need help blending

[pogysnacks]

Im getting tired of the quick way ive gotten used to painting as the models looks good but id like to start learning how to blend clors to give my models a much better appearance, rather than just clean inked and highlighted..currently im working on skaven and ill apply the detail to my lords and heroes, just not to the 300+ rats that im in the process (unending...) of painting, and ive been attempting various highlighting effects with my grey knights..but i have a space wolf army that i started building back in 2010 before i enlisted and id like to make them stand out because theyre the sons of russ and theyre badass. Some basic help/pointers if anyone would be able to post and assist with this would be greatly appreciated, im sincerly trying to become a much better painte
thank you in advance t oanyone who helps

[fishboy]

Pointers are learn to layery first. There is a natural progression of painting that can get you to blending. Right now it sounds like you are doing ink washes then line work. The next step is to work on layering your paints. You want to get to a point where every color has 5 different subtle layers with the final being the line work.

Wet blending takes a lot of time and practice. Dont plan on doing an entire army with wet blends. Typically I dont even do entire models in wet blends, just gun tips and such.

[pogysnacks]

thank you, ill work on the layering with the progression in armor colours for my grey hunters, i need to find a better means for a decent wet pallete for my paints

[fishboy]

Wet pallette making is actually pretty easy. Get a cheap tupperware bowl...I find the glad ones for sandwiches work great. Get a square sponge...I use a 1/2" by 2"x4" approx. The little cheap cleaning sponges you get that come in multiple colors work great. Mine is about 3 years old and still functions fine. Next is the most important part. Parchment paper..also know as baking paper...is the best medium I have found for the paper part.

Wet the sponge and squeez it, place it in the container and fill the container so about 1/2 the sponge is submerged. Dont fill the container all the way..the sponge should rest on the bottom. Cut the parchment paper to fit the sponge and place it on top of the sponge. You do not want any pooling on the paper. The paper serves as a semi moisture barrier letting just enough water through to keep the paints from drying. The sponge simply "wicks" water in the right amount to the paper. If you press on the paper you will see water come through so dont press unless you are trying to thin your mix more.

The best part about doing it this way is the tupperware container comes with a lid. You can put the lid on the container and put it in the fridge and your paint will last for days or weeks. You may have a skin on the top but other than that it works great. It is also very cheap.

[pogysnacks]

thanks man good thing that cheap containers and sponges are abundant in the barracks

[professor]

I second the wet pallette, it makes it so much easier to blend your paints and you can progressively blend them really easily.

[fishboy]

Its critical for slow painters like me ;D

[hyv3mynd]

I'm also a huge proponent of the wet palette. I encourage anyone who hasn't tried it to give it a chance, it's not hard at all. I got a lot of comments about how much better my GK look than my Nids, and the only difference in technique between the two armies was a wet palette.

I used this technique for all the force weapons like this one:


As well as all the shading and blending on my grotesques here:
synaps3.blogspot.com/2012/02/six-grotesques-down.html

[pogysnacks]

awesome looking models man, im not quite up to par yet, but im noticing a much cleaner coat on my skaven after i started using a wet palette, right now im just toying with colors for my space pups, and i thank you all for the tips!