Figurines Painting

Figurine painting is the process of creating a painted sculpture of an animal, person or object. Figurines can be made in a variety of materials including clay, wood, glass, metal and plastic. They can be used for decoration, as a collectible or in tabletop wargaming (like Warhammer 40K). This article will focus on the use of acrylic paints to create an attractive and realistic representation of a figurine.

In addition to being easier to work with than oil paints, acrylics are suitable for almost any type of figurine, from the simplest to the most complex. However, it is essential that the figure be properly prepared before starting to paint it. This means that all mold lines should be removed and that the surface is clean and free from grease and oils. This is particularly important for plastic figures and should be done before applying any primer or base coats.

Figures can be a fun hobby to get into and there are many different types available to suit all tastes. Some of the more popular include action figure and model kit figurines as well as those used in tabletop wargaming such as miniatures. There is also a growing interest in sculpting and painting dolls and mannequins. The difference between a figure and a statue is that a figure usually has movable parts, such as arms, so that it can be posed. This makes them useful as a teaching aid for people learning to dress or to use for photography.

When starting out with figurines painting it is best to begin by using water-based acrylic paints. These are thinner than artist acrylic paints and therefore will flow off the brush easier. This is especially helpful when trying to create fine detail on the miniatures.

It is also possible to use special acrylic paints that are formulated specifically for figure painting. These are typically more transparent than regular acrylics and have a higher pigment density. However, they can be expensive and require the use of specialist thinners to maintain a good consistency. They can also be difficult to use on soft plastics such as those found in most figurines and may require special brushes or cleaning techniques that can damage the miniature.

Once the base coat is applied and the figure has dried it can be glued to a base or other alternative such as a piece of cork or blu-tack. It is a good idea to paint the base as well, preferably in a contrasting colour.

If the figure is a plastic model it may need to be primed as it often comes with some greasy residue from the mould that it was cast in. This can make it hard for the paint to adhere. In some cases it may be necessary to wash the miniature with a little detergent to remove this.

Once the base colours are dry it is time to add some shading to the model. This can be achieved with a variety of techniques, the most common being washes. These are thin paints that settle into the recesses of the model to imply shadows, highlight areas and bring out fine detail. Washes can be bought commercially in the form of Games Workshop’s shade paints or they can be made from a dark base colour mixed with water.