Could use some help or inspiration on these Tentacles

[CMDR_Welles]

With my mothers heart surgery last month, and her upcoming cancer surgery next week; I've not had much time (or honestly inclination) to do any painting.

 

I've only done a little more than I had before, but I seem to be stuck. I'm working on the Tentacles, and something about them just isnt working...

 

Screamer Pink

Red Tone Wash

Drybrush Screamer Pink

Drybrush Pink Horror

line highlight of a very watered down Cadian Fleshtone.

 

I could really use some input, thoughts, suggestions. Either how to fix this, or I guess even another way of doing them... I dont know if I want to go with a more fleshy color or stick with this darker tone.

Please help

 

[OakRiver]

They look good, but to make them pop from a distance perhaps another highlight so they stand out more from the darker armor.

[Chazzmos]

Sorry to hear about your mum, I hope she's recovering well.

 

On the tentacles, I think there's probably three issue with them right now:

- They're a bit too plum coloured, it's a deep purpley red at the moment, not something I'd usually associate with tentacles

- There's not a lot of contrast in them from the shadow to the highlight, I think it needs to get up to something pretty light overall

- The drybrushing makes them look, well, dry!  Tentacles should be sloppy and slimy

 

If you still like the overall colour tone, I'd suggest:

1. Mix some 50/50 Screamer Pink with a light flesh tone (Pallid Wych Flesh would be great) 
2. Paint (not drybrush it on) in pretty big highlights (even more like a base colour)
3. Highlight up to Pallid Wych Flesh (or Cadian Fleshtone mixed with white)
4. Mix some Red Tone Wash with a lot of water to glaze over the shadows.

 

Good luck!

[Chazzmos]

This is what mine are looking like at the moment:

 

That's just Pallid Wych Flesh, Red Wash, Purple Wash.

 

I'll use a Gloss Varnish at the end to make them shine, maybe a bit of Blood For The Blood God, maybe a bit of Nurgle's Rot