HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 21 June 2006, 05:46 PM

JohnReid · 21 June 2006, 06:45 PM

Today I spent a couple more hours on the figure ,painting the face and hands and shading with pastels.
For you expert painters out there my methods will probably seem a little crude but like I explained before it works for me in a lighted diorama setting.My style is impressionistic(I think that is what they call it) as I dont attempt to paint in every detail but let the lighting work for me.(Anyway that's my story and I'm sticking with it)

The flesh color I made using white and yellow ochre to make a pale yellow then I added small amounts of burnt sienna until I got a flesh tone that I liked.I added a drop or two of flow medium and one drop of varnish to the mix.If you are using JoSonja paints the flow medium contains varnish already so be careful not to get things too shiny.With a paint consistency of about 20% cream carefully paint the face and hands.Apply as many coats as it takes to cover the burnt umber gesso.
The hair I left burnt umber as I had put it on thin enough that there were natural streaks in the hair already.The shoes I left burnt umber and polished them with my finger using a little nose oil.(I am not kidding here ,if you want a nice leather look rub your nose with your finger and apply to the shoes)This is called personalizing your figure with your own DNA.
I added a little more burnt sienna to the flesh mix and painted the lips and facial creases etc...
From here on all the shading was done with pastels.Because my paint is flat with very little varnish in it ,pastels stick to it very well .These figures ,once inside the diorama ,will not be subject to handling so pastels work very well for me.Simply take a dark grey or even black and apply a small amount to a dagger type soft brush and work the pastel in the low areas and around areas you want to make stand out such as pockets etc....I then took a little burnt sienna pastel and shaded in the face and hands.
Tomorrow I will finish painting some of the details such as buttons and the tie pin and finish off the shading process using overhead lighting like the figure will be subject to in the diorama.
Now isnt that simple.Nothing fancy and with a little practice very easy to master.The secret ,if there is one,is gesso,flat acrylic paint and the best brushes that you can afford.Any Questions?
Cheers! John.

JohnReid · 22 June 2006, 07:09 AM

My friend Brian responded:

The figure is nicely painted. It is a bit flat but then you say that you will let the light work for you so I cannot comment about that. If I were painting it I would put in some low and highlights to give it more light but then my figures are not normally closed up inside a room or barn so the philosophy is different. I also think that if you are using Shep's method of light coming directly from the top as you siad, then you will still be putting in highlights on the high points. One particular area which needs sprucing up is the hair, it is just one solid mass of brown and needs some hgihlights to pick out the detail and not make it seem like a wig pasted on his head. I would also put in some lowlights on the skin. By the way I love the colour. it looks very natural. But once again, very flat indeed. i hope you don;t mind my passing these comments. I can;t stop looking at the pic of your car, Man is it beautiful!!

JohnReid · 22 June 2006, 07:40 AM

Hi Brian! I must admit that I rushed this one through a bit as I wanted to show just how easy it is to paint using this method.I will be spending a little more time on the details after I subject it to the proper lighting.
I know that a lot of folks have trouble painting figures and usually get them way too shiney especiall y when they are subjected to strong light.Detailing can come with practise once the basics are there.

I agree Brian,old Henry must have had a little of the artist in him too.It really is a beautifully designed car.Very elegant for its day.When I first got it I thought of adding things like trunks and racks and the like but now when I look at the car anything I could add would only spoil her flowing lines .
Cheers! John.

JohnReid · 22 June 2006, 04:32 PM

JohnReid · 22 June 2006, 05:00 PM

This figure was painted over a burnt umber gesso base.The coveralls are french blue with a touch of white added.The hat is paines grey with white added.The shoes are a mix off burnt umber and ultramarine blue to make a warm black.The flesh is the standard white,yellow ochre and burnt sienna mix.I have started to shade the coveralls using black pastel.Note;one hand is gloved but will not be seen when he is placed in the basketcase fuselage.

JohnReid · 23 June 2006, 11:04 AM

JohnReid · 23 June 2006, 11:21 AM

This is the Canadian barnstormer figure (Alias Baron von R)I have painted him various tones of black.My scanner of course cant pick this detail up.For a little variety I think I will change his boot color to a medium brown with lighter laces.The coat will be leather like but the pants will have a lighter fabric look.For various shades of black just vary the amounts of ultramarine blue and burnt umber you use in your mix.The more burnt umber you use the warmer the black will be.

JohnReid · 24 June 2006, 05:44 AM

JohnReid · 24 June 2006, 06:53 AM

Although it maybe hard to see,I have added a mix of burnt sienna and burnt umber to the boots.The pants were given a couple of thin coats of burnt umber to warm up the color and tone down the shine.The tunic was toned down using a wash of carbon black.The leather jacket was shined with good old nose oil to enhance the leathery look.I think that I will change the fur collar from fox red to wolf grey.The barnstormers leather helmet will be black leather.

I have come to the conclusion that this diorama will not be finished this year,as I estimate that there is at least anothers years work to do if I decide to stop at the main hangar and its modules.I have yet to start the engine shop module which will contain an OX5 and Mercedes engines that are yet to be built.If I decide to add a radio shack and out buildings ,who knows how long that will take?
Oh well,I try to keep my perspective by working on each piece as something worthy in itself of my best effort ,that way I dont become overwhelmed with what is left to do.I have parts and pieces of this diorama laying about all over my workshop just waiting to be added .When it finally comes to putting it all together it should go pretty fast.I hope! Cheers. John.