basic questions about layering

[godfather]

I have just started painting with acrylics and wanted to try my luck with a 1/35th scale figure. I painted the belt but after I added the shading an and the highlights the transition between the low and high was very evident. Couple of questions: Could this be the result jumping too drastically from colour to colour as I layered? Secondly how does one layer on a large flat surface such as belts or the upper back of a figure so that you do not see the the different layers. BTW i did tone it done somewhat by adding awash but still evident.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by godfather
I have just started painting with acrylics and wanted to try my luck with a 1/35th scale figure. I painted the belt but after I added the shading and the highlights the transition between the low and high was very evident.
Couple of questions:
Could this be the result jumping too drastically from colour to colour as I layered?
Basically, yes. The transition between 28mm figure painting and 54mm painting is really large as the contrast levels are decreased the larger you go. Therefore the amount of thin layers you need to work to achieve the level of smooth transions increases exponentially.

Secondly how does one layer on a large flat surface such as belts or the upper back of a figure so that you do not see the the different layers.
Very thin layers with very small changes in color between each successive layer. Use glazes to tone down any over-segregation of the layers.
A lot of Historical painters seem to use blending with far greater effect. (Something I can\'t get the hang of with Acrylics but can with Oils.)


BTW i did tone it done somewhat by adding awash but still evident.
Washes can be fine but Glazes are used as they are higher dilution ratios of Water to Colour, anything from 10-20 water to 1 colour is a glaze which will allow a more gradual control of tonal alterations.

Hope that helps.