Hi everyone, nice to e-meet you! I am new to the forum and also new to painting - I have been trying miniature painting for just under a year now, and was inspired by a class by Anahita Alavi at SOAS. My main interests are patterns and architecture, and elements that are more abstract. I like creating worlds that would be magical to visit :)
So, I am struggling with a lot of the basics of painting, and if anyone is able to advise or share information about any of my questions, that would be wonderful. Thank you very much.
- I have tried staining paper with tea and saw in last week's meet-up that coffee can also give a good colour. I find it hard to drip dry the sheets and press them flat. What are your paper-dyeing techniques? Do you have to fully submerge the paper (I use my bath!!) or are there 'easier' ways?
- I struggle to paint white details on top of other colours - they either mix or the white doesn't stand out much. I have tried different whites (I paint with gouache), and would like a thick solid white effect.
- My colours can be quite patchy, particularly gold and dark colours. Is it normal for the gold to look solid when reflecting the light but streaky when flat and to need two coats of paint? It is normal for dark colours to show the brush strokes? I think I must be doing something wrong...
- I might also have issues with a) the way I hold or paint with the brushes and b) the consistency I mix with the gouache. This leads me to the challenge that my brush dries out and needs more water (it sort of gets 'thirsty') and the paint mix doesn't seem to satisfy it. After adding water, that thins the paint and changes the shade of the colour, so I can't maintain the same colours. The mixed gouache also separates quite quickly, also changing the colour. The paint can dry quickly within the brush leaving it quite globby, but if I add more water the paint feels too runny and blobs onto the paper. When it blobs there's too much paint so I struggle to reach a fine point/details. Could be the paper (which I don't size, is this a problem?) or could be the consistency I mix the paints. Or could be something else! I hope this one makes sense, but it's hard for me to describe. I guess I don't know what I don't know, hehe :)
Thanks everyone, and I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about miniature painting.
Best wishes,
Lizzie
I second Susan's comments! Try the sponge way, although the submerging way should also work (it's just messier and depends on the paper itself as some could disintegrate if left too long). Use 300gsm hot pressed paper. White is notoriously difficult to paint over a colour and yes you'll need a few layers maybe. Try titanium white instead of zinc white. Paint consistency comes with experience and practice I'd say! I think Susan gave an absolutely brilliant answer, and yes well-remembered - don't fiddle with it while it's wet!.
YES, size your paper, try that!!
Hi Lizzie, here are some suggestions. Instead of submerging your paper in a tray, another way to dye paper is to brush or sponge tea on the paper. If you tape the paper down first, it is less likely to curl. To paint white over another color, try adding layers of white--paint white, let dry, paint again, repeat until you get the opaqueness you want. To avoid brush streaks, make sure your paint is the consistency of single cream (UK) or half and half (US). So, not too runny, but also not thick. Making it your paint thicker may also solve the brush strokes that you see in the dried paint. When painting, often your really just want to push the paint and not drag on the paper. Also, don't try to fix little unpainted spots while still wet. Mixed colors should be stirred whenever you dip your brush into the paint as some colors are heavier and sink. When making fine lines, hold the brush upright perpendicular to the page. Hope this helps!