How I Paint: Greenskins (Gremlins and Piglets)

There seems to be a running trend recently, with most of my blog posts originating from the Facebook group 'A Wyrd Place' (which if you're a Malifaux fan, you REALLY should be in!). Someone mentioned that they'd need to learn how to paint gremlins and pigs. 

Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to have an actual task to do. I really enjoy responding to suggestions. However, I decided not only to do a painting guide, but to prove how fast it could be by Live-Tweeting it all AND timing it. More on that later. Anyways, below you'll find a brief guide for painting Malifaux Gremlins and Piglets. This method does also work for goblins and orcs of all varieties too.

How I Paint(ed): Herald of Obliteration

A couple of weeks ago I received a 'Herald of Obliteration' box (Tara's crew, Nightmare Edition) from the USA courtesy of one of my commission clients. Whilst I'd built, based and painted (well, Tara and Karina) his translucent 'Herald' crew, this crew was part-payment for the job, and thus mine to do with as I pleased.

Herald of Obliteration

Nightmare Edition

After the break, I'll discuss how I painted this crew in a little under 1hr 40mins from brush up to brush down (yes, I've actually started timing them).

How I Paint: Ice

I'll be honest, one of my favourite types of blog to write are the How To Paint series. It was also the thing I enjoyed most about working for Games Workshop - teaching people how to paint. If I could find a way to do that as part of StormFront Studios (My Commission Painting business) I would be one happy bunny.

Ice Golem, painted using this guide.

Today, I wanted to show you how I paint ice. You'll need the paints above, and a good drybrush. I use the Citadel Large Drybrush for every step shown below. There are also other ways to paint ice, this is just the super-quick way I do it.

How I Paint: Brilliance

This week I was asked how I painted my Jakob Lynch crews, specifically the 'Brilliance' (that is the glowy blue bits). Sadly, I'd just finished painting a commission crew which would have been perfect for a step-by-step article. 

Dark Debts

Alas, until such time as I get another Jakob Lynch commission (or finally decide that I do want a Jakob Lynch crew for myself...) this article will have to do!

How I Paint: Flames

I'm often asked about my painting, and I've been compiling an FAQ for a while; it might even make the light of day eventually. Beyond the usual "How do you paint so fast?", one of the most common questions is as to how I paint fire and flames on my models, and I must admit that I see an awful lot of models where the flames just aren't believable and it really lets the model down on what may otherwise be a very pleasant painted miniature. That's not to say I always get it perfect...

Now, of course, this is how I paint flame, and that in no way makes it the only way to paint flame. In fact, you may find this method may work with your miniatures and painting style, but it may not. Just as I once saw a tank wonderfully airbrushed and weathered with a commander poking out the hatch painted by hand in bold, bright colours, a mix of techniques and styles can make a jarring effect, and not in a good way. In that example, the tank looked gritty and real, the commander by contrast looked overly clean and cartoony. Both facets were exceptionally well painted, but together they just did not mesh. My style tends to be quite... heroic, in the sense of comic books and animated films. Grit and realism is not my thing, so if that's what you're looking for, sorry. Back to Google, and good luck!

Still here? Cool. Let's show you how I do it.

How I Paint: Daemons of Nurgle

A Great Unclean One
And a really cool daemon model!

This is me with my Great Unclean One (Greater Daemon of Nurgle). I first saw this model when I was about 8 years old. It was in White Dwarf; this hugely awesome, disgusting lump of metal miniature, and I wanted it. Of course, being a kid, I was never going to get a £30 model - every time I reached £10 savings, I'd blow it on whatever that would buy me, but that never stopped me wanting a Great Unclean One.

The 40 Minute BSB

I recently popped this up on Twitter:

SKULLS FOR HIS SKULL THRONE!!! The last #miniaturemonday from me today, a Khorne BSB painted in approx. 40 mins! twitter.com/BKellyCS/statu…
— Benjamin Kelly (@BKellyCS) March 11, 2013

...which led to some pretty nice comments. Thank you all for the lovely words - this has to be my favourite!

@bkellycs 40 mins.You swine!:)
— Da Skwire (@DaSkwire) March 11, 2013

As promised, after the jump, is how I did him...

How I Paint: Dark Eldar

"We learnt long ago that the inscrutable universe turns upon an axis of suffering, because pain is inevitable."

- Urien Rakarth

Hekatrix Bloodbride of the Cult of the Dancing Blade

Apologies for the delays in updating. Work has been really tough this week, Managers Meeting on Monday and Tuesday, stock check til gone midnight on Thursday... and so my evenings have been mainly me sleeping. I've not even been on twitter, and missed my first #miniaturemonday in months. I'm going to be writing up a whole load of stuff properly soon, and the FAQ is just undergoing final edit.

How I Paint: Chaos Dwarves

We will remake the world into our doman; a land of cider, ash and the blackened bones of our enemies, until only we remain and those broken bodies that cower at our feet.

- Lord Asteroth

Chaos Dwarf Deathmask

How I Paint: Beastmen

From the darkling woods they come, On cloven hoof and twisted claw.
The beastmen they are called, these ones; Less than human, yet also something more.

- The Strange Tale of Doctor Malfeasant

Nazrak Bladestorm - Beastlord

From the darkest depths of the forests they come. Beast and man made one under Chaos. Since February '11, the Beastmen have been my army of choice, tearing up the battlefields of the Old World and churning the hacked remains of their foes beneath their cloven feet.

How I Paint: Space Wolves

Mjordin Stormbreaker - Wolf Lord

How I Paint: Mantis Warriors

"The winds of the desert care not for whose bones they scour clean." - Endymion Proverb

Mantis Warrior Captain

I'm not actually sure what it was that drew me to the Mantis Warriors. Usually, my little projects have a very stark defining moment of inspiration that draws me to them, but for these guys, it was much more of several little things...

How I Paint: Iron Warriors

Iron Warrior Chaos Space Marines

For the second "How I Paint" instalment  I thought I'd continue the Chaos theme by talking about the Iron Warriors that I've added to my Word Bearer force. I know, Iron Warriors and Word Bearers, it's a little unusual, but I have my reasons.

How I Paint: Word Bearers

Well, here it is, the first of my little "How I Paint" tutorials; though I use the word 'tutorial' loosely, it's much more of a "This is how I did it", rather than a sit-you-down-and-show-you-how-it's-done  kind of thing.

Word Bearer Chaos Space Marine Warpsmith

I'm also running under the assumption that you either have a copy of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures" (preferable, and available here or at your local Games Workshop Hobby Centre), or are at least quite familiar with the terms used within this awesome tome of painting. More after the break!