Glazing chalky grey highlights?

[Blazphemer]

Hi all,

 

Here's my first ever post on the forum. I have Just started painting again after a 12 year break, and i am currently starting up a Crimson Fist army.

My first purchase to that end, is a sniper scout squad with cloaks.

 

I just painted the cloaks like this:

 

Black undercoat

Base Color: Vallejo model color - German Grey

1st. highlight color: GW - Mechanicus Standard Grey

2nd. highlight color: 2:1 mix of Mechanicus Standard Grey and GW Ulthuan Grey

3rd. highlight color: GW Ulthuan Grey.

 

Considering that i am really out of painting shape, i think that they turned out decent. however the highlights, especially the Ulthuan grey ones, ended up kind of chalky:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/Blazphemer/IMG_1788.jpg

 

The ulthuan grey paint itself seems a bit grainy and chalky already from the can, kind of like how skull white often used to be.

 

So my question is this:

how would you deal with the chalky highlights? a glaze? if so how and with what colors?.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nicolaj

[Subtle Discord]

First, welcome back, and hello!

 

I have to agree, even if you're out of practice, these are looking very solid. That said...

 

Yes, I would work with washes/glazes. In this case, personally, I would totally switch things up; start with a bright base, glaze/wash it down to add shadow and depth (Do as many layers as you like to get the desired darkness), and then follow with highlights. After highlights, you might want to do another very thin glaze/wash to really blend them together, but that's personal preference.

 

Blending up pale colours can be agonizing, because of the 'chalky' look that you refer to. Some people are good at it, and all the power to them, I'm not. Washing/glazing totally avoids the problem, and produces a wonderful blend with much less effort.

[winterdyne]

You can also add glaze medium to the highlight you're having trouble with.