I'm pretty poor at faces and flesh in general and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I water down the paint and apply thin layers but it always seems to pool in the eyes and ruin the detail and it's really annoying me because I'm trying to paint Thorin's company at the moment and although there's a lot of beard, there's also a lot of face. Thanks in advance for advise.

It sounds like you might be using too much water to dilute your paints... you want the paint to be more paint than water viscosity-wise. So, kind of like the viscosity of cream is good for layering I find

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'Though my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior'
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I use loads of water in my paint - little tip is to dab the end of your brush to get rid of the excess before putting the brush on the model.

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I just f-ed up my numenor faces, they look horrible. Tip - dont bother or pay someone.

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You would of had me crawling on all fours like a BEAST!

l:-/ mm.. that certainly doesn't seem like a good way to go about hobbying... just give it another try.. you'll get there eventually

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'Though my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior'
-John Newton

Happens to us all mate - have another crack at them, you'll be fine

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It sounds like you have too much paint on your brush. Always wipe off the excess before painting. I have enough paint on my brush so that it nearly dries as I complete the stroke.

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Want detail? Not confident with your brush? Find fiddly bits too fiddly?

Have I got the solution for you!

Step 1: Simply apply a mid-to-high tone flesh colour on all the skin, multiple thin layers for a nice even coat.
Step 2: Apply a wash of REALLY watered down Dark Flesh (not too heavy mind - if a drop forms at the end of the brush, ye've got too much, matey)
Step 3: Mix Scorched Brown (Rhinox Hide) with black in a roughly 2:1 ratio then water it down to be even just as thin as the dark flesh. Apply only to the deepest recesses i.e. the eye area, hairline, jaw/neckline and mouth

You could leave it there or try highlight a further step if you wish. The beauty of this is that the light basecoat gives you light colours on the raised areas in the first place. The washes do all the work. Dark Flesh adds warmth, dark brown wash provides detail.

Hope it helps!

Nothing is wrong.
Just do what you did on Thranduil. He looks amazing!

I hardly dilute my paints. I paint flesh with Dwarf Flesh (or whatever it's called now). But, I use water just to get the brush tip the shape I need it to be. I then load the brush with paint and twirl it on the palate until I have a very small amount of paint left in the brush. Then with whatever paint is left, and the brush in the shape I need it I dab it on. I can still see the black peeping through, so I let it dry down. Then repeat one more time, usually completes the coat. It's tedious.

I have yet to make a go at the eyes. My buddy is encouraging me to, but not just yet.

Develop a style you can repeat is the key. That is where I am at right now.
Right now once I get 3 colors and a little drybrushing on there, I consider it tabletop quality.

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