As I ventured into the realm of painting miniatures, I encountered an obstacle that proved to be most challenging: the art of achieving aesthetically pleasing colors. The hues that I found to be most demanding in this regard were red, yellow, and orange. The crux of this exposé centers on my systematic approach to enhancing the appearance of red in my miniature painting endeavors.
What you need:
- Primer
- Good quality brush
- Flow improver
- Red paint of your choice
- Orange paint/glaze of your choice
- Blue paint/wash of your choice
The right primer makes a big difference
It is essential to bear in mind that the color of your primer is not just an arbitrary choice. Rather, it has a profound influence on the final color of your paint, which, as any experienced painter knows, can make or break a project. Indeed, the precise shade of primer can determine whether your bright red will end up looking more like a washed-out pink or a deep, luscious crimson.
Proper paint consistency is key
When painting with bright colors, it is more important to get the paint consistency right than when painting with darker colors. The pigment in bright paint is less dense, so it is easy to get separation if you don’t prepare the paint correctly or if you paint straight from the pot.
I like to use a couple of drops of flow improver when I am painting with red paint. This helps the paint to move better and it covers the surface better than if I use just water.
You need more than one layer
When one embarks on the creative journey of painting, they may find themselves drawn to the vibrancy and allure of bright colors, such as the fiery hue of red. However, one may soon discover that painting with these bold shades can be an arduous and vexing process, for achieving complete coverage may require the application of multiple layers of paint. The first layer, though valiant in its effort, may fall short of accomplishing the desired effect, leaving certain areas exposed and bereft of color.
Alas, fear not, for this is a common plight faced by many a painter, novice and expert alike. The solution to this predicament is simple – allow the initial layer to dry completely, and then proceed to apply a second, or even a third layer, as necessary. By doing so, the painted surface will be enriched with an ample amount of paint, resulting in a lustrous and cohesive finished product.
However, as with all things in life, there is a caveat to this solution. Improper thinning of the paint may lead to the lamentable consequence of paint buildup, which, in turn, can obstruct the finer details of the painted surface, causing it to lose its intended aesthetic charm. Thus, it is imperative that one exercises due diligence and care in the preparation and application of the paint, in order to achieve the desired outcome.
Patience is necessary
Painting can be an arduous process, especially when it comes to waiting for the paint to dry before applying the next layer. Waiting for the paint to dry may be exasperating, but it is absolutely necessary if you want to achieve a desirable result.
In fact, adding another layer of paint before the previous one is completely dry can lead to disastrous outcomes. The second layer of paint may not stick to the first layer as it should, resulting in a distinctly different appearance from the rest of the painting.
Regrettably, I speak from personal experience. When I was in the process of painting a model, I hastily added a second layer of red paint before the initial layer had fully dried. The results were catastrophic. A part of the model came undone, and the color looked significantly lighter than the rest of the painting.
It’s worth noting that rectifying a mistake of this nature can be quite the daunting task. The newly painted area will always be a distinct hue from the rest of the painting, and the paint may become thick and viscous, making it difficult to rectify the mistake. Therefore, to avoid these unfortunate consequences, it’s best to be patient and let each layer dry thoroughly before moving on to the next.
Highlight using orange
Allow me to rewrite the article with a higher degree of perplexity and burstiness:
The natural world is full of enigmatic wonders, and this may be one of them – although it defies the norm, it is unequivocally true that the color orange is a product of both red and yellow.
Being an avid painter, I decided to take it upon myself to experiment with a variety of hues to accentuate the color red. I made multiple attempts by adding white to the red pigment, as well as blending it with pink and white. These endeavors proved to be moderately fruitful.
Whilst working on my project, I happened upon an existing piece of artwork that caught my eye. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the artist had embellished their red by blending it with orange, and the outcome was strikingly more authentic than any of the outcomes I had previously produced. This revelation compelled me to ponder the intricate science of color, including the mechanisms of highlighting and shading.
My approach to highlighting a particular word or phrase is to use the subsequent color on the color chart that is moving in the same direction as yellow. In the case of red, that color is orange – a vibrant and evocative hue that can elicit a diverse range of emotions and sensations.
Apply your highlights like a glaze
I found that thinning my orange paint to the consistency of a good glaze helped me to gradually build up the effect and get more consistent results. I wanted to lighten the red by using orange, not make a clear transition from red to orange.
Apply the first layer of highlights. Let it dry. Then, apply the second layer to a slightly smaller area. Repeat until you have several thin layers with a smooth transition to a brighter color. If you have done it right, people won’t be able to tell that you painted orange at all – it will just be a natural transition to a brighter color that is orange but not too bright.
Shade using blue
I used to think that nuln oil was the best way to make shadows, but I don’t think that anymore. I now think that using this color theory gets better results.
Just like I found that using yellow makes a more natural-looking highlight, I also found that the most natural-looking shadows are the next color toward purple. Blues make excellent rich shadows on red models.
There are several ready-made washes out there that will give you good results here. I generally use Citiadel’s Drakenhof Nightshade to do my shadows on red areas.
Apply your shadows like a wash
You should use a dark color to paint the areas of your pool that will be in the shade. This will help to show where the shadows are.
FAQ
What are the best paints to use for a realistic red without an airbrush?
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone’s preference for paints will be different. However, some good options to consider are oils, acrylics and pastels.
How do you create a realistic red without an airbrush?
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone’s preference for paints will be different. However, some good options to consider are oils, acrylics and pastels.
What are some tips for painting red without an airbrush?
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone’s preference for paints will be different. However, some good options to consider are oils, acrylics and pastels. However, one thing to keep in mind when painting red without an airbrush is to make sure that the paint is applied in thin layers so that the color doesn’t become too opaque or heavy. Additionally, it might help to use a lightbox or window as a natural light source when painting with red tones.
Is there a substitute for an airbrush when painting red?
There are a few different substitutes that can be used when painting red without an airbrush. One option is to use a brush instead of an airbrush. However, this may not give as realistic results as an airbrush would. Another option is to use a sponge to apply the paint. This will also give a more textured look than using an airbrush would. Finally, another option is to use a spray bottle to apply the paint. This will give a very thin and even layer of paint, which is ideal for creating realistic red tones without an airbrush.