By Keith Pogue

Hello! Blending is a technique that often can give the beginning painter pause. Blending need not be a source of trepidation. In fact, the "cheater's blending technique" is quick easy and looks dynamite. I will be using an older W.O.T.C. figure for this example, but will be focused on the leather strap footings. Leather is one area that needs depth, and blending really lends itself for this purpose.

The first step is to paint the area black. I will work the leather from dark to light.



The straps are painted a deep rich brown. I used Vallejo Model Color 43 Beasty Brown. Notice I left the straps outlined by the black.



I highly recommend a blending agent for the next step. There are many types available, including the Vallejo extender I will use in this example or the equally effective, but cheaper, Folk Art brand. The extender will keep the paint from drying quickly. It is essential for this technique that the paint remain wet on the model so that one can move it around.

Next, I select the base leather I want to use. I chose Vallejo Game Color 37 Filthy Brown for a newer leather look and some Citadel Orange wash.



The key for leather, and the cheater blending technique is to mix the color lighter than you really want it. In this case, I will add a lot more orange to the mix than if I were painting a straight highlight. When I mix the colors I get a very orange-brown.



Grab a brush and wet it in your water jar. Load the brush with paint and start with the highlight areas. Push the paint around until it mostly sits in the highlight spots, but glazes the middle areas. If you make a mistake, just wick the paint up by drying the brush slightly and picking the pigment up. This method is not true blending, but a modified glazing technique.



When you are finished with the area it may look a little too light. In this case, the leather still looks pretty orange to me, but I know from experience it will subdue some as it dries. Once the paint dries and I step back from the figure a bit that leather looks fantastic. The cheater's blending technique lets the leather really pop right off the figure.



Try the cheater's blending technique on some of your figures and let me know how you do. I think you will find it a great and simple tool to use in your painting.

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Keith Pogue (pogre) has been painting miniatures since 1981. Although a fine painter he is no where close to world class, however, he has taught two other painters who have gone on to achieve fame as figure painters. A teacher and a coach, Pogue is a recovering attorney who really enjoys his summers off. Pogue's goal for his series of painting articles is "to provide tips anyone can use at the painting table tomorrow."