Yes, I admit it. I have cheated when painting model horses. In fact, I cheated today!
Technically some folks probably wouldn't consider what I did cheating, but when you are an airbrush artist and you use a can of spray paint <gasp!> that isn't primer on your models, it could be consider cheating. Oh my!!
Running a close second to prepping in the Things I Don't Like Doing department is basecoating. I am not sure why. Probably because it is boring. And messy. And it takes awhile when doing it with an airbrush. So I am all for speeding up the process to get a nice, even basecoat color down so I can get down to the fun stuff - painting!
One day, while shopping for Rust-Oleum primer (because it was on sale, of course), I couldn't help but notice the dizzying array of varieties and colors that Rust-Oleum spray paint comes in. Naturally, my eyes focused on the horsey colors and soon I had a can in hand. Hmmm....paint and primer in one? Interesting. Satin finish? Well, that can be remedied with some flat sealer spray. On sale? In the basket several cans went.
I have used the Rust-Oleum's Painter's Touch Paint + Primer to basecoat several of the models I painted with Tamiya paints and I have to say I really like using it. It goes on quickly and smoothly (if you do light coats) and dulls down nicely with Dullcote or other flat sealer spray.
Technically some folks probably wouldn't consider what I did cheating, but when you are an airbrush artist and you use a can of spray paint <gasp!> that isn't primer on your models, it could be consider cheating. Oh my!!
Running a close second to prepping in the Things I Don't Like Doing department is basecoating. I am not sure why. Probably because it is boring. And messy. And it takes awhile when doing it with an airbrush. So I am all for speeding up the process to get a nice, even basecoat color down so I can get down to the fun stuff - painting!
One day, while shopping for Rust-Oleum primer (because it was on sale, of course), I couldn't help but notice the dizzying array of varieties and colors that Rust-Oleum spray paint comes in. Naturally, my eyes focused on the horsey colors and soon I had a can in hand. Hmmm....paint and primer in one? Interesting. Satin finish? Well, that can be remedied with some flat sealer spray. On sale? In the basket several cans went.
I have used the Rust-Oleum's Painter's Touch Paint + Primer to basecoat several of the models I painted with Tamiya paints and I have to say I really like using it. It goes on quickly and smoothly (if you do light coats) and dulls down nicely with Dullcote or other flat sealer spray.
The Valegro on the left will be a dappled palomino and the one on the right will be bay. While I could have just gone ahead and started painting the palomino color over the white primer base, I like to start with a soft white or cream color so the first layers don't go on so starkly. The color I used is Heirloom White.
The color I used on the bay-to-be Valegro is Stawflower. It is a nice, golden yellow that is a good base color for rich bays.
L to R: Heirloom White, Ivory Silk, Strawflower, Summer Squash, Fossil, Cinnamon
These are the horsey colors I purchased in the Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover Paint + Primer line.
I know I am not the only model horse artist in search of a quick way to lay down basecoat colors. For awhile, there seemed to be a lot of interest in Liquitex Spray Paint. How cool is that, having artist's acrylics in a spray can, colors we all know like Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Naples Yellow Hue? But apparently there were some serious issues with the cans and/or nozzles not spraying properly or clogging completely and many a (very expensive) can got tossed. I don't know if Liquitex has fixed those issues, but you still might give the Rust-Oleum line of Painter's Touch Primer + Paint line a try when you want to lay down a quick, durable base color.
Pros:
Cons:
I know I am not the only model horse artist in search of a quick way to lay down basecoat colors. For awhile, there seemed to be a lot of interest in Liquitex Spray Paint. How cool is that, having artist's acrylics in a spray can, colors we all know like Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Naples Yellow Hue? But apparently there were some serious issues with the cans and/or nozzles not spraying properly or clogging completely and many a (very expensive) can got tossed. I don't know if Liquitex has fixed those issues, but you still might give the Rust-Oleum line of Painter's Touch Primer + Paint line a try when you want to lay down a quick, durable base color.
Pros:
- Inexpensive (I pay @ $3.00 per can, on sale)
- Covers quickly
- Dries quickly
- Durable
- Generally easy to find locally
Cons:
- Limited amount of truly "horsey" colors
- Dries satin
- Must be sprayed outdoors or in a spray booth
NOTE: I have discovered, the hard way, that Testors Dull Cote must be sprayed over the Paint + Primer to seal it and it would be a good idea to add additional layers of it as you paint. If you don't, your model could very well turn into a sticky mess! If that happens, several layers of Dull Cote *should* remedy the situation. Don't use other flat sealers - it must be Dull Cote.
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