Trovarion: Forget smoothness, contrast is the key! Ninjon: You want to be better? Get that extra smooth finish! Me: I don't know what I'm doing but I'm having fun!
Usually it depends on what you want the final result to be. Material, colour, texture etc also play a role. Ultimately, have fun, and if you want to push it, look at reference (traditional/digital painting and photos are great for this) and try to figure out what you need to do to imitate the effect, and if you need a smooth blend or a high contrast. Or both, because life is never easy.
Neither of them are wrong; composition is more important than application (smoothest blends in the world can't save a lack of contrast), and smoothness isn't always the optimal result, but it is a very useful tool to have in your arsenal. Technique and theory are both important and will make you a better painter. And if you're having fun you're doing it right too! Art is expression, everything else is secondary.
@@SparkSovereign One example that smoothness isn't most important is Netflix/Riotgames Arcane. Man, I am in love with that art style, so much detail and contrast yet they make it like you can see brush strokes.
@@ghazevedo for sure! Very painterly looks are gorgeous, I love them. And anyone who's looked closely at paintings in an art museum can confirm that "good" and "smooth" are very different criteria; rough is a powerful tool too! But it's better to make things rough because you *want* them to be rather than because you *can't* do it any other way; learn the rules before you break them, in other words.
Smoothness is more of a gauge of technical capacity, but being technically able doesn't mean you're a good painter. Contrast, composition and rendering of textures will get you further than focusing on smoothness alone, but if you can make the texture/contrast transition well, it can add a whole lot of polish. The trouble is knowing when to be smooth and when to be harsh. That balance is down to style and composition though and more of an expression of you as a painter(in Ninjon's example, the sculpt is a flowing canvas that simplifies the details and would be a difficult candidate for pushing the contrast/readability style. If that was the route he went with on this sculpt, it'd end up a bit more cell shaded like a Borderlands style, not impossible, but it'd very much be a stylistic choice than working with what you've got kind of deal). TLDR: smooth is good, but not if it's costing you readability.
I would like to add a game changer technique I learned from Ben Komets. He called it loaded brush technique, which is a variant of wet blending. First load your brush with a color like dark blue. Then pickup the highlight color (much thicker) with the same brush (still loaded) just with the tip. Start at the highlight position and gently place the color from the tip while you unload the rest of the color in a swiping motion towards the shadows. As you have both colors on your brush there is no licking or changing colors in between which really helps to blend both colors. Unfortunately it is hard to get the consistency right.
I was trying that with my zombicide invader xeno with acrylic ink, pledge and acrylic paint. It was pretty random but when I got it to work it looked awesome.
I like this technique but I don’t find it gives me enough control for my liking. It’s good for setting a good base line to work from. Haven’t used it for ages so might have to try it again some time.
Thanks for the video. Recently I've moved to oil paints for my details and blending duties after laying down acrylic basecoats. The extra working time allows for more patience during the process.
That brush licking method you mentioned. So far in my 30years of mini painting I have only seen 1 guy using it and all the time I thought he was the only person in the world who does that. Didn't know that other people use that method too.
One of my new favourite techniques for blending lately is using texture: stippling, scratches etc after doing a quick sketch of the various tones and highlights
I simply can't comprehend how anyone ever thought licking paint off their brush was something they should do. It's nasty and harmful. Use a damp cloth or sponge (heck you did it in the drybrushing challenge). Not only are artist acrylics dangerous, but you don't even know what mix of pigment is in your hobby paints. I'm glad you aren't recommending it, but it so bewildering to see that people actually do this.
For eyes , doll painters prefer almost flat surfaces and pencils with in between layers of setting spray then you can also add transparent nail polish or simething like that to finish the shiny effect, it should apply to all kinds of eyes
Brush licker blending reminds me a lot like Two Brush Blending, where one brush applied the paint and the second brush did all the feathering work after living in your mouth until needed. same result for less paint eaten
Used to be a brush licker but now keep a tiny pot of water right next to my pallet that I use to quickly dilute my brush and then feather our the colour. Sometimes I forget a gob a brush but I consume much less acrylic paint now.
