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Hello all,

My son wants to start his second army using orks (we already have a swag from AoBR), however he is concerned that he can't paint the skin well, and I told him I'd help him make them look good.

I hear people talking about the Citadel washes plenty on here - is there a quick and easy (ie. low skill easy) way to paint ork skin?

I have all the foundation colours.

Anyone with a low skill way of making Orks look cool?

Prime black

Drybrush entire model with boltgun metal

Use Knarloc green to paint all the flesh

Shade the flesh with a mix of green & a little purple wash, let dry.

Drybrush Camo Green over the flesh.

Lightly drybrush Rotting Flesh over facial details and knuckles.

Use Deneb Stone to pick out nails and teeth. Then use Devian Mud over those places.

Paint Pants, Shirts, Boots, etc. to suit.

They look like this when done:

Ork skin is pretty easy since you can use just about any mix of greens.

Bright and easy:
Orkhide Green base
Goblin Green drybrush
Thraka Green wash
This works well because Orks have very well defined muscles and faces.

Toned down:
Orkhide Green base
Badab Black wash
Knarloc Green highlight

Yep!


Take these 3 foundation paints

Gretchin Green
Knarloc Green
Tausept Ochre

And these 4 washes

Badab Black
Devlan Mud
Ogryn Flesh
Thraka Green


Pick one Foundation and one wash at random, and paint em orcs up! Apply a hearty coat of wash, it may take two, it's just up to your son. Don't bother drybrushing, they will look fuzzy. Just let the wash create all the shadows and highlights. A smooth even foundation is key here.

If your son wants to paint the clothing warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) wash with Devlan Mud. For cool colors (blues, greens, purples), Badab Black.

For metals, 2 thin coats of Boltgun Metal, wash first layer Devlan Mud, let dry, then apply second wash of Badab Black. Then drybrush chainmail.

Teeth are straight Bleached Bone

Eyes Blood Red

For tongue, 2 parts scab red, 1 part warlock purple.


Just remember to thin your paints, and these Orks will look killer on the table.

Thanks guys.

Might have to go out and buy the wash set tomorrow!

I think that'd be the easiest for him.

I like the sound of no drybrushing, as I'm trying to teach him overbrushing with thin paint, but yes, drybrushing would come out all scratchy...

Cheers

My orks were done very quick n dirty..

Primed Black
Drybrush Goblin Green on the skin
Hit the teeth with Bone
Paint whatever colors on the clothes
Boltgun metal on the.. metal parts..
Devlan Mud wash the figure..

Or you could try the dipping method. That would take one or two different colors and then the dip. I love how he asked for EASY methods for a child and you guys plop down a 6 color paint scheme just for the skin.
Ive seen it done pretty decently with a light green and then a dip.

I would look to spray paint the orks the 'dominate' color on the model. I would suggest a tan for all the cloth on the model (pants and tunic), although other colors would work too (I'd stay with a neutral color though - tan, brown, grey, etc.).

Over that, paint the ork flesh and metal parts and any details (boots, teeth, etc.).

One of the keys is to slightly water down the paint. Not too much (you don't want a glaze). I would suggest you add a few drops of distilled water and a few drops of Future floor finish (I use a pallet, which I would recommend, but you can add it straight to the pot and paint out of the pot too - just have to add more water and Future). Having the paint a little thinner means that it's easier to spread and paint with, and will go on faster too.

Use a big a brush as possible for each step. While staying the lines is best, some 'slop' won't be noticed and some will be covered by the wash.

At this stage, I would not worry about adding a highlight. Just darken the recessed with a wash.

Then, hit the whole model with a wash (again, use one that is somewhat watered down). Use Devlan Mud or Black, your preference. The other option is the dip-and-flick, but I think the wash is easier. And just paint the wash on the whole model - skin, cloth, gun - everything. I would suggest Devlan Mud, but you might like black better.

Then paint the bases a different color (a dark brown preferrably) and add some static grass.

It's a lot of steps, but none are that difficult, and it'll result in a decent looking army for the tabletop.

The only way to improve is by doing.

