This month I will address a question I received from a reader on the use of inks in painting miniatures.
"I have read your last newsletter (issue #5) and actually copied your priming technique. I do have a question about inks, mainly how do you use them? I have tried without much success."
The inks I use are Dr. Martin Perma Draft. These by far are the best I have found. I also like Windsor and Newton brand, but these do not come with an eye dropper as do Dr. Martins.
The colors I recommend to start with are:
-
Black
Ocean Blue
Avocado Green
Chocolate Mousse
Yel low
Violet (Windsor & Newton only)
You will find many other shades, but these colors are the basics to start with. For most shading purposes, use 1 drop ink to 3 drops water. Apply the wash over the base coat, cover the area generously, letting the color flow into all crevasses. Once dry you are ready to highIight.
Many colors are great straight, in place of paint.
I haven't used black paint in years and use black ink for all applications.
Blue also works great straight. Try drybrushing white over a black prime and once dry, paint with blue ink. The ink will create its own shadow and highlights.
Yellow straight is best for glazing. Being transparent it makes the color it is covering stand out.
And lastly, you can add a drop or two of ink to thin out drying paint. I have included with this issue the shade and highlight chart from the RI BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PAINTING MINIATURES.
Shade and Highlight Chart
| Base | Shade | Highlight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PaintWash | InkWash | ||
| White | Grey or Light Blue | Diluted Dark Blue | White |
| Black | None | None | Dark Grey |
| Red | Red/Brown | Dark Brown | Red/Yellow |
| Yellow | Yellow/Brown | Dark Brown | Yellow/White |
| Blue | Blue/Black | Dark Blue | Blue/White |
| Orange | Orange/Brown | Dark Brown | Orange/Yellow |
| Green | Green/Black | Dark Green | Green/Yellow |
| Purple | Purple/Black | Purple | Purple/White |
| Grey | Black | Black | Grey/White |
Metals
| Silver | None | Diluted Black* | Drybrush and lighten |
| Gold | None | Diluted Black* | Drybrush and lighten |
* If desired
Readers with questions regarding basing miniatures please send letters to RENAISSANCE INK c/o Painting Tips. Please include name, address, and phone number, or E-mail us at JWIRTH4702@aol.com. We will try to address your questions in our next newsletter.
In future articles I wiil address basing miniatures.
Rule of thumb: Paint wash is 4 parts water to 1 part paint.
Ink wash is 3 parts water to 1 part ink.
This may be altered to achieve different effects.
Back to Renaissance Ink Issue 7 Table of Contents
© Copyright 1996 by John Jay Wirth
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