Fast, Easy, Learn

Please check out Galactic Hammer‘s original video, where he shows and describes in real-time how to paint his Fire Elemental. He did this as part of his live stream.

Summary

This tutorial doesn’t require dry time (after Primer is dry). You can just stipple and wet blend as you go along. It only takes 4 paints to deliver an amazing look. The Contrast Paint was chosen because it has a very specific viscosity. It’s not as thin as a wash or ink, so it will stay on the high points as well as pool a bit at the bottom. It also is more runny than regular acrylic paint, as it will pull towards the recesses and thin towards the top.

1. Prime the miniature with Citadel, Wraith Bone
   
2. Paint a basecoat over the entire miniature in Citadel, Contrast – Iyanden Yellow
   
3. Immediately after previous layer is on (do not wait for previous layers to dry), stipple brush on Citadel, Contrast – Gryph Hound Orange over the raised/high relief portions of the fire. Make sure the fire peaks, are fully covered with this orange
   
4. Immediately after previous layer is on (do not wait for previous layers to dry), stipple brush on Citadel, Contrast – Blood Angel Red over the raised/high relief portions of the fire. Aiming to cover about half of the orange, and over the top parts of the peaks.
   
5. Wet Blending – Immediately after previous layer is on (do not wait for previous layers to dry), remove harsh transitions. We’re aiming to smoothly transition between adjacent colors. When fixing the transitions, use the color the previous step of the harsh line you see.
   
6. Immediately after previous layer is on (do not wait for previous layers to dry), stipple brush on Citadel, Contrast – Black Templar over the just the tip of the flame peaks. This black suggests the smoke that comes off the flames.
   
7. Wet Blending – Immediately after previous layer is on (do not wait for previous layers to dry), remove harsh transitions. We’re aiming to smoothly transition between Citadel, Contrast – Black Templar and the adjacent colors. When blending the transitions, stipple on Citadel, Contrast – Gryph Hound Orange to soften the Black. Citadel, Contrast – Blood Angel Red is too strong and will cause previous details to be lost and over power the rest of the model.
   1. the lines of the miniature are flowing top to bottom (head to toe). Where you find the black has a sharp line (it appears to be going side to side), this is what we want to smooth
      
   2. Stipple and pull the Orange and Black top to bottom with the flow of the miniature contours. It makes the blend more believable.
      
8. Finished!! Took him 22 minutes to get here
   I would recommend applying Matte Varnish after the paint dries. This will tone down the “glossy” look which detracts, and it protects the miniature from wear-and-tear from use.