Asking the community for help learning to paint

[BDub]

It seems like your green might be too thin, and is showing through too much of the white undercoat making it bright. Try another coat of green to get an even tone before you go to the wash. If you are doing a base coat of green, you should not have white spots showing through, it should be a nice, even green color, the same color as the paint you are using.

You culd also go with a mid to light grey primer and then a shot of white from the top, then wash with the green.

[RealGenius]

You culd also go with a mid to light grey primer and then a shot of white from the top, then wash with the green.

The problem I have with a wash or light base goat is that you never get consistent results, especially if you are doing another wash on top of that. I guess you can guess I'm not a fan of the primer-zenithal-lighting trick. Base coats should be opaque, so that you can start from a consistent color.

Yes, I prime black and then paint black over that, for consistency.

[Ironbullet]

Well I've been priming white, and painting over that with Dark angel green 1:1 with water. So it's not a wash so much as it's just thinned out. I still have a huge amount of trouble getting it right. I think it might also have to do with the brushes I'm using.

[BDub]

The problem I have with a wash or light base goat is that you never get consistent results, especially if you are doing another wash on top of that. I guess you can guess I'm not a fan of the primer-zenithal-lighting trick. Base coats should be opaque, so that you can start from a consistent color.

Yes, I prime black and then paint black over that, for consistency.

I can see your point but the consistency comes from spraying the zenithal shot on a whole unit at once and , be sparring with it. For that matter there is no such thing as an opaque base coat - you can get close but the primer will always influence the perception of the base coat.

[RealGenius]

I'd put down 1:1 Foundation Knarloc Green and then straight Dark Angel green over the white primer.

[RealGenius]

you can get close but the primer will always influence the perception of the base coat.

I agree except if you are using the Foundation paints. I've done testing over white and black primer and the difference is negligible. I did a whole squad of Warp Spiders, half primed white, half primed black. You just can't tell.

[Ironbullet]

I've been using Vallejo game color.

[RealGenius]

I've been using Vallejo game color.

Try it straight, without thinning it. The Vallejo stuff is pretty thin as is.

[Ironbullet]

Try it straight, without thinning it. The Vallejo stuff is pretty thin as is.

Didn't even think to try that. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to make it out to GHG tonight for the painting night. I need another green, and some brushes.