I decided to paint the dragon in the same colors as the figure on the box. I've used the same colors on some other figures, and I liked the combination. Here are the colors I used:
Skin:
- Basecoat:
- Wedgewood Blue by Americana
- Wash:
- Manganese Blue by Ceramcoat
- First drybrush:
- Wedgewood Blue
- Second drybrush:
- Victorian Blue by Americana
- Third drybrush:
- Laguna Blue by Ceramcoat
- Final drybrush:
- Sea Breeze by Americana
I use a lot of craft paints in my painting. You just can't beat the variety of colors. The price is also nice, as well as the fact that I don't have to make a special run to the hobby shop to get paint.
For the drybrush coats, I used a successively lighter touch and covered a smaller area, with the final coat just hitting the most prominent areas. When I finished the drybrushing, I went back with a very fine brush and picked out the individual scales with Sea Breeze (thinned with a bit of water) to add a bit more highlight.
Next, I added the stripes.
- Basecoat:
- Saddle Brown by Vallejo Model Color
- Wash:
- Walnut by Ceramcoat
- Highlight:
- Honey Brown by Americana
When I mix up my washes, I use "magic wash" as a base. For those who are unfamiliar with "magic wash," it's just water mixed with Future floor wax. I use four-parts water to one-part Future. When I need a wash, I just add a few drops of the "magic wash" mix to whatever color paint I want to use for the wash. I add enough "magic wash" to the paint until I achieve a slightly milk-like consistency. This keeps the wash from running all over the place, and it stays put in the details.
Next, I did the belly and the back spines.
- Basecoat:
- Raw Linen by Ceramcoat
- Wash:
- Walnut by Ceramcoat
- Highlight:
- Raw Linen
- Basecoat:
- Mudstone by Ceramcoat
- Highlight:
- Raw Linen by Ceramcoat
Belly:
Back Spines:
For the horns, I started with a black base, then painted on a thinned-down layer of Vallejo Dark Flesh, making sure I left some of the black showing. I then brushed on a thinned-down layer of Americana Milk Chocolate - again, leaving some of the previous layer showing.
For the tongue, I went with a purple basecoat highlighted with increasing amounts of a light fleshtone color mixed into the base purple. I then picked out the teeth with Ceramcoat's Antique White.