question about painting

[Midnight Carver]

Can anyone suggest a decent grey for painting beards, hair etc...? I have tried mixing black and white and have not been happy with the results. The store near me carries Ceramicoat acrylic paints.

I have just been painting directly on the carving (basswood) with no surface preperation. Is there something more I should be doing?

Thanks in advance!

[kitaye]

Try paynes grey mixed with water.

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Midnight Carver

Can anyone suggest a decent grey for painting beards, hair etc...? I have tried mixing black and white and have not been happy with the results. The store near me carries Ceramicoat acrylic paints.

I have just been painting directly on the carving (basswood) with no surface preperation. Is there something more I should be doing?

Thanks in advance!

Before I start my painting, I use an air compressor to blow off all the dust and what ever else may be lurking in the corners.....ha, ha.

As far as paints are concerned...Try wally world (WalMart)....they're paints are cheap and acrylic and in small round bottles and you can find just about any color you're looking for....I water mine down and after I apply it, then I wipe it down with a paper towel or an old rag just to make it look faded out. I've had really good luck with Wally World paints

On the high end of the paints....I have a tube of Paines Grey that I got at an art supplies store. It too is acrylic and can be thinned with water.

[Cliffo]

I use some latex acrylic and agree that black+white = gray is dull and blah

try a b/w basic mix to get your darkness level then start adding a primary, blue, red or yellow (or combo) til you get a tone you like

experiment, the possiblities are endless

I've had good luck with Walmart acrylic quarts as well, browns and bright greens have been tricky but they are there

[mpounders]

I usually dip my entire piece in water before I start painting with acrylics. I have did the same with BLO before also.

[Mottles]

YES! Paynes Grey it's a blue grey and when white or off white is added it's warmer and richer. It's makes more convincing hair and beard color. You can mix different values such as dark, medium and light. The dark works really well in the creases adds a lot of depth.
Kathy

[Ed Redwine]

Another option is to stock up on acrylic colors of gray. I use ceramcoat and have numerous shades of gray. There's bound to be one you'll like.