"lighter and darker with contrast paints" Topic

I have a flying critter I am painting. I'd like the underside to be lighter than the upper, and I have an airbrush that I think will make that easy and make smooth transitions.

However, I was also planning to use contrast paints on top.

What I was thinking was I'd do the bottom in an off white and the top in a bit darker shade, then cover with the same contrast paint (snakebite leather). The underlying layer would provide the difference.

But I'm not sure if it would be the effect I want. Would it just dim the highlights on top? I'm wondering about the way the contrast paint affects the color underneath.

The other possibility is to leave it one color on top and bottom, then use snakebite leather on top and mix it with skeleton horde underneath. But then I'd have to make the transition with the brush. While I understand that is a skill to aspire to, I'm trying to do this easy. :)

Thoughts?

andy

Never tried contrast in the airbrush. My first thought would be to prime in both of the recommended colors for contrast. Wraithbone (or any white you choose) and Grey Seer (or any light grey you have). The contrast (excuse the pun) is clear and stark, but can be controlled by where you put the primer.

Sorry, I wasn't thinking of trying the contrast paint in airbrush. I bought an off white and a light gray from Vallejo for underneath the contrasts. I currently have the model painted in the off white.

One of GW's painters did an article using contrast paint in the airbrush, but I'm not sure why. And I'd be worried about cleaning. It is sticky and hard on brushes.

I think you're suggesting I cover the bottom in one color and the top in the other before covering with contrast paint. That's what I was saying in the "What I was thinking" paragraph above. I just wonder, if I want the top to be darker than the bottom and spray a bit darker color on top, will it make any difference other than to darken the highlights?

I suppose I'll try something like that.

andy

Why not just use two coats of contrast paints on the upper surfaces to make them darker?

Do a quick test …

I put white underneath, and off-white on top. If that doesn't do it, I will try a second layer of contrast on top as suggested.

andy

Actually I would rather work on making the bottom lighter than making the top darker.

I will either thin the bottom paint with medium or mix with skeleton horde color. I was hoping to not have to blend. Lazy.

But currently white on bottom looks too similar to off-white on top, and I don't think that will be sufficient to distinguish. It is possible that a bit darker on top would handle the difference, but I do want to get enough highlights up there.

andy

My local Games Workshop currently has a display of bases with grey and white undercoats, painted with the contrast paints. This shows how the final colours are affected by the undercoats.