Hints and Tips

There are many miniature painters who use various different techniques, paints, bases etc to produce their work.  What works for one artist won’t for another.  These are just some of the things I’ve tried and am still experimenting with – they are only intended as a guide.   

Part 1 - Base  

The base is the surface that we paint on.  To gain the detail that is required for a true miniature a smooth, clean surface is needed. 

The most popular of these are: ·        

Ivory·         Ivorine·         Vellum·         Bristol Board 

Ivory - Of course, you can’t get ivory these days, can you?  It’s simply not ethical.  Well actually, you can.  Second hand ivory can be obtained from old piano keys, although you are restricted on the size of your base here.  Another source is Mammoth Ivory found frozen and perfectly preserved in the Siberian Permafrost and over 10,000 years old.  It is recommended that the ivory base be cut to the exact size you want before you start painting as the ivory can splinter and split in places you don’t want it to and your painting could be ruined. 

Ivorine – This is a synthetic version of ivory.  It has similar properties, being smooth and transparent.  Because of its impermeable surface, it is more difficult for watercolour painting as the more water applied, the more likely the paint is to roll off the surface.  For oils, acrylics, gouache and watercolour (in a neater form), ivorine works very well.  Care must be taken not to work the paint too much as the result will be, instead of adding paint, you find you are actually removing it and the base will eventually start to show through.   

Vellum – This is made from animal hide.  It is also transparent but, unlike the ivorine, it has absorbent qualities which make it easier to use for watercolour artists.  Because vellum is a natural material, care must be taken in inspecting the area you will be working on carefully to make sure there are no flaws or blemishes.   

Bristol Board – This is a very smooth, white paper suitable for all paint types but ideal especially for watercolours.  As it is very white it is perfect if the subject you are painting is light or has strong white areas in it.   

When painting miniatures, care must be taken to keep the surface of the base clean of grease and dust.  Handling should be minimal.  For ivory and ivorine, use  cotton wool and talcum powder and gently wipe over the surface, removing all traces of residual powder before beginning to paint.  Ox-gall solution is good for removing grease from vellum.   

To avoid handling further, you may want to draw out your composition first on a separate piece of paper and then lightly trace the image onto the painting surface using a light box.   

Tape the base to a board so you will be handling the board and not the painting surface. 

When you have finished painting for the day, cover the painting with an old, clean ice cream box to protect it from dust.   ©Copyright

Ellie de Lacy HS – www.elliedelacy.co.uk