Hey guys Alex here, Frontline Gaming Commission Painter and Co-Host of the Splintermind Podcast with a fun and easy painting tutorial.
So often I’ve seen people struggle to paint an entire army. Many hate the process of painting -and I don’t blame them- but at the same time they are pining to realize their dream of having a fully painted army. Often times they try to paint their army but try to take each model, or each unit to a level thats beyond their commitment level. Well I’ve got an easy approach that looks good and is FAST!
STEP 1: Obviously you have to assemble the models. Give a simple flock of play sand and a little crumbled cork on the base.
STEP 2: Simply prime + base coat your model.
Then put a strong wash on the model. Then pick out the major details like guns. Basecoat and wash those. The following example is only 2 colors.
Additional Tip: Choosing your basecoats is one of your biggest decisions. You want paint that is going to go on easy. For Red’s I recommend Khorne Red, Blue: Kantor Blue, Green: Caliban Green, Yellow: Averland Sunset (which can be brush painted on to great results!), Purple: Naggarorth Night, Turquoise: Stegadon Scale, Brown: Dryad Brown, Gold: Retributor Gold (amazingly easy), Silver: Leadbelcher, White: Celestra Grey which paints on like a dream and reads as white especially when contrasted against other strong colors (like red bolters).
STEP 3: Clean up the excess wash by neatly repainting your base coats for the major colors, but be careful to not paint over the wash in the recesses as this is what gives the areas of interest on the model like individual armor plates and such good solid definition. Pick out some of the fine details like gems, or skin. Simply paint a single color on them. Dry brush a single highlight of DawnStone Grey over the black sandy base of the model and you are done.
Applied Across a Squad:
Additional Notes and Advice:
This process took me only a few hours and I’m not a speed painter. The real secret is this: highlighting your models is not necessary getting an army fully painted, or even painted to a good solid standard. Painting your models in this way will increase the neatness of your brushwork and firm up all the basic skills necessary to become a good painter.
Going beyond this paint level is NOT necessary to having a nice looking army. This standard alone will make for a solid looking army which is bound to increase your enjoyment of 40k and that of your opponent.
My only additional advice is to use GW Spray Primer + Spray Basecoat whenever possible. I would recommend that to anyone looking to start a new army or someone looking to tackle an unpainted army.
Please feel free to ask any questions and good luck to everyone who checks out this article!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
