I’m going to be using Cubie for this tutorial and painting it larger than you would have on a typical miniature. Also notice that the darkest area of the gem is where the light source is and it gets brighter as it moves away from the light. There’s a lot more you can do with this effect as well. The results are realistic, without getting too hung up on the details within the piece, I really hope you’ve enjoyed the series tackling a perceived tricky subject of reflections and water. One of the coolest effects you can paint on a miniature is a glassy, reflective surface like that of a gemstone, eye lenses, goggles, etc. I can’t imagine being a parent right now. For instance, in my painting "Posse" that you see above, there are 3 different types of glass objects, and each has its own distinct coloring. The use of miniatures has largely been superseded by computer-generated imagery in the contemporary cinema. The nature of painting on glass incorporates numerous elements including aesthetic appeal, complex compositions, and consideration for effects that appear once painted glass is exposed to light sources. It’s not like it was anything major. Not to be used without permission. My strongest light at my painting desk is there, so I tend to use that as my reference when I’m doing highlights, which means it makes sense to do the gems the same. I want you to be able to see the concept larger to understand it easier. Again, you can see there is no single color for glass, it's influenced by what's around it, light, and shadow. Then the brighter red, Evil Sunz Scarlet. That’s because the sword is tilted and that’s where the light would strike, not dead center. I didn’t go quite as bright in the contrast on this because of how the eye is shaped around the shoulder. As you say, the smaller scale actually helps it work better, which feels kind of counter-intuitive, but really is the case. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Glass painting ( and stain glass) is also great for revamping old and simple items. You can use this technique for glass panels and windows in your own home. Photo, sketch and paint effects. Amazon's Choice for translucent spray paint. Testors makes a starter set with a variety of colors that can be mixed to produce specific or custom shades for miniatures and models. Conclusion of the Miniature Painting Glass Effect, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Man. In this case, you might want to try and alternative water-based matte varnish. Glazing with acrylics has to do with creating very thin layers of paint - either watered down or diluted with medium such as Acrylic Glazing Liquid (this links to Blick Art Materials, and if you make a purchase, I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you). The area is so small that I’m really just adding in a very thin line. Since this tutorial isn’t on how to blend, I’m going to fast forward to the final result, which I achieved by slowly blending each layer and smoothing out those transitions. What truly makes a model look real is when it looks used. I have personally never used grey paint, so although it is readily available, I don't really think it is necessary. 4.6 out of 5 stars 806. So yeah, always paint the light source on your gems to match the light source on the model, otherwise things get weird and look off, which you know – just stating for others :), There, just added a reference image talking about light source directions with examples :). Happy painting! If you want to paint glass objects in a photorealist style, definitely check out my page about creating acrylic glazes! I have been in the miniature hobby since 2006 when some friends introduced me to Warhammer 40K. By applying a transparent layer of glaze over another layer of opaque paint, you can create a unique, stained-glass effect. Please take a second to rate this. There is no simple answer, no one color that you use that magically creates 'transparent glass'. Tamiya is ranked #1 out of 53 hobby and model paint manufacturers, followed by Testors, and Vallejo Acrylic Paints. You’ll see. I’ll break this down into beginner and advanced. Now you can focus on the actual painting process. This painting is quite straightforward and simple but painted this way really gives you an effective painting of glass and water. I kept doing the same thing. From blackboard chalk paints to spray cans, achieve the perfect finish, whether it’s gloss, chrome, crackle or matte. The books below are available on Amazon. Realistically, the reflective highlight would just be a simple white dot at the top. Miniature Painting Glass Effect (Gemstones) is Easy to Do! Don't even "think" at all - just paint what you see. It's fun, safe to use, and easy to do! Take a close look at the colors of the glass, and be sure to incorporate them into your painting using the glazing process. It will take some practice, I won’t lie, especially working on smaller areas, but it’s very achievable and you’ll be surprised what you manage in a few minutes of painting. Step 1) You can do this project on any type of glass including a vase or a candle holder. I call it tabletop blending. Learn how your comment data is processed. I realized I use red a lot for my effect (I love red! This applied art, almost a thousand-year-old, is multifaceted, to say the least. How to Paint Photorealism: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Paint Your Own Photorealistic Paintings - a FREE 15-page guide explaining the materials and methods to working in Photorealism.