Hey Jon, love the vid, love that you had to come up with half a step cause you can't stop guzzling paint ;) Jokes aside, blending is something i need to work on, thanks for the comparison
I would just like to share a tip that works for me. If you over then your paints but you like the opacity or color you have achieved and your worried you will ruin it when you try to fix it. Just dab your bush lightly on a paper towel it will suck all the excess moisture out of the brush and give you your control back. Again this works for me and I hope it works for you.
Two-brush blending! You don't lick the brush with the paint on it for the blend. Use a second brush for that hence the "two-brush" blending. This was the PP style and you can find videos on RUclips showing the technique. I've done it some and quite like it but some paints are really friendly for it. You want thicker paints that dry slowly in my experience.
10:15 isn't that just ..... one kind of feathering? I mean, sure, you can lick the brush. Or use one loaded with a bit of water. Or quickly rinse the one you're using, usually that's fast enough.
I thought the same... the licking is just one quick, slightly gross way to do feathering. I reckon Vincey V would call it "voiding", which is a bit less moist -fdlfdlfdlsssss- way to call it.
I imagine P&P would require you to sit backwards on the can so you can stabilize your arms on the tank. Need to clean your brush, reach down and flush!
This is another bloody great video. The half / brush licking is a variant of two brush blending I think. Haven’t finished the video so may edit my comment. Further in, and feathering is what I have learned to call two brush blending. Interesting how we all learn things with different names. No wonder I had so much trouble understanding all the lingo for so long when I first started I can understand how people struggle to understand what to try or not try next. If I can add one pointer that is absolutely crucial I believe the most important thing to levelling up is putting in the time and practicing. If you try just one new thing on each model you should learn and level up every time you paint it won’t happen instantly but it will happen gradually and I’d you’re gradually improving then you’re eventually going to got gud right? It’s like levelling XP in games ;)
Quick question, is there a reason you didn't use the nozzle cap for your airbrush? The thought occurred to me around ~4:20 into the video when you used the sponge to backflow. Do you feel you have better control that way? Easier to manage dry tip? Did you lose the nozzle piece? lol. I love your videos, keep being awesome sir!
the cap makes the airflow more directional kind of like how a cap on a spray can does, you can get a wider and more diffused spray pattern by taking it off - this is super helpful on problem paints like white and yellows
I used to use my saliva for blending but someone recommended that I try a product called Synthetic Ox Gall as a substitute. I got mine from Dick Blick and it worked so well that I broken the paint eating habit.
Thanks for another great video Jon, my bleding is feeling powered up.... but before we move on, what can you tell us about that cuttlefish you got there?
Happy you've started adding chapters to your vids - makes it easy to skip the short sketches (which I'm sure some enjoy but is too much cringed for my enjoyment) and just get to the technical bits of the vid.
I'm still perfecting this whole blending thing even after 12 or 14 years of painting, so videos like yours that explain it as clearly as you do here are always welcome, Jon!
Try holding your airbrush much closer to the mini for airbrush blending. You are pretty far from the surface which means you will have broader coverage and more overspray.
Wet blending is pretty tough to get right but once you have it down it’s amazing I personally use airbrush flow Improver to give me some more time while I paint
This was a nice breakdown, I'll leave the 2.5 tip though, that one tastes funny. Dog warnings was not heard ;) Sidenote: Maybe I have missed it before but I really like the intro bitmapping :)
Do you have a video going over what you were talking about regarding brush placement and starting/stopping points? I can say without a doubt that’s something I’ve never even thought about and it would be great to have a deeper explanation/examples to see the differences first hand. I was also trying to find info on when you should use certain techniqjes, like should I be trying to blend if I’ve done Zenithal highlighting or if I used a wash and quick highlight after?
