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Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Painting my horses

Last week, I managed to prime the horses I am painting for my FUNNY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME ARMY BLACK, and I have now used the ‘paint on, wipe off’ method to apply colour to the horses’ bodies.

I used Burnt Umber from the Windsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour range, which I painted on with one of my older brushes and then wiped off using a double thickness of paper kitchen towel. I was very happy with the results and my next task is to paint the blazes, socks, manes, tails, and hooves of each horse. Once that is done, I can paint the reins and other bits of tack before I concentrate on painting the riders.

I am not rushing this, as I want to try to get it right first time. If I do, I know that I will have mastered a technique that has evaded me for many years, and it might finally mean that painting horses and mounted figures is no longer something I try to avoid at all costs.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Bob. Good to read that you are coming to grips with painting horses! I paint so many of them these days - I have 16 of them to paint today for Graham to complete 16 x 15mm ECW cavalry - so I'm getting fairly proficient at them. My method is different to yours, I always paint over a flat black undercoat and build the colours up dark (shade) to highlights. I paint fast but carefully, so for example around the reins I dot and dash around them so avoid the time consuming job of needing to paint them all in afterwards, just a touch up with highlight dark grey here and there, works for me and my customers are happy :) These are some 1/72nd scale plastics that I painted for 'Old John' a couple of weeks ago using my standard method.
    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IpQ8jIyegE/YNXjOsredpI/AAAAAAAAN7I/p6VUY5927i4BucCEEEyE7o5bCMkafZXWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/IMG_2043.jpg

    All the best Bob, good to see that you getting out and about again :)
    Lee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ‘Lee,

      I am taking the slow careful approach to painting my horses.

      Your method sounds interesting, and thinking about it, painting the reins etc., before the horses’ bodies makes sense. Perhaps I ought to try it next time.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Here's me painting/repainting/touching up/rebasing eight full regiments of 7YW British Dragoons. Just as well that I like painting horses.

    Then there's the light horse for the British followed by just as many Russians (including Cossacks) and then even more French.

    I might get onto the infantry by Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Duncan,

      That sounds like quite a few horses (and riders) to paint/renovate! I think that In the circumstances, I would have avoided the project at all costs. All power to you, and I hope you are finished well before Christmas.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Hi Bob,
    Glad you've settled on a painting method that works for you. Look forward to seeing the Cavalry in a finished condition - no need to rush this- enjoy your painting. Cheers. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      I am glad that I carried out the experiments before I began painting these figures. They helped me to choose a method that I found easy to use.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. I use a method similar to Lee’s but mine are all small scale (6mm and 10mm) where speed is if the essence and small errors are not easily noticed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nundanket,

      I am always amazed to see how well some of my fellow wargamers manage to paint such small figures. I have enough problems painting 15mm figures!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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