"Inside Out or Outside In?" Topic

I read a long time ago that figures should be painted like they get dressed. I donīt follow that religiously, but it is my basic guideline.

I paint the details first. It requires the most focus so I do this when I am fresh into the session. I reward myself by doing the main uniform colors after all the surrounding details have been completed. (Yes, this is block painting over a black primer method and for me, produces a nicely painted unit in the quickest time.)

I always leave the face and fiddliest details to last. Since they are the hardest to get right I don't want to risk messing them up by accident while I'm painting the larger areas.

I don't believe that any method is 'best', whatever works best for the painter on a particular figure or paint scheme is 'best' and may change for a different subject.

Painting fairly large numbers at a time I tend to be more aware of time so getting a basic grounding on quickly is better most of the time for me, details come later and generally the smallest last. That can change though, some figures need particular parts painting first as you can't be sure of getting at some parts later without overpainting the bits round it.

Unlike Tom I find that my focus grows as I work longer on most jobs so details last suits me a better – can see why it would be different for others though.

Start with face and hands and work my way out. That seems most logical but I don't always follow it.

Not all details need to be painted, specially on 6mm/3mm figures inside a formed block of troops.

Depends

For uniforms, I paint the main colors, so I finsih jacket and torusers first, then I do details on uniforms like facings, then straps ect. and finish with hat/helmet, flesh and musket.

With ancietns and medievals, I paint armor first(so center) then flesh(alot of flesh on ancients) then detils, like straps, then weapons and shields.

I almost always start inside out, but then may or may not lose the strictness as I go along.

I start with the uniform first. Face and hands are always last for me.

Chris

My faces are heavily dry brushed. That makes saving them for last problematic.

It's also a matter of getting done first the areas that are hardest to reach.

Usually always the "inside" bits first. That way, any mistakes can be painted over later.

It depends on the scale though, a bit.

I paint by instinct … so in whatever order takes my fancy. But I tend to do gunmetal washes first (say on Dark Age figures who often have a lot of mail) as that can be a bit messy if done later.

Phil

Faces/skin always comes last unless they are barechested or barebutt types, then flesh first.

I paint in alphabetical order.

Really, I paint whatever color paint bottle is closest.

I have actually painted straps first so I can come right up to them with the cost color. Worked like a charm but I promptly fell back on my old ways.

Tunic and trousers first, followed by boots, equipment and weapon. Head and hands are last.

Faces and hands are done last.

Face and hands are usually first for me. Makes the figure seem more alive to me as I am painting.