Hi. I've been going through years of pages from this thread, and I am trying to teach myself how to do this. I have been getting very frustrated at the results.
I have been getting thin base coats, but once I try to start blending it falls apart. It just looks like color A is on top of color B.
Also my color matching is terrible, but I guess that comes with experience.
My main question, though, is actually *how* to physically paint--from putting the paint on the palette, to painting the card, etc. The only tutorial videos that I found that really show this are Cardkitty's, but there it looks like they just use regular heavy body paints on the top of the palette, and use the cups for the mixing. Mostly everyone on here advises against using heavy body paints, though. So:
Do you pour the paint in the cups and thin each color with water beforehand?
or do you add water from the brush? Does this wear the brush out? If you use a knife, how do you do it?
Color matching is something that you just have to get a lot of practice in for it to click sometimes. Eventually you'll have a pretty intuitive sense of what makes what.
My advice is to just work slowly and focus- Rushing really can mess you up. Work on small sections at a time. While that is drying, move to another, then go back while that section is drying, etc.
As for heavy body vs fluid, It is really a personal preference thing. I'd reccomend at least trying both out.
You really shouldn't need a palate knife, tbh. Just water each color down to fit your needs, when you need it.
Does anyone have any altered birds of paradise for sale? I'm looking to picking one up ASAP for a friend's birthday. Inbox me with a picture and price if you do. Thanks!
Per Art Forum rules, Solicitation is not allowed within the Art Forums. Warning issued.
-Galspanic
Here's my first foray into acrylics:I literally only spent an hour on it... taped off the name and mana symbol, used acetone to wipe the rest of the original ink, brushwashed the entire thing with black paint, then just sort of hammerstroked the other colors into "sort of mountainous-looking things". I didn't have my X-Acto handy so I severely mis-cut the tape, leading to those horrid-looking edges on the circle and right edge of the card name. I tried my best to adjust it with red and black Sharpies, but it just wasn't working out.
I'm okay with how it turned out, knowing the mistakes I made and why they occurred. I'm dying to see a tutorial on what materials work best for alterations, and blending techniques, etc. I searched a bit for one but this site is just massive. Anyone have a link handy? What to buy, when to use markers over paint, how to handle foils, etc.? Thanks in advance and keep posting your wonderful alters (I'm quite jealous of your talents, hehe)!
I've done a few minor border alterations, but this is the first one in which I've done a full alter. I found getting clean lines to be very difficult, and it only increases the respect I have for people that are so good at doing fine detail work.
The Futurama art style works well for me because there's basically no shading and clean, obvious lines and colors.
I tried carbon paper but it didn't work very well so I tried the "rubbing the pencil on the back of your image trick" and I found that it works best using a soft, 5B (For me anyway) pencil. Just make sure the back of the paper is completely covered in a layer of graphite.
Question for those using citadel and other soft-body paints. How do you dispense your paint? Do you dip an old brush into it and then bring everything on the pallette or do you just pour some out onto the pallette or what? I don't like dipping into my paint supply because sometimes I miss a color after washing the brush and they cross-contaminate.
I tried carbon paper but it didn't work very well so I tried the "rubbing the pencil on the back of your image trick" and I found that it works best using a soft, 5B (For me anyway) pencil. Just make sure the back of the paper is completely covered in a layer of graphite.
Question for those using citadel and other soft-body paints. How do you dispense your paint? Do you dip an old brush into it and then bring everything on the pallette or do you just pour some out onto the pallette or what? I don't like dipping into my paint supply because sometimes I miss a color after washing the brush and they cross-contaminate.
I found that by using the paints that come in the bottle with the flip cap, you can easily place a few drops on your pallet without any kind of mess. I, personally, like the full body acrylics. I like the pigmentation and ease of mix. Again.. that comes down to a personal preference.
Think I used a little too much sealant coat on this one, because it just won't scan properly. Thus, phone camera is all that seems to do it any justice. The tree trunks look much better in person; the photo makes it lose all sense of fore/middle/background depth that's present on the card.
When I saw the house in the Woman in Black it remind me of this card, even the houses don't really look similar:
Reference from the movie poster of the Woman in Black movie.
Usually the Black Cat card is altered with Catwoman or the Cat from Spiderman but the first thing it comes in my mind is the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, so I did this fan art:
dont you think your paint is just a littebit too thick?
You're very right... not even "just a little bit" but "too thick by far", lol. I haven't tried mixing the acrylic with a thinner or water yet. These are still very much trial and error cards for me, not commissions or going into decks.
