Shading
The ink washing is a technique used to point out the shades of the miniature. It
consist to leave some color on the miniature hollows. The trick is to leave more color in
the deepest hollows.
To carry out this technique you need inks of a similar color of the paint you are about
to shade:
- dark blue or black for the blue parts
- black or brown for the armor and the helm
- dark red or violet for the red parts
- brown for the white parts
It's possible to use also some thinned color instead of inks, but you have less
transparency and it's difficult to obtain the right thinning unless some
practice.
Special miniature inks exist but they don't offer more than the normal inks that you
can find for less in arts stores. A good choice are the Windsor & Newton
inks, they
have a good price and a good quality.
To apply the washing :
- find the color to use and put some ink in a container where you can mix
it, if possible
help yourself with a dropper.
- add water and thin down the ink, it's better to give one more pass than ruin everything
using the pure ink. The right dilution depends on the color and the effect you
need,
usually I start with 1/3 of ink and 2/3 of water.
- soak the brush in the color and "touch" the hollow that you need to wash. If
everything is right the ink will pass from the brush to the hollow leaving more color in
the lower part of it.
- if you have too much ink in the hollow you can remove the excess of it using a dry
bush.
- repeat all steps for every hollow of the miniature.
- check your work and repeat it to darken more the hollow if needed.
At this point you can see your miniature spotted, don't worry, it will be corrected
with the highlighting.
You can also use the same ink used for the shading to adjust the brightest
areas. Pay attention, if you darken too much the areas your shading loose all the
effect.