If he wants additional highlights, those can be added after the wash, and if necessary, a second wash applied.

hmmm seems like everyones steps on skin is still kinda complicated... i use a VERY simple skin.. either i should add more. or its just my taste of like darker type skin but i do this... prime black. ork hide shade over skin. then i use thraka green wash all over skin and drybrush knarloc green over the flesh leaving some ork hide and showing and then only if i do a poor job at that i do another coat of thraka green... quick 3-4 step easy skin

Uh mines three steps Dark Angels Green, Goblin Green then Dark Angel Green wash (my own Dark Angel Green Water and a tiny amount of soap mix)

2 step ork skin-

Khemri brown followed by a heavy thrakka green wash.

Quick, easy and looks great

Edit: this technique is taken from a white dwarf magazine, published 4-6 months ago (dont remember), I think its John Blanche's version of standard bearer in one edition; it is how he did his speed freaks.

An easy way is to do Orkhide shade over black primer, then highlight with Goblin Green (and Scorpion green if you want bright skin) and then wash with thraka green.

Elnicko5 wrote:Khemri brown followed by a heavy thrakka green wash.

Great easy recipe!

I like a bit brighter, less organic ork (I blame 2nd edition for that...) and I've found Iyanden Darksun with a heavy Thraka wash looks good as well. Perhaps try Khemri brown as the base for orks, and Iyanden as the base for grots. If you're going for easy, I'd say try one of those two recipes. Down the road, if you have more time, some of the longer recipes here should serve you well.

Orkhide shade ---> Goblin green---->thraka wash
bobs your uncle!

Here's my ork painting method:

Gnarloc green on skin.
Thraka green wash on skin.
Boltgun metal on metal.
Mehrite red for armour, warpaint e.t.c.
Dehneb stone on teeth and bones.
Other stuff
All over wash of 50:50 Devlan mud and badab black mix.

Thinking at this stage trying:

Starting with a white undercoat, knarlock green with scorpion green highlights for flesh, boltgun metal for metals (Duh!), Iyanden Darksun and Mechrite red for clothing, Khemri brown for boots - then cover the whole mini in Devian Mud.

Then pick out the eyes, teeth and nails with red and bleached bone. Add additional highlights to taste.

Using one wash over all of it (essentially dipping) would make it simpler for him, and make sure he can fix any colour spills between areas.

Thoughts? Would Devlan Mud be too dark over this?

6 colours for the base coat, followed by 3-4 more colours should keep it reasonably simple.

well since you got alot of peoples wayz of painting... maybe name a few people whos way of painting ork skin you liked. and ask them to post a picture? that way you have a better idea of how the skins come out with the different ways? mite make it easier for you to decide. or you could post a pic of ur own idea and we could give some feed back?

Primed Grey
Thinned Orkhide Shade base
Dry Brushed Knarloc Green
Thakka Green Wash
Badab Black Wash over the entire model

This is how I do all my Orks (With Komandos, Burnna and Black Orcs primed Black)

Buttlerthepug wrote:well since you got alot of peoples wayz of painting... maybe name a few people whos way of painting ork skin you liked. and ask them to post a picture? that way you have a better idea of how the skins come out with the different ways? mite make it easier for you to decide. or you could post a pic of ur own idea and we could give some feed back?

Well, went out and bought white primer, devlan mud, thraka green, scorpion green and rotting flesh.

Will try out some experiments tonight a post the results...

Cheers

Cyporiean wrote:
Primed Grey
Thinned Orkhide Shade base
Dry Brushed Knarloc Green
Thakka Green Wash
Badab Black Wash over the entire model

This is how I do all my Orks (With Komandos, Burnna and Black Orcs primed Black)

haha awsome. same exact method as i. except i prime black, and with that extra badab black wash which im going to start using a bit later. it was my original plan just i uhhh never had any... got 2 badab blacks today tho... but they go on my 3 stompas first and that skin is how my models come out to... i like the darker skinned look. the goblin green at end alot of people use doesnt do it for me... they is orks not goblins just a personal taste tho

OK - did a try out with some washes tonight...

basecoats:


Bottom row base coated with black, from left to right:

Gretchin green highlighted with zombie flesh
Ork flesh highlighted with Knarlock green
Knarlock green highlighted with scorpion green

Top row undercoated white:

Gretchin green highlighted with zombie flesh
Knarlock green

They were then washed - all except the top left got devlan mud all over. The top left one got thakra green over the flesh and devlan mud everywhere else. (top right and bottom left have been swapped in this one!)



In the end I like what he did best - a mixture of the two washes plus black wash over a white undercoated figure. Will post up his tomorrow.

Cheers

Jobs a good un.