All

I am using acrylics for everything now apart from flesh, having seen some of the results people are getting with Jo Sonjas for flesh I am thinking of giving them a go.

I get the impression especially with retarder they behave more like oils than acrylics is that true?

Do you get a good flesh sheen from them, ie not too matt?

What colour mixes are people using for various flesh tones?

How well do they mix with Vallejo and Andrea?

Cheers

Neil

Neil,

I've recently switched to Jo Sonja acrylics after using Vallejo for many years. Jo Sonja dry almost completely flat so I suggest you use them only for base coating flesh, and then apply oils over the base coat. If you use Jo Sonja acrylics only to paint flesh, you will end up with a very matt looking face.

I'm not sure what would have given you that impression but no, they're absolutely not like oils (any more than any acrylic paint is).

They're very matt. That's one of their primary selling points. It's for this reason that I wouldn't normally use them for skin - unless the same model featured NMM and was entirely painted in the same manner.

That'll be about as many answers to this as there are users, just like with oils there's practically no limit to the various mixtures people use!

Perfectly well. They should mix fine with just about any water-borne paints.

Einion

Both

Thanks for your inputs

Regards

Neil

Hi Neil, I've been using Jo Sonja for about six months now and love the way they blend. With regard to flesh tones I have used them on the last three figures and two busts that I have painted and am happy with the results, yes it's very matt but the blending properties almost outweight this. I find that a thin layer of vallejo matt varnish can give it enough sheen if you feel the need. They also provide an excellent base for oils.

Alex.

Thanks Alex

Are you using a blending medium?

The use of matt varnish rather than satin is interesting. I think in the articles I read the Jo Sonjas are being mixed with Vallejo art deco paints which may be how the slight flesh sheen comes about.

I picked some Sonjas up from Keith and will be experimenting at the weekend.

Have you posted any pics of your results anywhere?

Cheers

Neil

Hi Neil, No I don't use a blending medium, I find that the Sonja's blend pretty well with water when thinned out and filtered. I think there is some logic in your assumption about the mixing with Arte Deco paints giving a sheen but I can't get hold of a bottle of the medium flesh tone to find out! Having said that, some of the mixes for shadows and cold areas that Sang Eon Lee uses don't contain any Arte Deco paint at all which would then create an inconsistency in the finish?

Have a look at the WWII & Historical galleries in my blog for examples of my work if you wish.

Hope your experiments at the weekend go well.

Alex.

You can use Jo Sonja's colors similar to oils, if you use their "Retarder Medium".
I used it to paint the boots on this Andrea Viking.
I followed the technique by Calvin Tan:
http://zyclyon.blogspot.com/search/label/Modelling Tutorials
In my experience the Jo Sonja Retarder also seems to make Vallejo Colors dry matte.
Regards,
Gilbert

I love Jo Sonja paint because I can go from really thick paint to thin paint.

I paint faces and skin with Jo Sonja. It does not matter that the result dry matt. What matters is your work to put the rights highlights and shados to give the illusion of satin or gloss finish.

Ummm, interesting. I'm looking where to buy Jo Sonja paints to test them so far away, but I can't find where to buy them. Sorry the offtopic but, somebody can help me with that?

I ordered mine direct from Jo Sonja. Just came in.

Gilbert, that is very well painted. I like your metals especially. Could share what medium did you use?

Hi Alex

I dont know of any sources in Europe, I havent looked for any, in the UK there is

http://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ProductDetails.cfm?SubCatId=201&Code=JSA1

In the US there is

http://www.dickblick.com/?wmcp=goog...br1017111818&gclid=CMvqoLGN27YCFc3HtAodTXAAng

The US prices are much cheaper than UK

Dick Blick say they ship overseas, you fill an on line order in and they say they will get back to you in 3 days with shipping costs, I am still waiting 2 weeks later, and got my Sonjas from Keith so havent actually ordered from anywhere yet although I need some extra colours, so for a couple I will probably buy from rainbowsilks.

I started experimenting yesterday and so far I am very impressed, very matt and great for stipple effects, airbrush well.

Cheers

Neil

Alex & Gilbert

Thanks for your responses, great blog Alex, I wonder how different Vallejo Arte Deco is to their model range, they only seem sto have stockisis in Spain and US at the moment. I thake your point on the potential inconsitency of shadows etc.

Gilbert thanks for the Calvin Tan link, the boots look great as does the rest of the Viking.

Cheers

Neil

I'd agree, but only with the stipulation that the entire model is painted the same way. These days we often see uniformly matt skin mixed with leather that has a sheen, metallic paints instead of NMM etc. which doesn't 'make sense' visually.

Dick Blick is one of the usual recommendations for people buying internationally because their prices are very good and their shipping is reasonable; I got my first batch of Jo Sonjas from Blick. They're usually the cheapest, but not always so it's always worth doing some comparison shopping to check prices.

You might like to look over this previous thread on a starter palette for Jo Sonjas anyway, and I give the link to Chroma's stockists page in post #13:
http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/starter-pallete-jo-sonja.42475/

Einion

finally I made my order to rainbowsilks. prices in USA are really cheaper.... but unfortunately the shipping cost are really high to Europe. so I I'd ordered a few colors and if they like me, I'll try to order more to USA through a friend

thanks for your help!

Hola Alex

Just a quick answer your question with a little late!
I use Jo Sonja colors for some time, and frankly, I have a little trouble with the ModelColor right now! These paints are Fantastiks !
I'll give you a link to order in France:
http://mimi-crealoisirs.com/fr/couleurs-de-decoration/54-jo-sonja-s-artists-colours.html

see you

Piotrec,
The gold is Vallejo Model Color 878(173) Old Gold with Games Workshop Citadel Wash Gryphone Sepia(old name).
The mail and silver part of helmet is Games Workshop Citadel Color Boltgun Metal over a Vallejo model color 950(169) Black base.
Followed by various washes of Games Workshop Citadel Washes.
Since painting this I have started to use the Vallejo Model Air Metallics more often.
They are excellent in my opinion.
Regards,
Gilbert

Thanks Gilbert. It is much appreciated.