Back into the swing of things

It's late/early and I'm feeling feelings.
Post one about painting shit.

Fallout 4 and realism:If you play FO4, you'll notice that the default faces, as normal looking as they are, all have several blemishes and markings checked in their customization screens.  The thing is, they're all at 10-25% opacity.  I'll tell you straight out, the vitiligo-looking splotches, the full-face freckles and moles, the Edward J Olmos acne scars, I zoomed right past them.  But I played around.  Gross bright red pimples aren't flattering, but maybe some light dots here and there?  Sure.  Here's a couple examples...
100%:


None:


45%
 

Now, maybe the differences are mostly imperceptible: you see a slight discoloration here or there...But that's fine.  It adds character.  Now, this is what you need to learn when painting.  Even if it's little, a slight dirty water wash over a small part can make all the difference in the world.
A couple fake scratches with a brushtip, some edge metallics with a pencil, it all adds up.
These stills don't show the magnitude of what I'm saying, but think of this: None of my Vault Dweller's scars are above 65% opacity, none of his markings, the gaunt eyes or cheeks, nothing is above around that much.  Yet, he looks weathered and beaten.  Subtle changes make for a large impact.
So this is my first painting lesson to all y'all who might be reading: small touches have a big impact, and minuscule choices can change the tone of a piece.
Next: realism vs. simulating reality, and using your medium to its fullest.