Watercolors are very easy to blend with. Painters buy old citadel paints, the cheapest dollar store paint, professional oil paint.. to use for content, but no watercolor. I think there is a video there jon
Another great vid, well explained through the medium of the Ninjon stylee Lick/suck the paint off the brush? Hell no! That's insane, that's acrylic monomer and random pigment... Many of the chemicals that absorb light in the visual range achieve it by incorporating HEAVY METALS. The periodic table refers to them as transition metals, a better name would be the "Never eat these metals dumbass" group. If you happen to have a copy of the table, perhaps framed on your wall as a colourful conversation starter, it's well worth writing that in with a sharpie, honestly do it now. The rest of the vid was great, loved it.
Sorry, i love this channel, your brilliant Mr Ninjon no Joke ........... Sergey Popovichenko Painter from Kiev, UKRINE...... Top Spot, on Putty & Paint.......................... Damnnnnn....
Unless you can cure ulnar nerve damage I doubt you can power level my painting! I'm lucky when I can glue these dam things together without making a mess.
12:10 this moment felt like it deserved so much more than a single "Like" ! Too bad you can't, cuz I'd mashed that button a thousand time over, and over, and over, again ! Well done, Sir ! 👏
Trovarion: Forget smoothness, contrast is the key!
Ninjon: You want to be better? Get that extra smooth finish!
Me: I don't know what I'm doing but I'm having fun!
Usually it depends on what you want the final result to be. Material, colour, texture etc also play a role.
Ultimately, have fun, and if you want to push it, look at reference (traditional/digital painting and photos are great for this) and try to figure out what you need to do to imitate the effect, and if you need a smooth blend or a high contrast. Or both, because life is never easy.
Neither of them are wrong; composition is more important than application (smoothest blends in the world can't save a lack of contrast), and smoothness isn't always the optimal result, but it is a very useful tool to have in your arsenal. Technique and theory are both important and will make you a better painter.
And if you're having fun you're doing it right too! Art is expression, everything else is secondary.
@@SparkSovereign One example that smoothness isn't most important is Netflix/Riotgames Arcane. Man, I am in love with that art style, so much detail and contrast yet they make it like you can see brush strokes.
@@ghazevedo for sure! Very painterly looks are gorgeous, I love them. And anyone who's looked closely at paintings in an art museum can confirm that "good" and "smooth" are very different criteria; rough is a powerful tool too! But it's better to make things rough because you *want* them to be rather than because you *can't* do it any other way; learn the rules before you break them, in other words.
Smoothness is more of a gauge of technical capacity, but being technically able doesn't mean you're a good painter. Contrast, composition and rendering of textures will get you further than focusing on smoothness alone, but if you can make the texture/contrast transition well, it can add a whole lot of polish. The trouble is knowing when to be smooth and when to be harsh. That balance is down to style and composition though and more of an expression of you as a painter(in Ninjon's example, the sculpt is a flowing canvas that simplifies the details and would be a difficult candidate for pushing the contrast/readability style. If that was the route he went with on this sculpt, it'd end up a bit more cell shaded like a Borderlands style, not impossible, but it'd very much be a stylistic choice than working with what you've got kind of deal).
TLDR: smooth is good, but not if it's costing you readability.
I would like to add a game changer technique I learned from Ben Komets. He called it loaded brush technique, which is a variant of wet blending. First load your brush with a color like dark blue. Then pickup the highlight color (much thicker) with the same brush (still loaded) just with the tip. Start at the highlight position and gently place the color from the tip while you unload the rest of the color in a swiping motion towards the shadows. As you have both colors on your brush there is no licking or changing colors in between which really helps to blend both colors. Unfortunately it is hard to get the consistency right.
Didn't he already cover that in a different video
It's not a new method but a good skill
Honestly, I find this the easiest of all blending techniques, I don't know why more people don't do it
I was trying that with my zombicide invader xeno with acrylic ink, pledge and acrylic paint. It was pretty random but when I got it to work it looked awesome.
