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I have already sprayed the HOK Midnight Pearl base and clear coated the tank. So, after allowing the clear to dry overnight, it gets a soapy wetsand with 800 grit paper. 3M 3 inch tape is applied and I'm ready to start with the design layout. With my trusty reference skull in hand, I sketch out a mean lookin' little devil. I wanted it on either side of the tank, however, and rather than draw it out again, I use tracing paper and a soft lead pencil (4B) to transfer it to the other side of the tank as well. Then both skulls are cut out with an exacto knife. |
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By peeling the horns and teeth first, I can use a freehand shield to obtain the crisp lines needed between the teeth and just freehand some definition and details into the horns. I'm using HOK white basecoat reduced about 80% through my Micron-C here and would follow this approach even if the skulls where going to ultimately be a bone color. It just happens that I'll be using a kandy over them on this design though, and can progress through these stages using only white. |
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Next I peel the main areas of the skulls leaving only the eye sockets and nose still covered. The rough form can be sprayed in quite quickly at this point, but I do start adding in details, pits and flaws before full coverage has been achieved. Because the paint is so reduced you have to build it up slowly anyways, so I start trying to crispen up the brow line and other main features here too. |
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The tape can come off now and you should be able to see more clearly what areas need more attention. I start strengthening shadows and shading with an over-reduced black being careful not to go too far. Final details and some hard-lined cracks are added with a liner brush at this point too - again being careful not to overdo it. And one of the advantages of spraying your own base coat is the ability you have at this stage to 'sink' the design into the tank a little by bringing the surrounding color back into the design. |
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Next up for this design was some realistic style flames and a blue kandy, but that has been covered here already. Thanks for looking and I hope this provides some alternatives the next time you approach a skull painting! |