Hello Phil,

Looks like we've both had the same boss! :lol: :lol:

Q. ("I'm not old, I'm vintage" )

Hi Quang-
This is great! Give us more!
Matt

Hi Quang

It gets better and better. I'm going to start my tartan exercise tonight, blocking in the first colour. The pleats across the back of the kilt will be fun!

Vintage? Swing those lamps. When I was a lad....... :lol: :lol:

Cheers and thanks

Phil

Sorry, folks, for the long interlude.

Let's proceed to STEP 5 & 6

Draw a fine border to both sides of each stripe with 822 dark brown. First the vertical lines (STEP 5) then the horizontal (STEP 6).





Dark brown is used instead of black because I don't want the fine lines to stand out. With dark brown, the contrast is just right, the fine lines perceptible yet blended in the background.

Again, check that every line is OK (not like the ones on my demo pics ) before proceeding to the next step.

STEP 7

Now we'll try to break the monotony and the symmetry of the design by adding another fine line on both sides of each vertical line.



STEPS 8 & 9

In these final steps, we'll define the size of the sett (repetitive pattern) with fine lines in 914 green ochre. This new colour will 'spice up' the dull overtones and IMO will make our tartan look like a tartan.

Good Morning Quang,

I can follow it, but it is not so easy for me. For now i am on step 4 to make straight lines . It takes me more time for retouching the waving line's then creating a waving line :lol:
But i try, and i now when i am practicing enough i can do it.

So give me a couple of years to learn
Keep posting.

Marc

Here's how the figure looks like in the final stages.





If needed, shadows can be added with glazes in Payne's Gray (oils). Keep 'em subtle and avoid at all cost overpowering the tartan design with the shading.

Our tartan here is a simple one but more complex ones can be painted by following the same process. They're NOT more complicated, just longer to achieve (more steps). The key words are: discipline, right contrast and crispness. And of course, if it looks right, it's right.

I hope I didn't bore you to death.

Quang

Marc,

You didn't play Chitlins Con Carne in just one try, did you?

I've been trying hard at Little Wing for some months now. I KNOW I can do it (before arthritis gets the best of me :lol.

Q.

Qang thank you very much for this great and essential SBS !

Best regards

Jacek

Quang if you finished Little Wing, i finish a tartan on paper.:lol:
Good Luck with one of the best parts of Stevie. Hope someday i can hear it. As far as Chitlins con Carne, i am just at the intro.:lol:
Tune down, Play it Loud.

Marc

Thanks Quang to share with us your sbs, it's inspired me to painting figure with tartan...


Cheers
Marcin

Hey Quang - this SBS has been absolutely invaluable! Bring on the Scots figures in skirts - I can deal with 'em now!

Thanks for taking the trouble to go through this, it has been an education!

Best regards

Phil

PS - Hope to post my 93rd (Sutherland) tartan attempt shortly, all done following your method

Awesome article Quang...........Its in my notebook now. Many thanks for taking the time to do this step by step procedure for Tartans.

Hi Quang,

Thank you so much fo this SBS. My main interest is in the French and Indian Wars period and I have aleways felt too intimidated to do the tartans, thus ignoring a huge part of the period. This will be a great help.

BTW, this was also one of the clearest SBSs I've seen. Many of them seem to have a poriton that should be entitled "and before I took this picture,a miracle happened".

Paul, that's a nice compliment, indeed.

Thank you all, for your kind words. I'm glad you find the article helpful.

Now, how about an article on how to paint paisley patterns?



Just kidding!

Q.

Awesome and very valuable article!.

thanks to share with us

Rafa

Quang, Thanks for taking the time to put this sbs together.~Gary

Very nice! Thanks for the sbs Quang.

-jim cox

Awesome technique Quang. Excellent work on your figures' tartan too. Thanks for the sbs. This is why you're one of the worlds best.

KingTiger

KingTiger: I can assure you, I'm not worthy of the superlatives.

Nevertheless, thank you all for your appreciation.

Looking back, I still have the in-progress pics of the Yellow Moon's horse. Anybody care for another s-b-s about how to paint an Indian pinto?

Q.