Hi all,
I started painting *a pirate bust from Verlinden, I'm using Vallejo MC and I'm painting using super thin washes "dirty water". Is there a rule of thumb as to when I should move on to a darker/lighter shade of *paint? if I keep putting on washes of the same shade will I eventually end up with a *solid opaque color? BTW this is the first time using this technique and I'm happy with the results so far, but how do I know when I'm done?*
Thanks for listening.
Pete.*:awesome:

Hi Pete,
I used that technique on the skin of Lucky Jack the last bust I painted. There is no set rule as to how much is enough, it changes with every skin type you try to recreate. I think the only way to know when you have done enough layers of one shade is just by what looks right you have to trust your eye. Once it looks right to you go on to the next tone. If you did stick with one wash long enough it would become a block colour, you'd be there a while though. If you post some pics of the work in progress people will help with suggestions and feedback. Best thing about this hobby is it's only paint and can be painted over or if worse comes to worst stripped and started again.
I've only been doing this for just over a year so other more experienced planeteers may have better advice but hopefully I've helped to answer your question.

Andrew.

When you like the way it looks.

Great question, I've used non-figurists reactions to gauge a completion before and it's generally very useful

I agree the best is to trust your eye/instinct. In addition to that, if it is of any help, try to stop when you begin to see that the colors are getting too even. For me, it works to go for the contrast. In any case, keep in mind that I´m no master at all , far from it, just a fellow hobbyist. .

Greetings.

"When you like the way it looks" is pretty much dead on.

Yes.

I think try to keep in mind the goal - a soft transition between one colour and another, so once you get that then the job is done.

Incidentally, you don't have to use paint quite this dilute all the time when doing layers/glazing. Depending on the colour/paint mix and the exact effect you're going for it can be useful to use lower dilution initially (about that of milk) relying on on paint that's like dirty water only for the subtlest of effects.

This also partly relates to the mixtures you're using - the more intermediary shades you have between the highlight and deep shadow colour the less layering you need to do. But if you're using just three mixtures (highlight, midtone, shadow) you need to use very dilute mixtures, and apply them very sparingly, to get the effect subtle enough.

Einion

Thank you all for your advice, this site is helpful because I don't know any one in San Diego CA, that paints historical minis so thanks for enduring my many questions.
Pete