Painting Leather with GW paints

[Raeken]

I'm trying to find a good brown to paint leather, mainly for belts, boots, pouches, etc.

 

I just tried Calthan Brown (yes, an old pot...I'm just getting back into painting)....and it's too light.  I'm looking for something darker with a reddish tint.  I can mix my own, but wondered if someone with more experience with GW's newer paints might suggest something.  The swatches on GW's site just aren't that helpful.

 

Thanks!

[tdemayo]

I usually use Scorched Brown highlighted with Bestial Brown. Those are the old colors. I forget the new equivalents.

[S.k.i.t.t.l.e]

Here's a GW chart with the new names;

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1E4x6hHZqs/T23f2bnRyEI/AAAAAAAACU0/jO7im_8gH-8/s1600/citadel+paint+conversion.jpg

[Raeken]

Thanks for the responses and the link...but you have to wonder when they have both Calthan Brown and Bestial Brown listed as matches for Mournfang Brown.

 

Calthan Brown doesn't look like that swatch.   The Vomit Brown highlight didn't look quite like that either.  Am glad they changed that name, though. ;)

[Bryan Blaire]

If you are looking for a reddish brown, the Layer color "Doombull Brown" is a color I would look to. You can start with a base of Rhinox Hide, then shade with either Agrax Earthshade for a brown tone or Carroburg Crimson for a red tone. Build back up with some Rhinox if you want, then highlight with Doombull Brown, then extreme highlight with Tuskgor Fur.

 

I have a couple of other "leather" schemes, but I will have to dig out my painting ideas notebook to find the names and orders I've used them in.

[tdemayo]

A base of black with a dark grey or chocolate brown highlight also looks leathery.  I tend to drybrush for high contrast, not a smooth blend.  Gives it more of a cracked look.

[Raeken]

That's a great recipe, Bryan.  I hadn't thought of the glazes. These are tac marine belts, pouches, etc...so I don't see much need beyond a base color and a highlight for edging.  Once I get to Terminators, should have more surface area to work with.

 

Don't know about drybrushing since they are such tiny simple details.  My general scheme, being Black Templar, is black, white, and red (or reddish brown) spot color for some of the details.

[Bryan Blaire]

Some other brown "leather" schemes with the new GW colors (note: these are unlikely to produce much in the way of a reddish tone unless you alter them them use Carroburg Crimson for a deep red shading, or a Bloodletter glaze to tint them red at the end):

 

Base Steel Legion Drab -> shade with Agrax Earthshade -> highlight Balor Brown

Base Rhinox Hide -> highlight 1 Gothor Brown -> highlight 2 Baneblade Brown

Base Rhinox Hide -> layer/cover over all but the recesses with Skrag Brown -> highlight Deathclaw Brown

Base Mournfang Brown -> shade with Agrax Earthshade -> highlight 1 Skrag Brown -> highlight 2 Deathclaw Brown

 

If you try different ones out to find out what you like, make sure you write down what scheme you used. Nothing has been more frustrating to me than painting up something I really liked the look of, and then at the end having to go "Now what all steps did I use to get that effect?" and not being able to remember.

[Raeken]

Since I started painting again, I've been keeping notes on all the colors I use.  Horrible thing when you're having to get back into practice AND all the colors have changed.

 

Right now I'm thinking something along the lines of Rhinox Hide or Doombull Brown with a Mournfang highlight.