Painting living statues: the next level

[General Strike]

So, I want to paint some stuff up as living statues. There is a pretty good GW painting video for it up, where you basically do mechanicus grey, dry brush dawn stone, dry brush Rakarth flesh, wash agrax, then dry brush the other stone one. I wanted to do this, but take it to the next level for tournament standards. How would you add color and detail on top of this?

[Marshal Loss]

Selective edge highlights for sure to emphasise certain areas of detail, and perhaps doing small heavily thinned washes of blue, green, purple (etc) in various recesses, very occasionally across the army, to add some subtle differentiation between what is otherwise a monochromatic scheme. Could try adding some vines/ivy if you like to get across the look of a statue that has only recently animated from a long slumber.

 

Put a bit of effort into your basing as well otherwise the whole thing will look a little boring imo.

[General Strike]

That's what I'm hoping to avoid, is boring sameness.

[HandsWithLegs]

You could cut in or paint on cracks/ fractures in the stone, or play with the type of stone a bit, stuff like adding a seam or a different rock intruding into the statue in some areas. You could also try adding a bunch of moss and lichen to make them look like they have been sitting out for many years

[Son of Sacrifice]

I think both Ammo and AK make some suitable weathering sets which include slimy lichen greens and such. I would be looking at green and brown oils and pigments for sure.