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So my blending style has always been to put the main colour down on the model and then grab the next colour to blend with. This obviously causes problems for me, I still make it work somehow:

Howerver I'm constantly having to lick the brush, this can lead to the paint becoming too thin.

So I guess I'm asking, how do people blend and at the same time have a super smooth model. My technique on clocks for example just doesn't work.

Thin the paint then blend? mix things in a palette then go hell for leather ?

Maybe there have been just too many questions about painting recently

I was just here:


The logo on the back of the cape got me to thinking again, If I did this I think it would look ok, but under certain points you could see the different layers. No ideal.

I tend to blend using either very thin paint in multiple coats or, more recently, using a wet palette (take a plastic tub, put a sponge inside, put greaseproof paper over the top, add water to the sponge, it keeps the surface wet and therefore the paint thin). It does help to put the next layer down while the last is still wet, so you can mix the two on the model for a smooth blend.

I'm honestly not seeing the issue in your first post, it looks plenty good enough to me.

Ye, I just recently discovered the wet pallet idea. Its very nice, very nice indeed. I find though that if the paint is too wet I can't apply the correct amount.

Ye, I guess I'm more taking about painting logos/faces on banners/extremely integrate things, rather than just armor or the likes. :O

Well if it's freehand you're looking for, then I think layering is a little more useful than blending. Put down a thin layer, let it dry fully. Then highlight it with a thin layer of a slightly lighter colour, and repeat as needed. Trying to do blending over very small areas will be hard, as it generally requires a large-ish area to get a good colour gradient.

For super clean blends I always recommend having a read of this guide. http://www.mainlymedieval.com/ozpainters/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49

It is quite comprehensive with the style in which to do it. Plus the guy who wrote it is a multi-award wining sculptor/painter.

EDIT ~ I also suggest reading the rest of the thread, as a number of them go towards adding more detail to the explanation.

^ That is very useful, I've never considered layering in reverse (I tend to go dark-> light rather than base and then shade with glazes). Cheers, I might try that out soon.

Interesting, not sure why I hadn't thought of this. I have never and will never use a wash, I'd much rather take the time to apply paints and blend them.

So, I think I may try this "layering" idea. Ummm, I'm curious to see how many layers it will take to get anyway