I like this technique but I don’t find it gives me enough control for my liking. It’s good for setting a good base line to work from. Haven’t used it for ages so might have to try it again some time.
Thanks for the video. Recently I've moved to oil paints for my details and blending duties after laying down acrylic basecoats. The extra working time allows for more patience during the process.
I think it's called spit blending, tattoo artists do it as well with inks (and maybe water paints) on paper to get gradients.
That brush licking method you mentioned. So far in my 30years of mini painting I have only seen 1 guy using it and all the time I thought he was the only person in the world who does that. Didn't know that other people use that method too.
One of my new favourite techniques for blending lately is using texture: stippling, scratches etc after doing a quick sketch of the various tones and highlights
I simply can't comprehend how anyone ever thought licking paint off their brush was something they should do. It's nasty and harmful. Use a damp cloth or sponge (heck you did it in the drybrushing challenge). Not only are artist acrylics dangerous, but you don't even know what mix of pigment is in your hobby paints. I'm glad you aren't recommending it, but it so bewildering to see that people actually do this.
Paint yummy 🤤
You have a way with explaining and demonstrating a lot of these techniques that really make stuff click in my head.
I love the brush licker blending name. Classic!
For eyes , doll painters prefer almost flat surfaces and pencils with in between layers of setting spray
then you can also add transparent nail polish or simething like that to finish the shiny effect, it should apply to all kinds of eyes
Excited to be able to follow your masterclass. Really looking forward to Miniac's Mini's ...
Paint licker blending got me thinking about pot likker. Now I'm gonna have to make some blackeyed peas, and cornbread. Maybe some greens, too.
P and p sounds like a great idea get yourself some good lights maybe a TV dinner type tray and your set
You are a fantastic painter. And just as good teaching how to paint. Very entertaining. Thank you.
Brush licker blending reminds me a lot like Two Brush Blending, where one brush applied the paint and the second brush did all the feathering work after living in your mouth until needed.
same result for less paint eaten
Used to be a brush licker but now keep a tiny pot of water right next to my pallet that I use to quickly dilute my brush and then feather our the colour. Sometimes I forget a gob a brush but I consume much less acrylic paint now.
your flannel wearing matey is a genius...... P.P. absolutely amazing.
I needed this video like 10 years ago.
Hey Jon, love the vid, love that you had to come up with half a step cause you can't stop guzzling paint ;)
Jokes aside, blending is something i need to work on, thanks for the comparison
This is a fantastic breakdown! Wet blending and glazing has been a game changer for me.
Another option for wet blending is just to use two brushes, one for each color!
Your minute 12 made me laugh a lot. I love that you keep it funny and light hearted.
Ninjon has the best skits of any in this hobby . Hands down . I’m looking at DM Lair
Your half is basically one brush blending. The PP studio painters used to do two brush blending, but its the same thing, just with an extra brush.
I would just like to share a tip that works for me. If you over then your paints but you like the opacity or color you have achieved and your worried you will ruin it when you try to fix it. Just dab your bush lightly on a paper towel it will suck all the excess moisture out of the brush and give you your control back. Again this works for me and I hope it works for you.
Thank you for this video, and the outtakes made me nearly spit my drink across the room
Great video Jon, enjoy the humor and your honesty. Would have loved to hear the live feed while painting the eyes 😁
13:02 Couldn't you add paint retarder to increase the working time?
Two-brush blending! You don't lick the brush with the paint on it for the blend. Use a second brush for that hence the "two-brush" blending. This was the PP style and you can find videos on RUclips showing the technique. I've done it some and quite like it but some paints are really friendly for it. You want thicker paints that dry slowly in my experience.
10:15 isn't that just ..... one kind of feathering?
I mean, sure, you can lick the brush. Or use one loaded with a bit of water. Or quickly rinse the one you're using, usually that's fast enough.
I use a second brush, but yeah, it's feathering.
