black but a complex mixture of dark and light shades he adds in layers over a base coat of acrylics. I learnt something. Not sure if I am skilled enough to use that information yet but we will see. I can't wait to see your dio.

blakeh1 · Nov 10, 2022

Thy look great!

GaryG64 · Nov 10, 2022

Phil57 said:
Good job. I just watched a fairly comprehensive video on Youtube about painting figures in oils. It is called Painting Alpine Miniatures and is really good and the end results are stunning. This chap does not use white or black but a complex mixture of dark and light shades he adds in layers over a base coat of acrylics. I learnt something. Not sure if I am skilled enough to use that information yet but we will see. I can't wait to see your dio.

I'll check it out. Thanks Phil57

GaryG64 · Nov 10, 2022

blakeh1 said:
Thy look great!

Thanks blakeh1. And thanks for your advice.

ariardi · Nov 14, 2022

For painting black you would actually highlight to a lighter color leaving only the pure black for the shadows

Shading to do

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