This short tutorial will tell you how to get an oxidized paint effect just like the one you see on the custom Mini Munnys pictured below. The tutorial is very simple requiring some paint brushes, blue and green paints and some water.

Generally, you can use this effect on any medium that will hold acrylic paint, so if you want to make something look good as old, then this is the ticket.

If you like the overall design, you can also reference the tutorial on "How to Sculpt 3D Stitches".

These toys will also be available at DesignerCon on November 21st.

Step 1: Background Metal Layer

Paint the first layer of your piece. It's often nice to use a metallic coat, so you can follow these steps to get a brushed metal look.

Remove your toy from its packaging. If possible, diassemble all of the parts to make fore easier painting of hard to reach areas.
Paint all of the pieces with a thin layer of black. It’s not important that you cover it with a thick layer. What’s more important is that you begin establishing the direction of the brush strokes. It’s typically easiest to just paint vertical strokes, but it may differ from one toy to another.
Now we’ll be throwing on the brushed metals. Take some black paint and mix it with your metallic paint of choice. You want about a 3:1 metallic to black ratio. Don’t mix the paint thoroughly. Just give it some quick stirs, but leave some swirls. Also leave some black that’s unmixed RIGHT next to your metallic mix. Cover the toy with the metallic mix while remembering to keep the same brush stroke direction always.
Dip the edge of your flat brush in A LITTLE black and the other half in the metallic mix. Work this combination into sections of the toy so you get a bit of a black to metallic gradient.
Now for the final touch. Take one of your smallest paint brushes and use your metallic paint unmixed on every sharp edge on the toy. Any seam or ridge should be highlighted to give it the true rustic look.
That’s it!! Now do whatever you want! We might recommend using a clear coat to finish him off or just protect the base coat before you do anything else.

Step 2: Mix Paints

Get a blue and green paint and mix them thoroughly about 50-50. You don't need much paint as most of this will be diluted.

You don't have to use really heavy body paints because these will be so heavily watered down. Liquitex acrylics always work great.

Step 3: Add Water

Take you brush and dip it in water heavily. Stress on the HEAVILY part. You want your paint to be diluted as much as possible.

Filbert style round brushes work best, but any brush with a small pointy tip will work too.

Step 4: Paint It ON!

With the watered down paint, begin working it on all the sharper corners of the piece. Allow the water/paint to run down the figure to create a natural drip. You can also paint some sections of the piece with a light glaze.

Continue doing this until your piece looks oxidized to your satisfaction. You can go as green as you want!!

TIP: Sometimes adding a diluted brown after your green will give you a bit of a rustier effect to it and make your palette a bit richer.