Contrary to the title of this post it is not about the details of painting the Legion of Everblight. Rather it is about the importance of keeping painting notes. Below are my notes for painting the Legion –
Nyss Basecoat (Undercoat Black)
a) Codex Grey / Chaos Black 5:1
b) Codex Grey / Kommando Khaki 1:1
c) Kommando Khaki
d) Blue Ink / Black Ink / Glaze Medium / Water 5:1:1:2
Nyss (Blue Armour)
Blue Ink / Glaze Medium / Water 1:1:1
Highlight – Space Wolves Grey / Blue Ink 5:1
Nyss (Flesh)
Space Wolves Grey / Glaze Medium 1:1
Blue Ink / Glaze medium 1:5
Nyss Striders (Cloak)
Greatcoat Grey / Ultramarine Blue / Glaze Medium / Water 2:1:1:1
Beast (Horns and Scales)
Base – Graveyard Earth/ Water 1:1
Wash – Black Ink / Glaze Medium / Water 1:1:1
Beast (Flesh)
Purple Wash (Homagaunt Purple / Glaze Medium 1:10)
Space Wolves Grey DB
Beast (Flyer Flesh)
Space Wolves Grey / Water / Skull White 2:3:1
Beast (Cloth)
Ultramarines / Shadow Grey / Black Ink 1:1:1
Wash – Black Ink / Glaze Medium / Water 1:1:1
Beast (Gums)
Red Gore base
Dark Red Ink
Incubi
Undercoat White
Black out armour, trousers etc.
– Nyss Part
-
a) and b) as above
Watered down Asurmen Blue on Nyss Flesh
Gryphonne Sepia on white based hair
Asurmen Blue on Armour
Devlan Mud on Trousers
Watered down Graveyard earth on Straps
Boltgun Metal on Buckles etc.
Fortress Grey on Eyes
– Beast Part
-
Purple Wash as on the beasts
Space Wolves DB
Baal Red wash on bloody areas
Watered down Graveyard on horns
Watered down black ink on horns
You’ll notice that I don’t list every type of miniature I’ve painted. Instead I try to capture the main colours and blends used and the areas of a miniature they were applied to. This cheat sheet is important when you progressively add to a faction as is usually the case in Hordes and Warmachine. I don’t strive for every unit to look exactly the same, but I do attempt to have consistency between miniatures in an army. I incrementally add to the list as I paint something that has a different style.
I use Evernote to capture my painting notes as I usually paint in front of my computer, but a pencil and piece of paper (provided you don’t lose the paper!) will do the same job. Anyway – take notes, your army will thank you!
Owen
I’m new to using inks. How do you decide when to use them?
–Norbert
Hi Norbert,
I’ve been using inks for years, but this project was a little different as inks and glazes were used as the main colours. Essentially I’d drybrush a black miniature with shades of gray up to almost white. I’d then glaze the different areas in order to achieve the desired colour.
I usually use inks (which I always water down slightly) to bring a bit more depth to a colour that is already there and to smooth out highlights. I’m not patient enough to wet blend in most situations, so my highlights tend to be in colour steps. Inking helps to blend the steps somewhat. Like most paints, two/three thinly watered ink coats are better than one heavy one. If an ink is applied too heavy it can leave a shiny glossy finish.
Anyway – I hope that helps.
Owen
I should also have mentioned that I often use inks to dilute a base coat without losing too much of its opacity, e.g. ‘water down’ Chaos Black with Black Ink in stead of water.
Owen
Thanks very much for that explanation. I’m particularly intrigued about watering down basecoat colors with an ink instead of water. I’ll try it out!
–Norbert
No problem. Worth looking into is the opposite effect of adding glaze medium to a paint, effectively turning it into a (very slow drying, as glaze medium is a retardant) ink.
Owen
Wonderful idea about keeping a notebook/journal of your paintings. I’ve never thought about that but it certainly would help in keeping consistency.
I usually collect armies slowly, in many cases over several years, and my memory isn’t good enough to remember the colour blends I used! Writing them down just made sense (after the umpteenth time of screwing up colours matches)!
Owen
Looks good!
Only bad thing about the premade inks is that they typically taste bad…
Yeah, licking brushes is good.
I only lick my brushes after I’ve washed them to give them a good tip. I’ve not been tempted to taste test my paints… yet. Any you’d recommend as an aperitif?!
Owen