Wow! Craig Whitaker (Mongo Mel) has submitted an absolutely astounding article covering all the basics of figure painting with oils. This is a stage-by-stage account, with photos all the way.

Sneak Preview!... Craig has even shot some video sequences, which I''ll slot in when the backroom boffins tell me how...

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Merlin:
Glad to see this is has surfaced in article form. That's for getting it posted, and of course, thanks to Craig for the effort of putting it together, this will be a useful tool for many people.

Hi Nathan

Yes, Craig submitted this AGES ago, but it disappeared into Features Limbo...

Staff_Jim opened up the Figures submissions to me about a week ago and, since then, Craig has re-worked the text and shot pics (and video ) especially to accompany his article.

I'm receiving Figures submissions from the Support Centre now so, hopefully, I'll be able to deal with new submissions promptly.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Courtesy of Tuga, the videos are up and running - Cheers José

All the best

Rowan

Excellent Stuff Craig! While not an oil painter I still find it amusing to see how others work!

Again, congrats on a great article.

Great article. Only problem I have is that I can't see the 2nd video

http://photos.kitmaker.net/data/13312/2779stippling_still_21.jpg

This link doesn't work (the second vid)

Good Article. Must be when even I could understand the basics of it :-)

Cliff

Nice helping piece of technique . Very good to know other materials working style !!!!!!

Thanks a lot everyone for posting that

Costas

Cheers for the heads-up Shonen.

I've re-entered the link and it seems happier - give it a try now.

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan,
Thanks for you help in getting this posted.
And thanks also to Tuga for the help with the videos.

You know, it's amazing. No matter how many times i proff read that article, I still found some dumb mistakes after it was posted. D'oh!
Craig

Great job... Craig. Thanks to everyone involved in getting this posted. I have no artistic ability what so ever... but after reading this article... I might have to find figure and give it a shot.

Thanks again for the great article..... Jim

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

I only have one more comment: MORE VIDEOS PLEASE!!!!

Short and sweet, exactly what the doctor ordered!!!!

Thank you everyone involved!!! This is still the number one reason why Armorama rocks the web!!!!

Hi everyone,
Me again. I wanted to address something that's been happening since this article was posted. I've gotten several applications (mostly people from Germany) to join my MSN Group where I post and store my pictures.
While I appreciate the interest, the Group is only set up for me to keep my photos. There is no real value to being a member. So if I've denied your application to join, I just want to tell you that I mean no offence.
Thanks,
Craig
PS: I've not had much success trying to figure out who these folks are because some don't seem to be registered members of Armorama. Of course they don't necessarially have to be. There's a possibility that they are getting there through my posting of the DC figure show pictures on planetFigure. Plus someone posted a link to them on Missing Link too.
But I am getting the feeling that they may just be folks looking to "exploite" me
Hmmmm.....

Hi Craig,

What an outstanding article it has inspired me to use oils as my medium, i am currently painting ww2 german figures could you please tell me how i can get a good leather effect using oils as i have to paint map cases and other leather items. Also could you please tell me how i can keep the oils thin if i use them straight from the tube, i have had some problems using burnt sienna shadowing with vandyk brown and highlighting with yellow orche.
yours thankfully witmann

Hi Lee,
Wow, was I surprised to see this thread come up on the HF home page
It's been years since the last comments.
I'm glad you liked the article and I hope it's helpful for you.

I have a few mixes for painting leather, deoppending on what effect you're going for.
Like clean and smooth, soft and worn, light or dark. that's what I mean by that.
I'll have to look them up at home tonight and then I'll post them for you.
In the meantime, take a look here and check the photos under historical and modern sections. See if there is an example of what you want to achieve for your leather.
Cheers,
Craig

Hi Craig,

Thankyou for your kind reply i am not only a new comer to modelling but i am also a technophobe!!! I will try to acess that site for the colour of leather that you have kindly provided. I am really keen to get the skills under my belt and would be greatful for any advice you can provide me with. I would like to think that i have sort of grasped the basics of blending and paint application and i think i really need to put some hours in and much burning of the midnight lamp!!! I would value your advice and would find it very beneficial, that is to say if i can find my way back to this part of the site!!!
yours thankfully Lee

Hi Lee,
Couple of things that might help
To get back to this page easily, you can bookmark it in your favorites.
Also, you can subscribe to it so that you get an email whenever there is a new post. Look in the third black bar down from the top of this page. On the right hand side is a button that says subscribe. Click on it and follow the directions.

I made a video a while back on blending using oil paints. Click on this link to go to that thread.
Then clink on the link you'll find there to watch the video.

Lastly, I've written a couple of other articles on oild paints that you might find useful.
Easiest way to find them is to click on the "Profile" button under my avitar (the picture of Mongo from Blazing Saddles).

If you realise that you need to practice a lot to develope your skils with oils, you're way ahead of the game
Feel free to PM (private message) me anytime if you have any questions. I'll be happy to try and help.
Craig

The video 'Stippling 02.MPG' of this article does not exist.

This article is now about 8 years old and perhaps the video has been removed from its original site. Drop a PM to Craig and I'm sure he'll point you to the right direction.

Mario

Hi guys,
Wow, 8 years old...I'm surprised that it's still being viewed

MSN keeps killing the service I use to store my videos and pictures so I've posted the video on Dailymotion.
Here it is...

Stippling 02 by CraigW58

But I think my other video could be a lot more helpful to you. It's a lot longer and has an audio description of what I'm doing.
DSCF0001 by CraigW58

Hope these help.
Craig

just read this and watched the videos... need to leave the office ASAP to try this out. have 4 DAK 1/35 infantry painted in enamels where the shadow/highlight just looks wrong, going to try this on the DAK tanker I also have lying around (already primed) - have nicked your German Uniform Grey mix for his jacket, will then look at the DAK "mid-stone" for his shorts.....