Model Color - Faces Painting Set

Skin, shadows and highlights on the faces of figures

Skin shades are among the most demanding things a figure painter can meet. A face in a small scale measures only a few millimeters, and yet the viewer looks on it for the age, the expression and the mood of the character. This set of water-thinnable acrylics is put together so that all the layers can be built up from the base tone, from the deep dark in the eye socket to the light point on the bridge of the nose.

What distinguishes the Model Color line

The binder is acrylic and it thins with water, so the smell of solvents and the need for strong ventilation both fall away. The paint comes in a dropper bottle, has a thicker consistency and is meant to be applied with a brush. It dries to a velvety matte that readily accepts another glaze, so the transitions between tones can be smoothed out afterwards as well.

Recommended procedure

First rid the casting of the remains of the mold seam lines and of grease, then lay a thin base. Put the middle tone over the whole surface, only then go into the recesses with a heavily thinned shadow and finally bring out the cheekbones, the chin and the forehead. This paint takes thinning with water a very long way, so dozens of weak glazes lead to the goal more reliably than trying to mix the right shade at the first attempt.

Where you will use it

It will serve on historical figures, on vehicle crews and on characters for dioramas. The shades are not tied to one epoch or to one army, so the set will last you across the projects you have under way. It serves equally well on hands, necks and other uncovered areas, where the same principles apply as on the face. It is in place to seal the finished painting with a coat of varnish according to whether the result is to look matte or slightly satin.