Freehanding

[salamanderdarkelf]

Well here it is. My beginners guide to painting simple freehand designs (bear in mind this is the stage i am at so dont ask for a Van Gogh!). I try to be precise, but you never know how things turn out.

Colours used:

(all from GW)

Snot Green

Midnight Blue

Chaos Black

Scorpion Green

Skull White

Bleached Bone

Regal Blue

Enchanted Blue

Snakebite Leather

Dark angels green

 

Ok the first thing I will say about freehanding is Practice. I know it's a cliche but Practice does make perfect. Try, try, try again. Its really how you learn freehanding and no amount of guides tell you REALLY how. I will show you a simple design that helps with learning the skill.

 

Step 1:

Find a pic off of the internet. This is very important as otherwise you have no ideals to work towards.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8819.jpg

 

Step 2:

Draw the basic outline on your model in pencil. I know it might be hard to see, but drawing is the easiest way to do this. If you're happy with the design, maybe go over in fineliner to make it easier to see.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8820.jpg

 

Step 3:

Block out one part of the piece in black. This will help with defining different parts and add a layered effect.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8821.jpg

 

Step 4:

Define plates in your chosen colour (mine is snakebite leather). Remember in freehanding you must exaggerate everything, the Highlights and basecoats especially.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8824.jpg

 

Step 5:

Block out another colour in black in another point of the piece.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8825.jpg

 

Step 6:

Basecoat this your chosen colour (mine is again Snakebite leather) Remember to exaggerate the gaps between the brown and the black.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8827.jpg

 

Step 7:

do the remaining colours this way, with a black undercoat and then a dark basecoat (Dark angel's green and Midnight blue for me)

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8828.jpg

 

Step 8:

now all the base colours are done, Highlight/ layer the Brown with a 1.1 mix of Snakebite leather and Bleached bone. Blend it slightly on the scarab as the plates ar smooth and shiny (to do this simply place snakebite at the top of the plate and drag it out with a watery brush)

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8829.jpg

 

Step 9:

Do the same for the other colours only I used enchanted blue for the blue and a 1:1 mix of Snot green and enchanted blue for the green. Another trick to freehanding is knowing the right colours to mix.

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8830.jpg

 

Step 10:

Do the gems et voila!

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8832.jpg

 

Gems:

just a quick and easy way, like painting gems on models only easier.

 

Step 1:

Midnight blue blob

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8833.jpg

 

Step 2:

Regal Blue on bottom third

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8834.jpg

 

Step 3:

Enchanted blue layer over regal blue

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8835.jpg

 

Step 4:

White on top

 

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/Freddead/DSCN8836.jpg

 

Thanks for reading, I hope ifs a good for you as it was for me to write!

[Aerixis]

Thats a great technique of planning it on paper first.

 

My deathwing standard was entirely freehand and turned out brilliant, like you said it's just a case of planning it before you commit to the miniature!