smooth painting; not easy.

[hokuspokus]

It frustrates me! I don't get smooth layers of paint during customizing! 


I always thin out the paint, like i was adviced. I use thin layers, but it ends so...uneven.
I always end up disappointed when i did the body colour, it's never smooth like everyone else seems to do..
It's just so hard. It makes me like customizing less, because i feel like the worst one


What do i do wrong here? I try so hard. I read something about sandpaper to smoothen the body. How do you do it? Please give me tips so i can make the bodycolor turn out beautiful! I want to hear the secrets for smooth layers of paint. How do you work during the bodypaint?
Anyone an idea if sandpaper is indeed an option?
What do you suggest i should do?

[Unicorn_pops]

I tried sandpaper but it turned out to be a horrible experiment. Although I may have done it wrong myself.
What color are you trying to paint with? For some reason I've noticed if I use white either as a solid or mix it with another color, it's always the hardest to smooth! I have to use extra water for some reason with white.
I'm sure that it isn't as bad as you think it is though! Good Luck! 

[rybett]

I was having similar problems.  I bought a higher pigmented and more expensive paint, and this stuff goes on so nicely.  2 thin coats and done. 

[Bladespark]

Yes, nicer paint can make a HUGE difference. Many craft paints are really not that great.  Also you might want to try applying it with a makeup sponge.    And if it's thin enough to be smooth some colors can take a lot of coats.  And I mean a lot. 

[gemini_pony]

Yes, nicer paint can make a HUGE difference. Many craft paints are really not that great.  Also you might want to try applying it with a makeup sponge.    And if it's thin enough to be smooth some colors can take a lot of coats.  And I mean a lot. 

Oh yeah I love using makeup sponges they really work wounders!!

[Maniah]

I use testors brand acrylic. Also known as model master. It's expensive and I can only find it In hobby shops for doing model airplanes and cars but I paint it on with a brush and get paint jobs with 0 brush strokes. I dont need to thin it either. It's perfect for body paint jobs.

[Bladespark]

I actually ended up with a set of Reaper Miniatures paints.  BEST stuff for ponies ever, but hugely expensive.  It comes in teeny tiny bottles that cost more than a big bottle of craft paint. You don't usually have to thin it though, it's already about right, and it's very highly pigmented, so it doesn't take too many coats. 

If I'm going to buy craft acrylics I prefer Folk Art, they seem to be a little nicer, if you're really on a budget.  A middle-of-the-road price option is Golden artist's acrylics.  They come in tubes and in jars, and will need some watering down but they're really nice and pigmented as well.  And they don't get clumpy the way some craft paints do, or separate out so you have to shake them forever.  Just don't use their clear sealers, for some reason those stay slightly sticky and never dry properly on ponies, I don't know why.   

Oh, and Golden makes this stuff called interference paint.  If you ever want to do sparkly iridescent effects, USE THIS.  Seriously.  Used right it will show the base color you put under it, but in strong light it flashes the interference color like opals.  It's so awesome.  And it can also be used for shimmery metallics that look great, just paint the interference color over black.

[Maniah]

That interference stuff sounds neat. Do you have any pictures of how it comes out?

[Bladespark]

That interference stuff sounds neat. Do you have any pictures of how it comes out?

It can be hard to get the effect to photograph. 

This one has interference gold done over brown.  There's also some interference green on her back and shoulders, but also a little normal metallic green.
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This one has the purple scales done with purple interference over dark gray.
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Here's a dragon where you can kinda see the way it changes depending on how you look at it.  The main body color was done in plain blue, and then brushed over with green and purple, and you can sort of see both colors in different places. 
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[Maniah]

OOh! OH OH OH!! Dragon! *makes grabby hands* I want it! So pretty! It reminds me of the style of M. Pena. I love that!

[Diamond]

You can try something we do in the model horse world and that is called socking.  Once fully dry you take a clean old sock and buff and rub all over till you get a smooth finish. 

[StrawberryMeadow]

OOoooooh interesting. Are there tutorials for this? *goes to hunt on google*

[hlbmlp]

You can try something we do in the model horse world and that is called socking.  Once fully dry you take a clean old sock and buff and rub all over till you get a smooth finish. 

i do similar but with an old washrag.  though i have to pay attention because i have rubbed through paint before :/

[rybett]

Making note to try this with my current wip.

[rogue_cherry]

You can try something we do in the model horse world and that is called socking.  Once fully dry you take a clean old sock and buff and rub all over till you get a smooth finish. 

i do similar but with an old washrag.  though i have to pay attention because i have rubbed through paint before :/

i was just wondering what i was going to use to smooth out the body of my pony last night knowing that if i used sandpaper i would mess her up pretty bad..
 
i cant wait to try these methods tonight!