Paint it black

From Blogger Pictures

Notice anything in the photo above? I mean, can you make out any detail, period? Neither can I. This is part of an experiment in Changing my Ways. For over 30 years now I have primed my miniatures white. This rendered detail very easy to see, Austrian infantry was ludicrously easy to paint, and I was happy with the results. However, almost every painting guide I read online recommended black primer. So after three decades I gave it a shot.

I nearly freaked when I saw the results. Details which had been so easy to perceive with white primer no looked like little black blobs against a black background. Adding the first block of color--white for lapels and trousers--did little to ease my concerns. However, I found the black to be very forgiving as the figures neared completion. I did not have to cover every nook and cranny with paint as I did with white primer, where unpainted areas gleamed like a beacon. Instead, any unpainted crevices would become instant shading. At worst, they would blend with the wash I use to seal the completed minis.

So the experiment continues through a brigade of French infantry. We'll see how it goes with the Austrian grenadiers coming up next.