Hello everyone. Long time listener first time caller here I have been admiring your works for a long time. I finally decided to sign up because I have a couple of questions that I think only you guys can answer: I recently decided to switch to oil paints after some experimenting. I want to ask, is it possible (and viable) to use them to paint small scale, 1:72 and 28-30 mm (Warhammer?) figures? Do you have any advice or insight? What brushes do you use for detail work? (I mean something like the oil paint equivalent of Kolinsky brushes?)

Thank you in advance guys See you later...

Hello and welcome to this group of fellow planeteers. First
off, I really like your avitar! Something different. Regarding
the questions you asked, oh my, there are so many different
answers that would apply. Because each of us do not work
in how we apply either acrylics or oils or both in the same
manner. So I'll just mention a couple of things and hope that
others will chime in with their comments. 1) For the smaller
scale figures such as you mention, I only use Winsor Newton
Series 7 watercolour brushes. This would be sizes single zero (0)
and double zero (00) Also I would suggest that you
get some sort of "opti-visor" for the real close up work, i.e.
pupils of the eyes, or the catch light (I'm thinking of sizes
such as 1:32nd scale and 54mm, here) 2) I use both acrylics
and oils. And when using oils I do not thin the paint. I mix
the colour I want on my auto safety glass palette and
dip the brush in the unthinned oil paint. I use mineral spirits
to clean up the brushes. The wash them out in the palm of
my hand, with mild hand soap, at the end of the session. A
container of Mineral Spirits is also available in an "odorless"
version. When using oils, the paint is applied very thinly.
Lastly, when you do post photos here , please indicate what
scale the figure is. Since we are looking only at photos and are
not actually there to see the figure "live". . . knowing the
scale really helps us to understand what we are looking at.
Good Luck, The Miami Jayhawk (Rick Brownlee)

I and lots of others use oils on 30mm flat figures so there is no reason why they can't be used on the stuff you mentioned.... and welcome.

Roger.

Look what Mr. Acrylic, "I can paint twenty figures on one shore leave" is saying now! Roger has found the "true" path To answer your question, oils will work fine on the smaller scales, in fact, since they are so finally ground they probably work better than hobby acrylics. Their slow drying gives you more "open-time" to work with them. As for brushes - same sables that are used on acrylics but I beleive you will get a longer brush life with oils. sizes: 000, 00,0 and 1. 10/0, 5,0 etc. are pretty much useless in my opinion. As for brands, I like Rosemary & Co. series 33 and Winsor and Newton # 7's.

This is true!

Roger.

Thank you guys. About the avatar: Mr. Jek Tono Porkins has always been my favorite Star Wars character
The thing is, my interest in oil paints turned into an obsession in time. I've painted only using acrylics. But I want to "master" oils Drying time is not really a problem for me since I don't paint armies and take my time painting each and every one of those little guys. I found a copy of Sheperd Paine's book. I'm sure I'll devour it in no time.

@kansas kid: Thank you for you reply. I have an optivisor and Kolinsky brushes. Last night I used them with oils and (contrary to popular belief) the hairs did not fall off Thanks again.

By the way you can see my work in my blog: http://endersgames172.blogspot.com/

Ender!... there are some notable differences with the type and make of oils that are available. Such as the, Windsor & Newton.. 'Winton', or 'Artist', range. both have notable differences! .. or a step up to 'Old Holland',.. or a step down to, 'Daler Rowney'. a lot can depend on your chosen range!.. which is what, by the way?

Ps, Welcome to 'Bedlam',

Regards,

Mark

Hello Tubby-Nuts2. My girlfriend has a large collection of Winton and Daler Rowney (Georgian) paints.
I think I'll use them for a while and maybe create my own palette in time. (Unfortunately, her impasto techniques are of no use to me : ) )
I exclusively paint medieval and fantasy figures (1:72 scale and 28-30 mm). Bright colors, high contrast and a matte finish are important to me.
By the way, what do you guys think of alkyd (Griffin, Gamblin...) paints? I heard that they dry in a couple of hours and have a matte finish.
Can they be used in figure painting? Are the pigments ground enough? And lastly, what mediums do you guys use?

Thanks again for the warm welcome

Ender,.. I use all mediums, on any given subject, (which is not many this year).. Acrylics, Oils, Enamels! ... basically, if it fits, use it! as the spectrum of choice is wide open! ... and as such, you get to know the qualities of each type, and learn how best to use them.

E.g.. With Acrylics, I have, Andrea, Vallejo, both Model and Air, Mr Hobby, GW, etc.

Oils, W/N-, Winton, & Artist, Old Holland, Mig, etc.

Enamels,.. well just as they are, Humbrol !

Try not to get bogged down with a single medium,....... its a colourful world

Regards,

Mark

I use Schminke-Mussini oils, myself.

Prost!
Brad

Hi Ender, first I have to agree with the kansas kid about your avitar, Great.
I have used griffin alkyds and I like them a lot. They are now being marketed by windsor and newton as fast drying oils. The difference between them and ordinary oils is that they only have one grade(artists), the pigment seems very finely ground, and the binder is synthetic so they all dry at the same rate. Being a synthetic binder, the colours tend not to go dull. Some do seem very transparent, but perhaps it's worth getting a small set to see what you think.
Best wishes, Gary.

First of all please excuse me for not replying your replies earlier. Recently I hadn't have time to spend for the hobby and fellow hobbyists Fortunately from now on I will have the time and the resources to paint those little guys. I had bought some Humbrol enamels and plan on painting over them with oils. Hope to share the results soon. Thanks again guys (and gals, if there are any)

Hi Ender, I have read the above and agree with it, however I use oils exclusively (although I may try humbrol as a base for some colours), I use them neat although sometimes I try some mediums, Brushes the best I can get, I do not use many three or four size's and replace the fairly regularly but never throw them away, (as I will still use them) but mainly my own advise would be, be patient, lean your own style and technique. try a larger figure this may help develop the former and you may even find you enjoy them as much.

PS I tried your Blog ..... it was not there

To my mind the best paint to use is the one that's best suited to create the effect you're trying to realise.

For me, I favour using acrylics and oils and pastels in combination.

It's not a case of oils vs. acrylics, but rather a "horses for courses" approach.

Sometimes oils over acrylics is a better look than just acrylics on their own.

Many figure painters (in all scales) favour oils over acrylics on flesh and leather areas because you get a slight sheen from the oil paint and the acrylic provides a solid base colour that can be easily filtered.

Other favour oils only for flesh areas.

Personally I'll use whatever paint I think is going to give me the effect I'm looking for.

It's all been pretty well covered. One small addition to Kansas Kids brush cleaning regime is when you've cleaned your brush and your hands and they are both still slightly damp do this.
Have a look at your hand and you'll see the palmistry lines, place your brush in the crease of the heart line, gently close your palm until the hairs are enclosed by the line and draw out towards your pinky whilst keeping palm closed. Repeat a few times until you're satisfied with the point then let the brush dry by hanging with hairs down ......it actually works. I think it's something traditional signwriters do.
See ..... painting wee figures is sexy how can women resist us with a chat up line like this ...... feel free to use

absolutely

can anyone explain waterbased oils in a bit of depth? I have only just recently heard of them. Do they resemble water or oil based paint more?

zane

I'd like to know about water based oil paints too

Napoleonpeart, thankyou for that.

zane