Painting question for Lynn

[Jim OH]

Hi Lynn,
I am in a major quandary, maybe not that major, but thought you might be able to give me a clue or two about painting. After looking at your posts and blog site and trying your method, I can still not get the brightness of the paint colors I want. Seeing your carvings in person, I was amazed on how bright the colors were. My current method includes washing the carving down, with no sanding beforehand, and begin painting the carving wet. My formula for the amount of paint I use is usually, except for white or black, is about two, or at most three drops in a teaspoon of water. With that thin of a wash I can see the woodgrain through the paint (which is good), but the paint doesn't seem to brighten up that much after I use the Minwax Head Bange(which doesn't quite suite me. If you would be so kind to offer any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, Jim OH

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Sorry you're having problems. I don't have any real method of mixing the colors I use. I just apply it till it looks the way I want it to. Just remember....apply it thinly in the beginning....you can always add more as long as the figure is damp. I use a piece of glass about a foot square to mix my paint. I use the small bottled craft paints. I squeeze out a good drop and then wet my brush and drag out a little. By doing this on a piece of glass you can see just how transparent it is. If I'm after a real thin wash, i.e., skin tones, once I've mixed my color I'll wash out my brush before going back into the mixture I'm after. This isn't necessary when laying the paint on straight or just thinned a little.

The Minwax Poly should not be applied until the piece is completely dry. In areas where the paint wash is really think the poly will soak right in and be flat. In the heavily painted areas the poly will lay on the surface and appear fairly glossy when dry. I use a paper towel to gently wipe these areas so everything has the same sheen when completely dry. Once dry a light spot spray with Testors DulCoat on those areas still a little shiney will even things up. Be careful though....too much Testors will cause your Poly to "Flash" white.

Painting, like carving, takes a lot of practice. I've been doing it for close to 40 years but still don't have all the answers. But then that's half the fun of it...looking for solutions.

[Jim OH]

Thanks Lynn,
My figures aren't coming out horrible or anything, I just would like the colors to be a little brighter. I will do a little experimentation and see what I come up with! Possibly I may not be using quite enough color, but plan to find out.
Thanks again,
Jim OH