Oil Wash over Acrylic Paint

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hello,

I have read an article by Adam Wilder about how he uses Winsor & Newton artists oils thinned with Better Way (brand) brush cleaner 15% paint and 85% thinner applied over an acrylic base paint.Has anyone ever tried this or how do you fellows work with oils over acrylic paint for a oil wash?

Thanks, George

2

I just use odorless mineral spirits to make artist’s oil washes. No worries. Don’t know the composition of the brand name thinner you mention. If it contains an alcohol, using it over an acrylic could spell dissaster.

3

Would regular mineral spirits work from the home supply center?

Thanks George

4

Certainly, but “odorless” is more pleasant to use. They should have it as well.

5

I usually put a gloss acrylic coat (i.e. Future) before the oil wash - better control and recovery from mistakes.

6

Hello,

After painting and you clear coat with future do you put on the decals and the oil wash before clear coating for the last time? Or do you clear coat and apply decals,then clear coat again,do the oil wash and clear coat for the last time?

George

7

I usually put the wash on after decaling, as the decal needs to be weathered the same as the rest of the model, otherwise they will look too bright.

8

Thank you so much for your help.

George

9

I generally clear coat over the decals, then apply weathering. That way I have a uniform surface for whatever weathering techniques I use.

10

Ross,

Do you clear coat (dull) after you do your weathering as well?

George

11

Can anyone explain what an oil wash is? I searched but usually just came up with specifics about it. Not a simple definition

12

Yes. Maybe I’m overzealous, but I clear-coat after each weathering process. Partially this is to protect the model while it sits for months on the bench, waiting for me to get back to it…[:(] But it is also to protect one weathering pass from the next.

13

Oil wash: A weathering technique in which artist’s oil paint is thinned with a large quantity of thinner and applied to a model. The wash generally has the viscosity of water. Best thinner is odorless mineral spirits.

14

Just to add to Ross’ comments, you let the wash seep into the recessed panel lines and edges. This ‘pops’ out the details. For example, a grill on a tank or seams of an airplane.

I also dull coat after the wash, this even out the different ‘shine’ that each medium gives and tie them together better.