I thought the same... the licking is just one quick, slightly gross way to do feathering. I reckon Vincey V would call it "voiding", which is a bit less moist -fdlfdlfdlsssss- way to call it.
Thanks Jon! As always, highest level of hobby education! Got your tee recently, love it!
heck yeah! loved dragon lance growing up!
P n P = So True!!! Taking minis into the loo with me from now on!
after watching NJM i found oil paints is the way to go for smooth blends, just cant beat it with the control you have.
LOL John changes Feathering to Brush Licker blending.
I can't help, but think you could do the brush-licker technique with water, or matte medium, on a wet palette, similar to glazing.
Brush licker is awfully similar to 2 brush blending. In that, you hold a brush in your mouth and switch to the saliva brush rather than eating paint.
I imagine P&P would require you to sit backwards on the can so you can stabilize your arms on the tank. Need to clean your brush, reach down and flush!
Might wanna flush then rinse or its gonna be a shity paint job
@@thomasgross8289 Not a method of painting for brush lickers
This is another bloody great video.
The half / brush licking is a variant of two brush blending I think. Haven’t finished the video so may edit my comment.
Further in, and feathering is what I have learned to call two brush blending. Interesting how we all learn things with different names. No wonder I had so much trouble understanding all the lingo for so long when I first started I can understand how people struggle to understand what to try or not try next.
If I can add one pointer that is absolutely crucial I believe the most important thing to levelling up is putting in the time and practicing. If you try just one new thing on each model you should learn and level up every time you paint it won’t happen instantly but it will happen gradually and I’d you’re gradually improving then you’re eventually going to got gud right? It’s like levelling XP in games ;)
Quick question, is there a reason you didn't use the nozzle cap for your airbrush? The thought occurred to me around ~4:20 into the video when you used the sponge to backflow. Do you feel you have better control that way? Easier to manage dry tip? Did you lose the nozzle piece? lol. I love your videos, keep being awesome sir!
the cap makes the airflow more directional kind of like how a cap on a spray can does, you can get a wider and more diffused spray pattern by taking it off - this is super helpful on problem paints like white and yellows
OMG P&P!? Daryl is either a certified genius or an authentic wacko!
Flameon miniatures uses a “tiny scratches” blending technique that’s very interesting
i love the little skits at the beginning lol
I used to use my saliva for blending but someone recommended that I try a product called Synthetic Ox Gall as a substitute. I got mine from Dick Blick and it worked so well that I broken the paint eating habit.
Thanks for another great video Jon, my bleding is feeling powered up.... but before we move on, what can you tell us about that cuttlefish you got there?
P3 is actually made for brush lickers. Fun little fact I learned.
Thank you so much Jon. Maybe this is your best video from a didactic point of view. I will absolute recommend it for people that ask for blending.
LoL, Feathering, he's licking the brush the whole time!!!! ahahahah
Rather than licking the brush, you can use a damp paper towel or even a dampened sheet of cheap watercolor/mixed media paper.
Thank you , Jon .
🐺
Jon's brush licking is called 2 brush blending
Happy you've started adding chapters to your vids - makes it easy to skip the short sketches (which I'm sure some enjoy but is too much cringed for my enjoyment) and just get to the technical bits of the vid.
I'm still perfecting this whole blending thing even after 12 or 14 years of painting, so videos like yours that explain it as clearly as you do here are always welcome, Jon!
Its wild how much of a game changer, just farting some paint out of an aibrush is.
Try holding your airbrush much closer to the mini for airbrush blending. You are pretty far from the surface which means you will have broader coverage and more overspray.
Brush Licker blending is 2 brush blending, and if you do it right you dont even have to eat paint
Make sure to thoroughly lick your brush if you are using red or yellow paints. There are the tastiest because they have cadmium in it.