I bought a spray called "Mod Podge" (Clear Acrylic Sealer) but I'm not sure I'm happy with it. I find that it looks great in-hand (high gloss) but it repels the best efforts of scanners and cameras, lol.
I'd love to hear what other people are using and what the general consensus is best to use.
Because conservative bias is a far, far worse thing. Liberal bias doesn't, statistically speaking, make people stupid. Conservative bias (or at least Fox's version of it) does.
Color matching is something that you just have to get a lot of practice in for it to click sometimes. Eventually you'll have a pretty intuitive sense of what makes what.
My advice is to just work slowly and focus- Rushing really can mess you up. Work on small sections at a time. While that is drying, move to another, then go back while that section is drying, etc.
As for heavy body vs fluid, It is really a personal preference thing. I'd reccomend at least trying both out.
You really shouldn't need a palate knife, tbh. Just water each color down to fit your needs, when you need it.
I'm a Lurker.
Lots on the way.
Art Page
Alters for sale
Commissioned.
Art Page
Alters for sale
Per Art Forum rules, Solicitation is not allowed within the Art Forums. Warning issued.
-Galspanic
Here's my first foray into acrylics:I literally only spent an hour on it... taped off the name and mana symbol, used acetone to wipe the rest of the original ink, brushwashed the entire thing with black paint, then just sort of hammerstroked the other colors into "sort of mountainous-looking things". I didn't have my X-Acto handy so I severely mis-cut the tape, leading to those horrid-looking edges on the circle and right edge of the card name. I tried my best to adjust it with red and black Sharpies, but it just wasn't working out.
I'm okay with how it turned out, knowing the mistakes I made and why they occurred. I'm dying to see a tutorial on what materials work best for alterations, and blending techniques, etc. I searched a bit for one but this site is just massive. Anyone have a link handy? What to buy, when to use markers over paint, how to handle foils, etc.? Thanks in advance and keep posting your wonderful alters (I'm quite jealous of your talents, hehe)!
RRR Buy some of my art! Prints! RRR
Thanx
RRR Buy some of my art! Prints! RRR
The Futurama art style works well for me because there's basically no shading and clean, obvious lines and colors.
Original image
Next attempt is turning Yavimaya Elder into Professor Farnsworth
Altered Cards for Sale Facebook Dev-Art
EDH
GBSavra: A Perfect Circle
BMachina III: The Machines of Geth
Mana vault
H/W - Website
I tried carbon paper but it didn't work very well so I tried the "rubbing the pencil on the back of your image trick" and I found that it works best using a soft, 5B (For me anyway) pencil. Just make sure the back of the paper is completely covered in a layer of graphite.
Question for those using citadel and other soft-body paints. How do you dispense your paint? Do you dip an old brush into it and then bring everything on the pallette or do you just pour some out onto the pallette or what? I don't like dipping into my paint supply because sometimes I miss a color after washing the brush and they cross-contaminate.
I found that by using the paints that come in the bottle with the flip cap, you can easily place a few drops on your pallet without any kind of mess. I, personally, like the full body acrylics. I like the pigmentation and ease of mix. Again.. that comes down to a personal preference.
More coming!
Art Page
Alters for sale
You're creating pieces at a blistering pace, and they are all amazing. This one is very sweet. Looking forward to seeing more :D!
Next day update... Avacyn!
Here are a couple more I just finished:
Tons of money spend on psychoanalysis due to this guy:
Reference from this book cover:
http://www.protoporia.gr/to-ayto-p-39701.html
Reference from this movie still:
http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/ikot/?action=view¤t=SNF1206SA_417936a.jpg
Reference from this photo:
http://helen-stifler.deviantart.com/art/The-Ring-147247502
Reference from the movie poster of the Woman in Black movie.
CARDS FOR SALE HERE!.
My alterted cards Gallery.
My Alters Blog.
I bought a spray called "Mod Podge" (Clear Acrylic Sealer) but I'm not sure I'm happy with it. I find that it looks great in-hand (high gloss) but it repels the best efforts of scanners and cameras, lol.
I'd love to hear what other people are using and what the general consensus is best to use.
Altered Cards for Sale Facebook Dev-Art
EDH
GBSavra: A Perfect Circle
BMachina III: The Machines of Geth
That decree of silence is UNREAL! While I always enjoy your work, that is my absolute favorite. It's a shame WotC hasn't contacted you yet...
Altered Cards for Sale Facebook Dev-Art
EDH
GBSavra: A Perfect Circle
BMachina III: The Machines of Geth