Oil er up!
Now the fun part begins, the oils. I decided to do a test run on shading and highlighting to figure out how to go about this particular camo pattern. What I'm finding is there is no easy way about it. Each area is being treated like a separate canvas and I am having to switch colors on the spot while transitioning through a particular area.
It's really not that big of a deal, but tone matching for realism is my concern. I don't want to end up with a white wash look after covering a large area to realize I have to go back and tone it down. But, it is a test run. In this session I have done the front chest area, right arm, and upper portion of the left arm only.
Initially I ran a light wash of Windsor Oxide Chromium, which is almost an exact match for my light green tone, mixed with a spot of Ivory Black over the entire figure to seep into the creases and crevasses. Then I went back and wiped off that tone from all the tan and reddish areas. Pin lines have not been added to the seems, etc., not yet. That will be the last detail to add before the brass buttons, clips, and zipper. Sorry about the pics, they aren't the greatest.
Also, the web gear shoulder straps will be returned to a more tan-ish appearance closer to the ammo pouches. I got carried away with the excitement of finally painting in oils I forgot to bring it back home to a more realistic tone, lol. The paint is still a bit wet and shinny, but it's the overall appearance I'm looking at right now.
So, some serious thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated at this point, especially from my fellow oilers, if you please.
More to follow. Cheers, Ski.