Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

There aren't many modellers who like to paint skin. This problem is extremely relevant for the beginners. Today we'll show you 3 really easy ways to paint skin. Maybe they are not so professional - but they are nice if you can't do it at all. It's much better than fill everything with thick layer of yellow colour.

The first way is the easiest. It's great if you need to paint a lot of models with open faces (Astra Militarum) and you don't need these faces to bee too detailed. Apply Pallid Wych Flesh. Not any other white colour. It has the most appropriate tone.

Wash it all with Reikland Fleshshade. And... that's it. It's really that easy. As you can see, it looks fine. Especially it's nice for pale skinned Eldar.



The second way is a bit harder but more realistic. The skin will be a bit darker. First - apply basecoat of Bugman's glow.

Again, use Reikland Fleshshade for shades. It's extremely nice for skin - both human and demonic.

When the wash dries, drybrush the skin with Cadian Fleshtone. The key point - is not to use too much paint and leave all the recesses. I like the result more than other 2 ways - it's still easy, but looks more natural.




The 3rd way starts exactly where the 2nd has finished. It's needed if you want a tone somewhere in the middle between 1 and 2 and a little more depth. Cover the skin with a thin layer of Pallid Wych Flesh. Если не получаIf you can't make it thin, try using drybrush.

Wash it again with Reikland Fleshshade.




So - we've got 3 different skin tones - and they are available even for those, who's taken a brush for the 1st time. You can try different colors to get something new.

More photos and info here: http://warzone40k.com/easy-skin

Do you have any suggestions for doing eyes?

I've seen some models with the eyes painted in, and it looks incredibly good.

 Marmatag wrote:
Do you have any suggestions for doing eyes?

I've seen some models with the eyes painted in, and it looks incredibly good.

Very very small brushes. I use a 0000 brush to get in there. I use the ceramite white, a dot of black and then paint over it with some reikland fleshshade to get into the recesses and VIOLA! winning. If you wanna see what it looks like, check out my wulfen

I would disagree that very small brushes do the trick because they are very thin and hold no paint at all. If you can, and you should if you can, purchase a Winsor and Newton Series 7 brush No.2 you will be able to do this easier because it is large enough to hold paint yet the tip is very fine.

Another suggestion is to not use white for the eyes but a more cream colour instead.

A very pale flesh works too. The key with fine details is not a tiny brush but a fine point. Too small, and it doesn't load paint well and tends to dry on the brush.

For many 28mm models, you can skip they eyes. Many are not modeled as more than a depression, and shading will give a believable effect. Bright white eyes tend to look wild and often bug eyed or unrealistic. It works for berserkers and such, though. Freya's piece is a good example. The pupils are well centered, which can be tough.

One big tip for skin is to try and keep it smooth. Drybrushing does not work well and looks rough and patchy. Instead, try using a pale skin basecoat and gently shade it down. This will give you a lot more control and allow you to work in some tonal variety if you want.

 jmurph wrote:

For many 28mm models, you can skip they eyes. Many are not modeled as more than a depression, and shading will give a believable effect. Bright white eyes tend to look wild and often bug eyed or unrealistic. It works for berserkers and such, though. Freya's piece is a good example. The pupils are well centered, which can be tough.

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment. I tend to dull the white with reikland fleshshade like I did with the wulfen and that makes it less bug eyed and a little softer tone though I agree that if you're not using washes over them, use an off white color of some sort like screaming skull or some such...



The only other tip I have to flesh shades is using watered down paints. I typically water mine down to basically inks and just do several layers. That way, if you mess up on a small part (which is easy to do) you can just wipe it off with a spare brush and do it again without having to go back. It also gives a much smoother finish... but that takes a lot longer and is definitely not any way to speed paint models.

The painting you painted on the skin is fab, i like the post.