Painting Dwarfs

Once you prime your models with Chaos Black Spray Paint, painting can begin. Below, you will find a simple-but-effective color scheme using only 15 colors. Follow the detailed instructions and check out the stage-by-stage images for reference as you paint your models. Don't fret if the model doesn't come out picture perfect in the end; painting takes time and practice to master. Just do the best you can each time and be open to learning new techniques from others. Before you know it, you'll be quite an accomplished painter with models you'll be proud to game with!

1. Get the ball rolling with a careful drybrush of Boltgun Metal over all the exposed chain mail. Next, paint the Dwarf's bracers Dwarf Bronze. Turning your attention to the weaponry, paint Chainmail onto the axe blade and horns of the helmet. At this point (and each time you use any metallic paints), you should wash out your water. Alternatively, keep two water cups nearby when painting -- one for regular colors, and one for metallics.

2. Moving on, start the flesh basecoat with some Dark Flesh. Carefully pick out the face and hands with a small brush. Next, apply a coat of Scorched Brown to any leather materials, like the helmet flaps. Using a fine detail brush, very neatly paint the raised cloth areas of the Dwarf's armor. To finish this step, build up a few thin coats of Shining Gold onto the helmet, axe decoration, and any runes.

3. Once again, start by highlighting the flesh. This time around, use some watered-down Tanned Flesh to paint over most of the basecoat. Next, mix a tiny dot of Chaos Black into Shadow Grey and paint this onto the Dwarf's shirt sleeves and robe. Finish the chain mail armor by carefully lining the edges of the raised red areas with a mix of watered-down Blood Red and Scab Red.

4. At this point, your model is suitable for gaming, but let's push on for an even-better result! Using Dwarf Flesh and a fine detail brush, pick out the raised flesh areas like the nose, cheeks, and knuckles. Very little paint is needed to achieve this highlight, so choose the areas you paint wisely. Highlight the sleeves and robe with a few lines of some watered-down Shadow Grey. Going back to the gold (once the ink is dry!), reapply some Shining Gold to the helmet and axe decoration. Pick out the raised areas and leave the ink in the recesses. You can even do a little drybrushing if you wish. Prepare for the final step by covering any paint slip-ups on the beard with some Chaos Black.

5. Mix a tiny drop of Codex Grey into some Chaos Black. Apply this mix in thin lines along the beard as well as the shoes of the Dwarf. Just go with the flow of the beard and hit a few areas here and there. After this coat dries, do the same with straight Codex Grey to a few select beard areas for some variation. Pick out the teeth of the Dwarf with some Skull White. If you wish, mix Skull White with Dwarf Flesh for a final skin highlight. This highlight should only be applied to a very few select areas like the tip of the nose. Finish the job by adding a shield painted in any manner you please. The one shown here was painted just like the Dwarf's helmet by using Shining Gold and some Chestnut Ink. Now, get out there and settle some grudges!