Figure Painting & Finishing Techniques

1. Cloth should have the proper sheen, e.g., a matte finish for wool.
2. Leather should have a slight sheen except for dress shoes and polished belts.
3. Finish should have an even texture. Brush marks should not be present.
4. Dry-brushing should not be apparent as such.
5. Blending of highlighted and shaded areas with the basic color should be smooth, gradual, and subtle. No demarcation lines should show.
6. Shadows should be present when two surfaces meet (e.g., belts over tunics) and on undersurfaces (e.g., between legs and under arms).
7. White should not be used in the eyes in order to avoid a pop-eyed look.
8. Eyes should be symmetrical; figure should not be wall-eyed or cross-eyed.
9. Figures shown on ground should have have feet/footwear slightly indented in the earth to depict weight.
10. Weathering of feet or shoes, if depicted, should be appropriate to the ground cover.
11. Equipment being worn by, or slung on, the figure should be given an appearance of weight, e.g., by indenting straps slightly into the shoulder.
12. Headgear shadows should show on the figure's face.
13. Equipment such as swords should have a shadow shown on the figure.
14. Flesh tones should reflect the climate in which the figure is depicted.

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