sorry for the noob type questions

[Garrosh]

Hey guys, I need some help again. I'm really trying to improve the quality of my painting. Looking into trying new techniques and stuff. I have a question about mixing paints. I see the term "medium" used alot. I'm not really familiar with that. Is it something specific used to mix the paints or to thin them to wash consistency? Also can I achieve the same effect with using just plain old water? I do have a wet palette, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I know how that might help extend the life of some of my paints. I appreciate the help you guys. Thanks!

[Seleucus]

Mediums are usualy used to change the consistency of the paint and it's drying time. Water works fine for most jobs, especially if a VERY small amount of washing up liquid (dish soap?) is added.

 

The following shows you how a matt medium can help with washes/inks:

 

http://incunabulum.co.uk/blog/2011/05/15/p...ks-matt-medium/

[Jacinda]

The best quick introduction I can give is to direct you to Liquitex's site.

http://www.liquitex.com/Mediums/

Open up the mediums list there and look around at the descriptions. Pay attention to the Fluid Mediums -- especially Matte Medium, Ultra Matte Medium and the Glaze Medium. They have a glazing medium but for our purposes, a glaze would be made with paint and the standard Matte Medium. If you want to work with glazing, using water alone does not give the best results.

 

In the Effects Mediums there is also a description of Flow Aid and the SlowDry medium. I love Flow Aid (aka Flo Control by a different maker). It makes fantastic washes and also makes the paint behave just how I like it when used in small amounts.

 

Lots of people have their "recipes" and they can differ wildly. This is what I use.

First, mix Flow Aid with distilled water. 1 Tablespoon of Flow Aid and 3/4 cup water. This is 1:12. I put this in a bottle with a dropper so I can use it a drop at a time just like this for ink washes.

Next, mix Matte Medium and distilled water 1:1 and keep that in another bottle with a dropper.

 

Now to use these, I like a wet pallet but any normal pallet will do. I put down the paint on the pallet with one part flow water and two parts medium.

For a glaze, I use 1 part paint, one part flow water and 5 parts medium.

For a wash I usually put 3 or four drops of flow water on the pallet and get one dip of the brush worth of ink. Mix thoroughly and apply to the model. This wash will have very little bite and will slip from the flat areas cleanly.

 

It sounds like a lot of trouble but it really isn't. And the feel of the paint is like ... how do I say this. Have you ever used the cheap craft paints? I use them for basing and terrain all the time but think of how those would go on a model you are working with; filling in the details and caking up on the faces. Now move up to GW paints (or Velejo or P3 or whatever you like) with just a drop of water to smooth it out. Take that step again and you have paints and mediums with a wet pallet. Going back to out of the pot painting just feels so sticky now.