Tips for painting these two blacks

[Valkyrion]

 

I know they're AoS pictures (boooo!) but it's actually to test a black tyranid scheme out (yay!).

 

I don't line highlight, so if anyone could advise how to achieve a similar result with drybrushing and washes that would be ideal.

I think I prefer the more grey colouring of the dreadlord, looks almost metallica, but the spinal tap none more black could look suitably sinister on tyranids without doing the shiny xenomorph thing.

 

All help appreciated!

[Firedrake Cordova]

I could be wrong, but the wings on the first one look like they've got a bit of brown in them? In which case, you'd be looking at the "Skaven greys" (Eshin Grey, Stormvermin Fur, Skavenblight Dinge). Don't forget that you can easily make highlight tones by adding ivory (or yellow) to the base colour.

 

For highlighting, I'm guessing Artis Opus' videos on a Tyranid Harpy and dragon skin would be helpful?

[Valkyrion]

My drybrush game is decidedly bang average, but its the best game I've got - I'm not at Artis Opus levels of wizardry, nor am I spending that kinda brass on brushes I haven't earned!

 

It was more the colour choice than technique anyway. As you say, the top one looks like its got a hint of brown, and the bottom seems to highlighted with blues maybe - neither colour I've ever used to highlight black before - mechanicus > dawnstone > administratum is my black, but I think that will look too inorganic on nids. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Whilst the Artis Opus Series D brushes are nice, Army Painter's Masterclass drybrush set and Artify''s drybrushes are similar and a lot cheaper (although I've never used them).  I thought the videos might be useful for any ideas on how to approach drybrushing wings - obviously I was distracted by the dragon example images and forgot Tyranids don't really have many wings.   

 

You're right about the second one having some blue ink it - maybe Dark Reaper, Thunderhawk Blue, and Fenrisian Grey mixed in for the final highlights? 

 

I think the main thing if you're going to be washing your models is to make sure the base coat isn't black (just a dark off-black), so that the washes can darken the recesses.

[Oxydo]

The Artis Opus brushes are just rebranded https://www.rosemaryandco.com/acrylic-brushes/hog-bristle-acrylic brushes. Model Dry brush from goat hair is the D, Series 33 is the S, and Series 323 is the M.

They are fairly cheap but might not be available everywhere. You can also use makeup brushes since they tend to be softer, rounded and have lots of thin hair.

Edited 8 hours ago by Oxydo

[Rusted Boltgun]

The R&Co brushes are goat hair and, as above,  a slightly cheaper alternative to AO

 

R &Co Model Dry Brush

 

As my main brushes are R&Co series 33, I'll be upgrading to these in due course. I've got some brushes from my FLGS Cryptic Cabin Drybrush  to play with first. CC have synthetics for metallics and goat hair for regular colours.

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Rosemary & Co are indeed the manufacturer of Artis Opus brushes. It used to be the case that the Rosemary & Co Model Drybrush brushes were significantly cheaper than the Artis Opus equivalents - unfortunately they're essentially the same price now, so the Army Painter and Artify options are better value. From what I've read, Series S and M are different to the Series 33 and 323 but sufficiently similar that it probably doesn't matter (for what it's worth, I like and use both the Series 33 and 99's).

 

Back to the original question ... does the Citadel app have the paint recipe? They used to have the recipes on the product page, but the new site doesn't have them  

Edited 8 hours ago by Firedrake Cordova

[Rusted Boltgun]

It does @Firedrake Cordova (assuming I have the correct model)