Painting skin in acrylics

[Stuntylover]

I have been painting for many, many years but only in the past year have I used a black primer on my 28mm minis. The advantages are obvious and well documented in this scale. However the disadvantage is the darker tone of the finished item and in particular all my minis finish up with a very swarthy look skinwise. I need to brighten up the skin; I do not mind the armour and clothing looking darker as the minis I paint are meant to be warriors anyway. Now to the point; if any of you use a black primer, how do you treat skin? Do you use a light basecoat (say white, grey) before starting on skin tones? Using layering techniques, how many layers can you get in before you can do no more? I would be grateful to learn your solutions.

 

[DrEvilmonki]

You could just go over the fleshy areas with white after priming. Just make sure you are thinning your oaints down or you will obscure the detail.

 

[Wolf Fang]

personaly i like to prime using grey.. this way the flesh tones apply easy you can kind of see where your highlighting goes and if you wnat a spot to be darker you can just simply add black

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Stuntylover
Do you use a light basecoat (say white, grey) before starting on skin tones?

Yes But these days, I prime white and then do a liberal black wash to get the benefits that a black primer gives.

Take a look at >>Klute\'s skin tutorial<< thread too. Good stuff there!

 

[Stuntylover]

Thanks for the help you guys. I was fascinated by the Klute tutorial; the interest it generated was amazing and so many people came out of the woodwork to take part. As to my case, I have taken on board what you have said and have decided that for 28mm figures I will prime black everywhere except skin areas, which I will prime white. They actually look like Art Deco statues! For 54mm and above I will continue to prime grey as painting at these levels is much more subtle and I use oils for that. Thanks again.

 

[Klute]

Ive actually reverted to black spray primer now.
If I want a brighter skin I will give it a white undercoat but Ive found myself just putting a good skin basecoat on.