Painting Details

[Fytharin]

So I'm starting to get very detail intensive and considering how small some of these things are does anyone have any advice for drawing insane amounts of detail/lines? I was thinking of maybe using toothpicks since they are able to absorb some measure of liquid compared to a needle, does anyone else have any favorite items they like to use? I already have an insane detail type brush.

[Subtle Discord]

All I can suggest is a very good quality Sable brush as the best method. Finer brushes can be tricky to work with. Since they hold such a small mount of paint, it can dry very quickly in/on the brush. Be sure to thin the paint, and with fine details you might need to thin it more than normal. A quality Sable brush will help considerably with that problem, they just 'hold paint' better then lesser brushes. Also, quality brushes come to a very fine point, making it possible to use rather large brushes on surprisingly small details. Larger brushes don't have to deal with the paint drying as quickly, so many times they are less frustrating, even if they seem too big for the job.

 

Also, for some things a very fine tip waterproof pen/marker can be very useful. They come in a range of colours, so you do get some choice, and they work really well for things like lining, micro sized text, scroll work, and pupils in eyes. I've been using Pigma Micron Archival Ink pens for years (size 005 - 0.2mm is my most used) and they are great. Just be sure to give any pen lines a layer of varnish, even if they are permanent ink. On Acrylic they can be rubbed off with handling.

 

I've tried pins and toothpicks and they really have no control at best, and can scratch your work at worst. Unlike a brush or pen that hold paint/ink 'inside' the tip, a pin/pick basically holds a tiny drop of paint on its surface. This can be useful if you want a very controlled single dot, but there's very little control after that. It can be good if you want some splattered gore, where you can touch and drag some unique shapes that will feel less like brush strokes, but again, it's one of the few things I can think of where a pin or pick might be a good idea. Now, if other people have had more success, all the power to them, I still prefer a brush and in some cases a pen.

[GumbaFish]

I honestly don't think you'd be able to get a finer line with a toothpick or probably even a needle than you can with a good brush.

[Durus]

Subtle Discord basically said everything I would have said as well. The only thing I can add, is that I sometimes have used toothpicks in my painting. I sharpen the tip with a knife and soak them in water until they are soft, so I don't scratch the paint underneath. Then you can put pretty consistent dots with thinned paint where you need them.

I usually do this to mark something on a larger surface before I go back with a brush or when I don't want to use a brush, or - in hard to reach places - can't. And when pulling out pooled paint (blood, oil etc.), because a brush would soak it up.

 

I do the actual "detail painting" with a normal size brush that has a fine tip (Da Vinci size 2 or 1).