Dragon, my first figure

Here is a dragon I picked up at the local craft store, he's probably between 4-5 inches tall and made out of some kind of rubber. There were some faint seams on the back of the legs, I tried sanding them off and it didn't take too sanding very well. This was only $6 and I bought it just so I could practice painting techniques. I did two figures probably between 35-40 years ago which didn't turn out all that great. I've always wanted to do figures and always considered them a black art, there are some great videos online that show painting techniques and I did see where I was going wrong in some areas. But I could sure use your guys help!



It was sprayed with Tamiya primer and I now have two coats of burnt umber on it. I am using craft acrylics which are readily available over here and very inexpensive compared to modeling acrylics and give really good results if prepped correctly. Not always the toughest of paints, but a shot of flat clear gives it pretty good protection. I stick with acrylics because enamels and oils tend to really bother me, although I am planning on giving the odorless thinner for oils a try some time. I am planning on using a lighter brown to almost a bone color (somewhere around there) on the scales on his chest and a bone color on the spines.



I was wondering what steps were best to go with next? Is it best to start with a black wash to pull out the detail and then use successfully lighter brown dry brushings? Or would it be best to do the dry brushing first and then put a glaze over it to bring up the detail and tone down the dry brushing? Or a combination?

Thanks!

You first need to decide on the colours you intend to use and then start painting it. I would apply a wash after the basic colours have been laid down. A black wash might be too drastic, maybe a very dark brown would be more appropriate. I would get that far a post a pic, then we can go from there.

Thanks guys, next time I work on him (calling him Puff) I will give him a wash and then get some pictures and post them. The photo was taken outside so he looks a little washed out, he's actually darker in person. I will use the same color that I painted him and keep adding little bits of black until I get a nice dark brown compared to him and then use a little bit of that for making a wash.

Planning and probably using at least three or four shades of brown starting lighter than he is now going to very light, each successive dry brushing layer lighter than the last, and then possibly a final one of bone. Then, if it looks a bit harsh, maybe a very light glaze over it to blend it together? More on that when I get that far.