Creating a Paint Scheme

Painting for Harmony

Now that the base design is complete, I just need to make sure the colors work with my scheme. I originally ran 3 color tests and placed them side by side. I gave Mike (McVey) the final say on which one looked best. He (and all of the BTs) chose option # 3. This is the same miniature placed on 3 different bases. You can see the difference the base color makes. Over time I’ve toned it a little bit darker, but not too much.

So now it’s just down to painting the base. (I’m assuming the base is already primed.) My base paint scheme uses the following colors / mediums:

• VMC 104 Stone Grey
• GW Graveyard Earth
• GW Bleached Bone
• GW Shadow Grey
• VMC 205 Black Glaze
• VMC 181 Smoke
• GW Brown Ink
• Glaze Medium (GM)
• water (H2O)

Step 1: base coat with VMC Stone Grey. Coverage should be solid.

Step 2: wash the base with the following mix.

Step 2 Color Mix: 1:1:1 Shadow Grey : Black Glaze : GM

Alternatively you can use thinned down P3 Greatcoat Grey or any other darkish bluish grey.

Step 3: wash again with the following mix.

Step 3 Color Mix: 1:1:1:1:1 Shadow Grey : Black Glaze : Smoke : Brown Ink : GM

Alternatively you can use thinned down P3 Battlefield Brown or another deep brown.

Step 4: drybrush with the following mix.

Step 4 Color Mix: 3:1 Graveyard Earth : Bleached Bone

P3 Hammerfall Khaki is very close to this color.

Step 5: drybrush again, lightly on the edges and tops, with this mix.

Step 5 Color Mix: 1:1 Graveyard Earth : Bleached Bone

Step 6: paint the base ring black. Finished!

And here is a shot of the completed Guardian. More photos of my Umber Guard pieces can be found in my shiny new gallery. Until next time!

–YW7–