I see what you're saying about this and you make some excellent points, but I feel like I'd be remiss if I didn't present the argument that with any technique practice is the key to success, sure you should probably refrain from wet blending constantly rather than learning other easier techniques that can be just as effective in the right scenario but is it totally without value to practice it as a technique and see if you can get it down early on?
Well, this settle on this topic for me, I was worried by the frequency I hear the wetblending technique mentioned in tutorials and had to watch several videos to decide to either start on this technique straight away or drop it for now... As a beginner painter everything sound equally important and mandatory to learn... Feels a little overwhelming. Thank you for adding to this topic.
It is pretty overwhelming… I hear it mentioned way too much. But then again maybe I have a different pov about who a beginner is! How would you describe yourself (as a beginner) as far as goals or whatnot??
I think I consider, and will consider, myself a beginner untill I master the basic shadows and highlights and at least one blending technique.. And I do believe building volumes is something to learn since the beginning, but having a good volume definition will be my mark for becoming intermediate level. From that one is intermediate until "all" techniques are mastered.
I think the biggest key to successful wet blending in using a acrylic retarder medium. This allows you to put more volume of liquid on the mini and gives you more time to work. That said, if you want to TRY wet blending the dead easiest way is to use contrast paints. They flow and mix really well and it's very easy to get some great results even for beginners. All that said, you're not wrong that it's definitely at least an intermediate technique (master washes and dry brushing first!) but like anything else it's ultimately a tool you will want in your painter's toolbelt.
Yes but also master brush control, layering and feathering first!! I never used retarder medium, I don’t think you really need it if you know what you are doing!!
Totally right! I try once and it was a very frustrating technique. I live in Santiago, Chile and we have a very dry climate. Imagine if i struggle with using a wet palette, imagine trying to do a wet blending with this climate!
Wet blending takes alot practice, flow improver helps keep the paint from drying fast too. PRO TIP: blending is best if you want to transition to very different contrast colors next to eachother, and make sure you use the darker paint first and stop at the area where you plan to blend last this lets you start the other color and mix the part to blend with the other darker color is still very wet. If all else fails you can add medium to thin down the darkest color to glaze the transition to the lighter color,
Solid video. And makes sense. Not everyone's Ben around as long to see it all but techniques to in and out of style. When I started metals were drybrushed and you either had edge highlights for color or it was all wet blending. Shades and washes weren't much used and basing for that matter was wayyyyy simpler.
Good video. I've often thought about wet-blending and whether I should bother to use it, but I find thin layers and selective glazing creates almost the same effect, although it can be a much more time-consuming method I find a heat gun on low setting solves that problem. But your main point is the most important - all these different methods go together to create the whole. Different techniques for different effects and outcomes, but all contributing to the finished piece.
Yes! And wet blending is always in the mix if you see it like a blend on a wet surface… the color is pretty much always like that 😂 thanks, I appreciate you found the video useful!!
Have to admit I totally agree, I had a really bad time learning to wet blend at first, mostly because I tried to do areas too big and my Kimera paints dried too fast and I wanted to scream LOL. I think the best place to start, and where I have had the most success, is on big areas of fabric like flowing robes or cloaks. Retarder medium and the wet palette mandatory AF too
Ahah maybe kimera paints don’t help as well! Ahah im sorry to hear about your experience tho! Like I said, I never use retarder but definitely a wet palette is mandatory!!
I like the video and I think it's very informative but just because something isn't beginner friendly doesn't mean one shouldn't strive to learn the technique. I don't think the point of any hobby is to stagnate and stick to only beginner friendly stuff. You're supposed to master the easy bits first and then try to move on to the next part. Good video but definitely don't give up on a technique because it's deemed ''too difficult''. I'm primarily a digital artist myself. If I'd given up on every single thing because it was too daunting or difficult I'd never get to where I am now.
Definitely not a technique to include in a 101, but still I find it pretty easy *once you have enough brush skill to move paint the way you want*. So not beginner friendly I agree. You need to have a thicker consistency of paint so it doesn't dry too fast, and for the finition issue you talk about, I always combine wet blending with feathering - so yes, brush licking - and glazing/stippling. So again you are right, wet blending is more of a sketching/basecoating technique. But it's very fast on large surface.
Yea also it makes sense only in certain situations, like for skin and organic surfaces. Beginners for me aren’t ppl who just got into the hobby but ppl who are starting to want to improve… and in many channels this technique is sold like 101
I see what you're saying about this and you make some excellent points, but I feel like I'd be remiss if I didn't present the argument that with any technique practice is the key to success, sure you should probably refrain from wet blending constantly rather than learning other easier techniques that can be just as effective in the right scenario but is it totally without value to practice it as a technique and see if you can get it down early on?
Well, this settle on this topic for me, I was worried by the frequency I hear the wetblending technique mentioned in tutorials and had to watch several videos to decide to either start on this technique straight away or drop it for now... As a beginner painter everything sound equally important and mandatory to learn... Feels a little overwhelming. Thank you for adding to this topic.
It is pretty overwhelming… I hear it mentioned way too much. But then again maybe I have a different pov about who a beginner is! How would you describe yourself (as a beginner) as far as goals or whatnot??
