Warhammer fantasy, Pirates, skeletons and Landsknecht

A few fun things I've been painting up, first of all a pirate! I made him a little wooden deck to stand on.

Next up Some skeletal warriors. I couldn't resist the goats skull. These are very quick and easy to paint because they are so thin!

 And finally an empire greatsword drummer. I really love the empire and their style. Having done my research I found out that they are based on the mercenary armies of Landsknecht (german: Land-servant) who fought for the Hapsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire. I think I will be getting more empire troops they're very fun to paint.

Painting High Elves.

I thought I'd do a little painting tutorial, nothing too complicated. So here are some bog standard high elves fresh off the sprue.

First I spray prime white, then apply a layer of watered down P3 red and green ink (equal parts), then when thats dry apply P3 armour wash thickly.Then I drybrushed delicately with white and wet-blended white highlights on every surface that faces upwards - this needs some artistic skill I would say, light and shade - that sort of stuff. I usually add more armour wash to deep shadow areas and any areas supposed to be ferrous metal, but high elf armour is supposed to be like mithril silver so I wont do that here.

At this point I would say its ready for colour. I wetblend in vallejo flesh tone (kinda beige) to any area supposed to be bright and warm, so gold, skin, blond hair, rope, leather.

 Next I use the vallejo wash range to add colour to areas - the washes are quite subtle and I apply them in layers. I've used just sepia for the wood and gold, flesh wash and then a thin layer of sepia for the leather

After the colours have been applied I highlight the wood and add grain with flesh tone, add flesh wash on the skin and pick out the gems with red wash, then gloss varnish.

 Finally I bring it all together, finish off the base and add shield.