This week I painted Khael Stonekindle, Dwarf Wizard, from the Dwarves Set. In thinking about how I wanted to paint him, I decided I wanted to go with an all gray theme, (I'll forgo the 50 shades jokes :) ), like he was a natural part of the rocky Dwarf world he inhabited; almost becoming one with the stones. One of things I learned in doing this is that it seems half my bottles are labeled as "grey", and half as "gray"...I'm not sure which is correct or whether they're interchangeable?
So, I prepped this figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying. I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.
I began by painting the figure all black, base and all; and then giving it a heavy drybrushing with Folk Art "Medium Gray". I then drybrushed over this more lightly with Duncan "Slate Grey". I made an attempt to mostly, but not completely, avoid his boot with these colors, so it only got the hint of some drybrushing on it.
Next, I painted his staff with Folk Art "Barn Wood". I then painted his sleeve with Folk Art "Poppy Seed", and his pants leg with GW "Shadow Grey". I mixed some Americana "Shading Flesh" with some of the "Medium Grey" (about 50/50) and painted his face and hands with the blended color.
I then carefully drybrushed his beard and hair with Apple Barrel "Rock Grey". I also decided to add some decorative touches, and painted his hat and sleeve bands with the "Shadow Grey", and then went back and trimmed them with Folk Art Platinum Gray". I painted his scabbard with Aleene's "True Grey", and his pouches, belt, and sword grip with Americana "Charcoal Grey". I then painted his pipe with American "Dove Grey".
When everything was dry, I gave the entire figure a wash with GW "Badab Black" wash".
After the wash was good and dry, I went back and drybrushed his staff with the base "Barn Wood". I then added his eyes by painting the whites white and doing black pupils. I added highlights to his beard with first the base "Rock Grey", and then some of the "Platinum Gray". I added some highlights to his robes with the "Slate Grey". Then, I mixed some of the "Shading Flesh" with some of the "Slate Grey" and added highlights to his face and hands. Likewise, I mixed some of the "Slate Grey" to the "Charcoal Grey" and highlighted his pouches. and belt. I followed up by adding highlights to his pipe with the "Dove Grey", sleeve with the "Poppy Seed", and pants with the "Shadow Grey". I realized I hadn't done his eyebrows yet, so added them in by first painting them with the "Rock Grey", and then adding some light "Platinum Gray" highlights.
Lastly, I worked on the metals; painting the metal bits on his sword, staff, and pouches with Cermacoat "Metallic Pewter". I also used this color to paint the beads in his beard, and the eyes on the staff's dog's head. I then went back and added highlights to the metal bits with Folk Art "Silver Sterling".
I decided I actually wanted his base to look less grassy than usual, so I took the time to drybrush his textured base with Americana "Mississippi Mud", and then went back over it more lightly with GW Foundation "Deneb Stone".
The next morning I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Mate Varnish". Later that afternoon, I glued a small stone on the base and then flocked it. The following day, I sprayed the figure with "Testor's Dullcote".
I'm very pleased with how this fellow turned out. I think he has a great wizened look about him.
Figure 138 of 265: Complete
Both "gray" and "grey" are fine. First is British spelling, second is American. Good looking mini as always!
ReplyDeleteAh, that makes sense. Thanks for the info and the kind remark!
DeleteA fine wizard. Probably just as tough as you need an adventuring wizard to be. Capable of taking a sword hit as well as throwing a lightning bolt to blaze into the dark caves of the under dark!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love your description! :)
DeleteLOL! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNice painting, sir. BTW, I saw your post over at TMP.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteHey, that Gandwarf!. Nice one in 49 shades of grey ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love "Gandwarf"! :).
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