I think I consider, and will consider, myself a beginner untill I master the basic shadows and highlights and at least one blending technique.. And I do believe building volumes is something to learn since the beginning, but having a good volume definition will be my mark for becoming intermediate level. From that one is intermediate until "all" techniques are mastered.
I think the biggest key to successful wet blending in using a acrylic retarder medium. This allows you to put more volume of liquid on the mini and gives you more time to work. That said, if you want to TRY wet blending the dead easiest way is to use contrast paints. They flow and mix really well and it's very easy to get some great results even for beginners. All that said, you're not wrong that it's definitely at least an intermediate technique (master washes and dry brushing first!) but like anything else it's ultimately a tool you will want in your painter's toolbelt.
Yes but also master brush control, layering and feathering first!! I never used retarder medium, I don’t think you really need it if you know what you are doing!!
Totally right! I try once and it was a very frustrating technique. I live in Santiago, Chile and we have a very dry climate. Imagine if i struggle with using a wet palette, imagine trying to do a wet blending with this climate!
That must be a nightmare brother ahhaha
Yes, everybody knows that if you try a technique once and it doesn’t work then it has to be a bad technique.
oh god, yeah if you're living in chile that's, gotta be a rough one with the heat and humidity, rattle can priming alone has got to be rough.
Wet blending takes alot practice, flow improver helps keep the paint from drying fast too. PRO TIP: blending is best if you want to transition to very different contrast colors next to eachother, and make sure you use the darker paint first and stop at the area where you plan to blend last this lets you start the other color and mix the part to blend with the other darker color is still very wet. If all else fails you can add medium to thin down the darkest color to glaze the transition to the lighter color,
Solid video. And makes sense. Not everyone's Ben around as long to see it all but techniques to in and out of style. When I started metals were drybrushed and you either had edge highlights for color or it was all wet blending. Shades and washes weren't much used and basing for that matter was wayyyyy simpler.
Wet blending for Metallics??
@@ataraxiapainting noo. Just for normal colors. Metals were almost all drybrush or you washed them.
Good video. I've often thought about wet-blending and whether I should bother to use it, but I find thin layers and selective glazing creates almost the same effect, although it can be a much more time-consuming method I find a heat gun on low setting solves that problem. But your main point is the most important - all these different methods go together to create the whole. Different techniques for different effects and outcomes, but all contributing to the finished piece.
Yes! And wet blending is always in the mix if you see it like a blend on a wet surface… the color is pretty much always like that 😂 thanks, I appreciate you found the video useful!!
Best way to blending acrylics is to use a fine mist of water spray and go over with a dry mop brush
So because it's hard, we should not do it?
No, it’s not just hard.. it’s a very unhelpful technique, but that’s just my opinion
That scream was metal af!!!
Oh yea I can get a little loud 😂
Nice video, and some honest info that a lot of people should hear. Btw some of your last videos seem cropped, its like they lack a few last minutes
Have to admit I totally agree, I had a really bad time learning to wet blend at first, mostly because I tried to do areas too big and my Kimera paints dried too fast and I wanted to scream LOL. I think the best place to start, and where I have had the most success, is on big areas of fabric like flowing robes or cloaks. Retarder medium and the wet palette mandatory AF too
Ahah maybe kimera paints don’t help as well! Ahah im sorry to hear about your experience tho! Like I said, I never use retarder but definitely a wet palette is mandatory!!
I like the video and I think it's very informative but just because something isn't beginner friendly doesn't mean one shouldn't strive to learn the technique. I don't think the point of any hobby is to stagnate and stick to only beginner friendly stuff. You're supposed to master the easy bits first and then try to move on to the next part. Good video but definitely don't give up on a technique because it's deemed ''too difficult''. I'm primarily a digital artist myself. If I'd given up on every single thing because it was too daunting or difficult I'd never get to where I am now.
Definitely not a technique to include in a 101, but still I find it pretty easy *once you have enough brush skill to move paint the way you want*. So not beginner friendly I agree. You need to have a thicker consistency of paint so it doesn't dry too fast, and for the finition issue you talk about, I always combine wet blending with feathering - so yes, brush licking - and glazing/stippling. So again you are right, wet blending is more of a sketching/basecoating technique. But it's very fast on large surface.
Yea also it makes sense only in certain situations, like for skin and organic surfaces. Beginners for me aren’t ppl who just got into the hobby but ppl who are starting to want to improve… and in many channels this technique is sold like 101
true!
Amen to that!!!
Cool stuff thank you alice
Thank you remember to practice this technique in your day to day, sistah
Great stuff friend 👏 👍
Thanks mark!!
But…but…wet blending is the most fun part ..
Is it really?? Is it????
I think sam lentz would disagree!!! But i m on your side... Cause i struggle a lot with it
Wet blending causes the 7 stages of grief for me, best left well alone 😅
Ahah same here bro
Oil paints. #linseedbrotherhood
Yeaa
I subscribed because you didn’t say “SMASH THAT LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE WAAAAAGGHH!!!” or something loud like that.
You go just right 'in the paint ' with your hyperbole.
Ooh yea (?) ahah
@@ataraxiapainting Yeah, you are full of it and over the top to make your point. Humorous satire almost always works.