Round Three Report from Rob Jedi - Part 4

Rob Jedi continues:

OK - next on the list of stuff to do were the flesh parts. I started these with GW Vermin Fur, then pretty much covered that with GW Tanned Flesh, then highlighted that with Dwarf Flesh. I did a bit too much highlighting at this stage, so gave the flesh a good wash of Tanned Flesh. This blended the shades nicely. Now while it was still wet from the wash, I went in with Dwarf Flesh again and wet-blended in the highlights. I then added extreme highlights with Elf Flesh. I took particular note on the lips to give them some texture. Also on the knuckles of his hands, I added some white ink to the Elf Flesh to give that "white knuckled" look. After all this highlighting, I used the sepia ink to line between the fingers and between the hands, and also to separate the flesh from other parts of the mini.

I also painted in his teeth individually with white, and did his eyes - first with black, then the whites, then the pupils with black, then I thought what the hell and made 'em blue, then dotted them with a white highlight. I think I got carried away there - no one will see it with the shadow from the helmet and wolf pelt.

After this I did the armour pieces. I did these first with GW Chainmail. This is a bit of a messy paint, so after I had finished, I gave it a good wash of Armour Wash until all the detail had come back. I then went in and painted over each scale in the apron and on all the edges of the helmet with Palmer Chrome Silver (the absolute best silver paint I have come across over the years, covers with one coat and has a very fine pigment).

After all that armour, I did the beard. I decided that being a Viking type, he should probably be blonde. I started the hair areas with coffee followed by Vallejo Golden Yellow, which I highlighted further by painting the strands of his hair with white ink to give that blonde shine. I highly recommend you go that extra step with blonde hair - to give it that shine - and also the brown underpainting for the shadows. I too often see people just paint hair yellow for blondes.

I also did his ribbons at this stage. I initially did them brown, but decided a bit of colour would be better, so did them with enchanted blue highlighted up with white ink.

Next thing I did was the inside of the pelt. I used a mix of burnt siena, Vermin Fur, burnt umber, and Tanned Flesh - these were blended and washed. I kept trying different colours till it looked right. I followed this up by doing his belt and pouch in appropriate leathery browns.

I decided at this point that he needed a bit more colour, so did the gem on the centre of his belt with teal, highlighted the usual gem way with white ink mixed into the green and then used to dot the top.

I did the edges of the belt and chain going to the pouch in front with GW Bronze highlighted with Shining Gold.

I used the same colours on his wristlet and bracer. I also did the studs on his bracer as gems (same colour as the one on his belt).