Hello all,
Can anyone direct me to any FAQ, tips/tricks articles on painting a figure in black and white?

Have an older Luminators Dracula (Mongram re-pop of the orig Aurora) and I want to paint it as it it were a shot from the original b&w movie.

I'm thinking multiple shades of grays, white highlites, and of course, lots of black. Any articles on painting in black and white out there that one could point me to?
TIA!
Steve in Pgh

Steve,

Altho I've never tried this, I have heard that multiple shades of gray is the way to go. A while back, Barry Grasso (?) did a diorama titled "Bracketed" in 'B&W' and was just wonderfully executed in grays.

A few pics are posted on the Archer Fine Transfers website. Even tho it is a military diorama, it might help you out with what you have planned. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is a write-up on what he did and how he did it anywhere.

Below is my friend Pat's interpretation of Andrea's Frankenstein Monster in black and white as he displayed it at the Long Island show last year.

and his interpretation of Andrea's mummy, both in 54 mm. Just go to "On the Table" and scroll down.
[url] http://www.graphicshangar.com/wwm/October/10_index.html [url]

I think I remember reading that Barry did "bracketed" using mostly india ink. He painted the scene a "primer" grey - and used the Black ink in differing thickness to get alot of his shading (letting the primer show through more in lighter spots). I could be completely wrong on this.... that is just what I can remember.

Here's one of Barry's pictures...



More at:

Archer Fine Transfers

Thanks guys for the replies! Very inspirational pics and links you all passed along. This is going to be a challenge!

Just as in B/W photography, only the darkest shadow areas are black, and only the extreme highlights are white. The vast majority of in-between tones are varying shades of gray.

Study lots of B/W photos and you'll get the picture...LOL!