So to start with probably 80% of my painting is through craft paints, so like the ones you would see at walmart. I hae great sucsess with them in genreal but i come across one problem. When i go do the face, it comes out kind of chalky looking. After i apply the sealer, its gone but it still does not carry that smoth skin finish. I am in rare water here with the craft paints, and have not been able to find a answer, i am i doomed?
I’d make the switch with using Model Master acrylics/enamels instead of cheap Walmart craft paint.
Are you painting figures?
I like using Tamiya or Model Master acrylics for figure painting.
I do use the Model Master acrylics simply because most of the hobby shops around here carry them. Probably the best figure paints I’ve seen though is Vallejo. Very high concentration of pigments with them, you can thin them way down and still have them cover. Plus they really brush paint well.
I’ll second Vallejo .good stuff. Mike
I’ll third.
Brush like a dream, spray like crap. Use Vallejo Air for that.
Keep the craft paints for scenery, use Model paints for the models, pigments are much finer, & the figures won’t then look like they have the plague or boils!
Thanks everyone for the feed back. The craft paint i got hook on when i got back onto modelbuilding couple years back. There not bad, but for feguires i have diffently hit a speed pump with improvements in my painting abiltys. Before it was not that big of deal. Ya i have been using vallejo, problem there, they can be to thin,!. maybe oils?, and or just not focus on the faces so much?
Okay ;
The vote has carried . It’s Vallejo ! I know , I tried it on my first figure this year and was totally convinced . I had done one years ago with nothing but Testors flats . I must’v done something right I got the gold first time out ! T.B. P.S. " Herman The German " is still around somewhere . Much the worse for wear though . Maybe I’ll clean the paint off and do him over !
Different recommendation here. I use an acrylic as a basecoat and artists oils to blend and shade. I like oils cause of the extended drying time which means a longer working time and smoother blending. If you mess up just wipe away with some thinner and start again. The thinner will not harm the acrylic basecoat.
I’ll toss my .02 into the hat. I use Daler Rowny craft paints from WalMart and I don’t have a problem with them at all. I even get them to spray well if I mix them right. For spraying I highly recommend the Tamiya Acrylic thinner. They spray really well with that stuff.
But as for the Vallejo, I love the stuff. Even better than the Daler Rowney. They do carry their color over well after being thinned and the blend really well.
I also use some Daler Rowney oils as well. they are really good for blending in cheek flush and pinkish skin tones. I’ve had some really super results working with all of these techniques combined.
You can’t argue with the results.
You can also use the Daler Rowny Watercolors for some of this work as well. They are more transparent and allow other colors to bleed through. The only downside is that they will literally wipe off with a light touch if you don’t seal them.
You will love the Vallejo paints. They will only enhance what you already do with your painting style. 
Show us some results when you have a chance. 
Vallejo, Andrea, MM and Tamiya are my choices. I use Liquitex retarder and thin them a bit opting for thinner layers. I do think craft paints have their place but not for super detail work.
But heres my disclaimer. Of all my modeling skills, I’m really bad AND slow with figures.
Terry
Again the wealth of info you get from everyday builders, my hat go’s off to you all here and all the model builders fourms. It by far is the #1 place for info and help, you really can not put a price on the info.
Tonight i will post some pictures of my feguires. I also think the quality of the feguries has a place on there own, in that case more stress on the qualty. On a diorama where say a tank or bigger scene is the primary subject the qualty may be that it blends in with the scene.
I use the craft paint for all my models now, and on figures i use them but with the faces I use them as a base layer and add in my detail with artists oil on top
Very nice, great job, i am going to try that, just use the acrylics for the base(fase).
I don’t use craft paints at all but I’m also not saying not to use them. I say find something you like and then practice with it. I use pretty much just Vallejos but have also used Reaper, Andrea and Scale 75.
Here are 2 examples of all Vallejo. BTW each one has been featured in the Fine Scale magazine with the colors and how to. I hope this helps.
Joe
I get the crowd that does not want and or use them. Beside the paint at times becoming a little flaky when it drys, i use thecraft paints all the time. I like that they dry quickly, i dont have to sit and wait for it to dryicanjust contenue. Yes are they as good as tamiya or Valo paints no, but with a little work you can get them pretty darn close. .50 cent to a dollar compare to 2.00 to 5.00 or more its hard not to pass up
Hobby Lobby has 40% coupon you can use which brings the price of Model Master and Vallejo paint brand down below $2 a bottle. Just sayin’… Micheals has coupons too.
Oh ya i know, but for the price and what you get, its pretty good. I use them all, i do use the craft the most. Its all good what ever makes your building better. I am just relearning, so every time is something new.