writes:My inspiration for the color scheme is something I encountered when I was a youngster. While out in the woods one day, I cracked open an old rotting log, which revealed a few huge, whitish-yellow grubs with really nasty translucent skin. I wanted the grave worm mini to have this pale sickening skin as well, so I primed him white to facilitate that effect. I primed the tombstone white as well. I sprayed the figure and base with brown primer (actually a red-oxide color). Incidentally, I use Krylon spray primers… either white, gray, or brown, depending on the final overall color of the figures. (I wear a respirator when I spray, as well.)
After priming, I started with a little lining on the worm, using a dark brown (Americana Soft Black) to emphasize certain things such as the skeleton imbedded in its back. I used a flesh tone (Vallejo Dwarf Skin) for the base of the beast's mouth. I used the same flesh tone for the digger's skin, followed by a custom wash of Citadel Orange Ink, Brown Ink, and a 50/50 mix of water and Future Floor Wax. I almost always use that mix on Caucasian skin. I also started painting in the various pock marks on the worm's body, using Delta Ceramcoat Royal Plum. I plan to use a dull purple for parts of the worm and on the digger's clothes, which will provided a nice complementary color contrast with the pale yellow of the grave worm.
You may have noticed by now that I mix paint manufacturers quite freely. The cheap craft stuff in many cases acts just as good as the expensive brands, and sometimes it's better. There's only so many non-toxic pigments out there, and most brands of paint differ only in proportion of pigment to binder. Since I paint quite transparent using many coats, the pricey yet more pigmented brands don't always suit my style - my mini-painting technique is pretty similar to what I use in fine art with oil and egg tempera.
My next step was to work up the base tones for both figures. I used a thin layer of yellow ochre (Delta Ceramcoat Maple Sugar Tan) for the worm body. This is about where I decided to go ahead and attach the worm to the base, so I had something to hold on to while painting.
I used a pale yellow (the above plus white) for the digger's belt. I painted his tunic with Delta Ceramcoat Terra Cotta. I went ahead with the digger's face as well. I basically start by reapplying Vallejo Dwarf Flesh, followed by three layers of highlights, which I mix by gradually adding Vallejo Basic Skintone to the Dwarf Flesh. I then painted in the eyes and teeth. My eye technique is usually done by painting in the eye with Americana Soft Black. I then dot in the eye whites… I don't paint a thin white line with a black pupil in the center. I'm not sure when I switched to that method, but I almost always paint the eye whites on each side rather than the method most people seem to use.
I gave the worm a very thin wash of brown to bring out all the unwholesome pock marks and blemishes which covered its hideous body. I gave the mouth a thin wash of purple ink to enhance the contrast with the yellow body.
