Can I use Black Enamel Paint as a Wash?

theflyingdutchman

Hi Everyone,

If I thin Black enamel paint enough and use it as a wash, will it have the same effect as the classic oil washes that modellers usually use?

They are both essentially the same thing right?

 

Not quite the same. Oils are far more forgiving and will give a much longer time for clean up after to remove excess wash. But yes, you can use enamels for washes. They are certainly superior to acrylics in that respect. Just be sure to use your enamel wash over an acrylic underlayer.

Also, you only want to use a black wash, no matter from what medium, in certain areas. It is often too stark for use in many cases.

Thinners for enamel may be too hot, and may damage your paint job - even if you only leave the wash on for a couple of minutes.

There are some very gentle solvents available for use with artist's oils. That's the safest way.

It depends on the paint you are using the wash over.  It is possible to put a lacquer barrier down, and the wash is then pretty safe.  It works better for pinwashes (panel line stuff), but it can be used for a shading wash.  However, if you are not sure of the compatibility with the paint you are using it over, practice/test over a painted piece of scrap.

Don Stauffer

It depends on the paint you are using the wash over.  It is possible to put a lacquer barrier down, and the wash is then pretty safe.  It works better for pinwashes (panel line stuff), but it can be used for a shading wash.  However, if you are not sure of the compatibility with the paint you are using it over, practice/test over a painted piece of scrap.

 

 

theflyingdutchman

I can still wipe the enamel wash off after a couple minutes right?

 

Yes. I highly recommend that you try Mona Lisa thinner. It is a very gentle thinner, and intended for oil paints, not enamels. But it will clean up enamel paint washes for a short time after application. Hobby Lobby carries this product, if you have one of those stores nearby.

stikpusher

....I highly recommend that you try Mona Lisa thinner. It is a very gentle thinner, and intended for oil paints, not enamels. But it will clean up enamel paint washes for a short time after application.

I didn't know that. Thank you.

Greg

 

 

stikpusher

....I highly recommend that you try Mona Lisa thinner. It is a very gentle thinner, and intended for oil paints, not enamels. But it will clean up enamel paint washes for a short time after application.

 

 

I didn't know that. Thank you.

 

Our old member here Duke Maddog pointed me at the stuff many years ago. You can’t use it to thin enamels, but it can be used for clean up of washes for a short time period or some other uses, such as creating wood grain with enamels over an acrylic base. But put enamels into the stuff and it turns them to a glob. 

stikpusher

But put enamels into the stuff and it turns them to a glob.

And thanks for the warning becuase I probably would have tried that otherwise.

Greg

 

 

stikpusher

But put enamels into the stuff and it turns them to a glob.

 

 

And thanks for the warning becuase I probably would have tried that otherwise.

 

I didn’t get that warning... learned by experience....  so then I went out and bought some oils to use the stuff to make washes...

I have tried Mona Lisa with oils and since have been trying enamel washes (until now, with enamel thinner). After perusing this thread, I'm thinking my oil washes have been way way too thin**. I look forward to trying oils again with a bit more oil paint in the mix.

**I read somewhere that when mixing an oil paint wash, think 'dirty thinner'. I think I might have taken that to a  bit of an exteme. Kind of excited to try it again.

Greg

I have tried Mona Lisa with oils and since have been trying enamel washes (until now, with enamel thinner). After perusing this thread, I'm thinking my oil washes have been way way too thin**. I look forward to trying oils again with a bit more oil paint in the mix.

**I read somewhere that when mixing an oil paint wash, think 'dirty thinner'. I think I might have taken that to a  bit of an exteme. Kind of excited to try it again.

 

I agree with the thin wash theory.  The thinner the wash, the more you can build it up in layers, stopping when it gets to exactly the opacity you want. If the wash is too thick, you are left with the effect of the first layer.

That's a good point, Don. I appreciate your input.

Patience in applying finishes is not one of my strengths, I need to work on that.