Flesh Tone Base Coat?

[PropBlast]

How does the base coat effect the finish when painting flesh tones? I've read about people base coating in white, yellow sand, grey, black, dark flesh etc? Also does it matter which medium the base coat is in (oil over enamels, oil over acrylics, enamel over acrylics, acrylics over enamels, etc, etc)

 

[DaddyO]

That's a big ol can of worms PB

The base colour will have an effect if you are painting in glazes or very thin coats of colour. If you use lots and lots of coats of paint it's going to have less of an effect. Some folks prime their figures in black and still mange to get nice flesh ones so I think it's more of a personal choice.
I prime in white myself, but I've tried grey too without much apparent difference in the finished appearance using the same colours and methods (acrylic paint)

(There is a good case for priming red with yellow to get a bright red mainly because 'classic' reds are glazes without much opacity and this adds to the vibrancy of the red)

Try it and see if you notice any difference would be my suggestion
Cheers
Paul

ps
I know folks use acrylic over oils, by the way, but it's not good practice unless they've had plenty of time to dry (oil based paints dry more slowly that acrylics and painting the faster drying acrylic on top of oils can lead to cracking and flaking)

 

[PropBlast]

Thanks for the interesting reply DaddyO. People never seem to give any reason for the different base colour hence the question.

 

[yellowcat]

Painter Alex Castro use Krylon bright silver paint (1401) to prime his figures. It is a unique different approach for priming figures.
http://www.alexcastro.com/the-art-of-priming/

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I always used ‘Humbrol Matt Sand’, as a base, over a white primer. Then played around with the oils for various flesh tones. The base in my view, lent itself to skin tone either light or dark. I have seen black as a base which has been mentioned, never seen red used.

Mark.

 

[John Bowery]

I always used ‘Humbrol Matt Sand’, as a base, over a white primer. Then played around with the oils for various flesh tones. The base in my view, lent itself to skin tone either light or dark. I have seen black as a base which has been mentioned, never seen red used.

Mark.

I use the above also.
Cheers
John

 

[Kevtk135]

I've seen people prime with a dark red, and I've also seen a video of the person primed her figure with green! In both cases the tone turned out well. And BTW it was acrylics over acrylics...

 

[MCPWilk]

I use Humbrol sand aerosol as a primer/undercoat on its own or Humbrol white aerosol as a primer with Vallejo flesh as an undercoat. I always paint flesh in oils, mainly white/burnt sienna.

Mike

 

[Nap]

I use a Vallejo Brown Sand as my basecoat over a matt black primer

Nap

 

[Ronaldo]

Humbrol desert sand is a great base as it is almost flesh tone , everyone has there own ideas ,but for the life of me I cant understand the use of black; esp with oils

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Ronaldo-I think Black is popular now as a means to avoid painting shadows into those areas almost impossible to reach with a brush. The effect is mitigated normally with a second spray of white to bring out the highlights.

Keith

 

[Ronaldo]

"Black is popular now as a means to avoid painting shadows into those areas almost impossible "

Kieth Im certainly not knocking it , It just doesn't work for me that well as much as I have tried

 

[Tecumsea]

I am with you on that Ronaldo, but there are so many different techniques out there now the mind boggles....like you i'll stick with my Oils

 

[Paul20100]

I use aibrushed Humbrol #1, 28, 63 or 64 as primer in three diluted coats, on which I paint with oils directly. I know more and more painters are using black primer or black combined with white sprayed from down to top and vice versa, so as to emphasize contrasts. Why not ?

 

[HansDig]

Bit late for a reaction but I prime with AK-grey primer and, since a few weeks, I use the Noctorna Fairy Flesh Set ( also for non-fairy's) and start with the, rather dark, base color in thin layers. Works good for me.

 

[Ronaldo]

This is a first for me : Army painter ; skeletal bone primer .
Think this might work well as it is close to neutral tones for the colours I am going to use here on this head which is the second one or alternative to the box art.
Colours will be flesh , red , bronze and something dark for the beard.
This will be a little experiment before going to the box art head .
So far we are cutting out a layer of paint by trimming and base coating , which cant be bad

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

This is a first for me : Army painter ; skeletal bone primer .
Think this might work well as it is close to neutral tones for the colours I am going to use here on this head which is the second one or alternative to the box art.
Colours will be flesh , red , bronze and something dark for the beard.
This will be a little experiment before going to the box art head .
So far we are cutting out a layer of paint by trimming and base coating , which cant be bad


View attachment 331633

How strange, I’ve ‘just ordered some of this range myself. The ‘Barbarian flesh’, primer. It’ll be interesting to see how this will work out.

Mark.

 

[Ronaldo]

How strange, I’ve ‘just ordered some of this range myself. The ‘Barbarian flesh’, primer. It’ll be interesting to see how this will work out.

Mark.

Make sure you shake the can well Mark ; to get a matt finish

 

[pkessling]

Floquil reefer white brushed on as primer, very thin. Liquitex jar acrylic: Dark Flesh + Burnt Sienna with water to thin. Several very thin coats for a smooth surface.

 

[Steve Ski]

I know this is an old thread, but................this has been working for me so far;

Krylon primer, good old Mr. Surfacer 100, or even the good old Floquil primer (no longer available), either one for a base, no more colored base tones for me. At least, not on these biggins.

Cheers, Ski.