"Varnishing Dark Age Period Miniatures- Gloss and Matt." Topic

Apologies for the direct link; this a reasonably large article and it wouldn't be possible to present it in full on TMP. Hopefully it will be of some use, or at least of some interest.

I'm not a pro painter, nor do I take commissions so this is meant purely to be of interest to painters.

The full article can be found on my blog.
justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/11/varnishing-dark-age-period-miniatures.html

The finished results:

Thanks for the tips, I only dull coat my figs but I'm sure all your efforts result in superior protection.

And while you say you are not a 'pro' painter, you certainly are a superb painter, your figs are works of art! Amazing detail and color palette.

Excellent article and explanations, and ditto 'mghFond' above – your painting is beyond first rate. Many thanks.

Might have to try this matt varnish. From your images it looks like it dries really dead flat matt, is that the case? Is it temperature/humidity sensitive?

IŽd like to see how you do the shield patterns. I really like them, totally original. I was looking at the ones on your Anglo Danish Casualty Markers and thinking, how does he do that?
From dark base colour to light??

Thank you, it's always useful to hear about different materials and techniques, I am intrigued by the W&N Matt varnish. I would comment directly on the your blog, but no Google account, no comment.

Thanks for the nice words guys- very much appreciated.

Might have to try this matt varnish. From your images it looks like it dries really dead flat matt, is that the case? Is it temperature/humidity sensitive?

@Timmo, you've seen my work over the years ;>)

Seriously though, yes it is *the* most flat finish I have *ever* had and yes, it is almost certainly effected by humidity. all paints and varnishes are to some degree- spray cans more so.

IŽd like to see how you do the shield patterns. I really like them, totally original. I was looking at the ones on your Anglo Danish Casualty Markers and thinking, how does he do that?
From dark base colour to light??

@Pauls bods, there's actually not all that much to it. I'll do a how to as I'm painting up more Anglo Danes just now and haven't got to the shi8elds yet. It's all over a black undercoat spray as a primer and black gesso as an undercoat. Dark to light with the 'colours'.

Thank you, it's always useful to hear about different materials and techniques, I am intrigued by the W&N Matt varnish. I would comment directly on the your blog, but no Google account, no comment.

@BillyNM
I feel you. It has really effected blogging which is a real shame as you just don't get the same degree of nuance when reading a very short FB or Twitter post. I'm going to keep my blog going- in many ways it serves as a journal.