Patreon, can you pay for an entire year? Another excellent presentation. Both my wife and I enjoyed it immensely.
fav mini painting channel and the best much love :)
Wet blending is pretty tough to get right but once you have it down it’s amazing I personally use airbrush flow Improver to give me some more time while I paint
The hilarious slight embarrassment describing the brush licker method is worth watching this video alone. Another great video buddy
Brush licking technique was how Prohart painted and a good way to tell an original. Like an nft; but not shit
This was a nice breakdown, I'll leave the 2.5 tip though, that one tastes funny. Dog warnings was not heard ;)
Sidenote: Maybe I have missed it before but I really like the intro bitmapping :)
Thanks for the video Jon
"I'm hoping by now you're not completely overwhelmed by this..." Yeah...
Can’t wait to watch your master class!
Brush Licker Blending - I've heard it described as two-brush blending
In order to master the paint, one must first eat the paint.
Thank you miniature painting tom hanks. I love you
I can't breathe lol "the most productive 2 hrs"
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Needed this video!
“P and P”... why the hell didnt i think of that!!??? LOL!! @ninjon bring back Aussie Steve the terrain hunter for a cameo!!
Hi ninjon love your videos can you paint seraphon guide plz ...
A well made and concise guide, thank you!
High contrast quick layering + AB glazing for the win in my not humble opinion. Or death by stippling if you're Saint David of Colwell
I feel like the guy in the intros name is probably definitely Darryl or at least that’s what imma call him….and Darryl is my spirit animal.
Do you have a video going over what you were talking about regarding brush placement and starting/stopping points? I can say without a doubt that’s something I’ve never even thought about and it would be great to have a deeper explanation/examples to see the differences first hand. I was also trying to find info on when you should use certain techniqjes, like should I be trying to blend if I’ve done Zenithal highlighting or if I used a wash and quick highlight after?
i lost it at p&p
"Loaded brush technique" seems to be one you would like also👍 keep the great vids coming!
Watercolors are very easy to blend with. Painters buy old citadel paints, the cheapest dollar store paint, professional oil paint.. to use for content, but no watercolor. I think there is a video there jon
Ohhh, I see Pro Acryl expansion set #4 in the video! Mini review coming? Waiting for it to get to Europe. Great video also hehe
My daughter is still too young for the books you mentioned but I'm going to check them out!
Brush licker blending = feathering
Good stuff.
Yes
Another great vid, well explained through the medium of the Ninjon stylee
Lick/suck the paint off the brush? Hell no! That's insane, that's acrylic monomer and random pigment...
Many of the chemicals that absorb light in the visual range achieve it by incorporating HEAVY METALS. The periodic table refers to them as transition metals, a better name would be the "Never eat these metals dumbass" group.
If you happen to have a copy of the table, perhaps framed on your wall as a colourful conversation starter, it's well worth writing that in with a sharpie, honestly do it now.
The rest of the vid was great, loved it.
Question, are you still using that airbrush that is rechargeable? You know, the one that didn't require the compressor.
amazing video
Something with wet blending, don't just rely on a blob, the blend will work with thin layers blended together.
What magnification set up are you using? Ah I see them in the discription, THANK YOU!
Sorry, i love this channel, your brilliant Mr Ninjon no Joke ...........
Sergey Popovichenko
Painter from Kiev, UKRINE......
Top Spot, on Putty & Paint.......................... Damnnnnn....
P&P makes for easy blending your browns I guess.....
Where can you get Sable brushes right now at size 1 or 0? Everywhere seems to be sold out!
Unless you can cure ulnar nerve damage I doubt you can power level my painting! I'm lucky when I can glue these dam things together without making a mess.
12:10 this moment felt like it deserved so much more than a single "Like" ! Too bad you can't, cuz I'd mashed that button a thousand time over, and over, and over, again !
Well done, Sir ! 👏
Cool video. Do you know if its possible to get those Cuttlefish paint anywhere now? Or was they only possible to get on the kickstarter back in 2019
brush licker blenders of the world, unite!
I feel like i just got out of the Hyper-bolic chamber 💪
Darryl only P&P'n 2 hours a day? rookie numbers!
Fun fact. Fart in Swedish means speed.