Welcome to the first instalment of our new guest writer series, Lessons from the Chief Slave.

Over the coming months we will be re-publishing the outstanding tutorials produced by our friends from Slave to Painting and working together with the Chief on some exciting new projects.

So without further ado lets hand things over to the man himself…

The Mountain King, aka Bruce

The Mountain King is an epic miniature from Privateer Press and one that I just had to paint the moment that I saw him. I decided that I didn't want to follow the studio colour palette; instead I really wanted to play with some over saturated colours and really make him pop.

The potential for the compliments and contrasts between the skin and rock tones was just too good to miss. With this in mind Vallejo Game Colour would be the primary range of paints that I used, the entire range is just filled with vibrant and exciting colours.

A personal favourite of mine has always been Turquoise and so that set the tone and the mini developed from there. I decided to approach this miniature zone by zone finishing all of the air brush work before moving onto details and washes etc.

Step 1: Flesh

I started out priming with Army Painter White Primer. From there I layed down a full base of Vallejo Game Colour Turquoise at 30 psi. I then went over and highlighted about 75% of the flesh with Electric Blue at 20 psi and progressed through to P3 Underbelly Blue and final highlights of Vallejo Model Air White at 18psi. I always thinned the paints heavily (4:1 thinner to paint) and slowly worked up multiple layers to give smooth transitions.

After the base tones were completed I then shadowed the transitions between the flesh and rock with Vallejo Game Colour Purple Ink. Purple was used as this compliments the blue of the flesh and the red base that would be used for the rock later on. A small amount of pigments were also used to shade areas of the flesh.

Later on in the process a Vallejo gloss varnish was applied to the whole miniature. A black oil wash was then applied across the miniature with any excess being cleaned off with mineral spirits. Note that if you use this approach it is essential that you apply a very good coverage of gloss varnish or you will undo all of your good work.

Step 2: Rock

I wanted to create the effect that the rock was growing from the flesh of the Mountain King. So having some early advice from a fellow painter to use a red/terracotta base to complement the blues (I was thinking of going neutral grey’s initially) I decided that purple would then be the transition colour.

To start out with the rock was based with Vallejo Game Colour Terracotta with gradual highlights building up to Vallejo Model Colour Beige and finally Off White. A final edge highlight of P3 Morrow White was lightly applied.

Later on in the process a Vallejo gloss varnish was applied to the whole miniature. A brown oil wash was then applied across the miniature with an excess being cleaned off with mineral spirits. Note that if you use this approach it is essential that you apply a very good coverage of gloss varnish or you will undo all of your good work. Also unless you want A LOT of work make sure you clean off the oil wash when touch dry, not completely dry or it takes an age (I got distracted and left for 24 hours!).

Step 3: Leather

The leather skirt was based with P3 Idrian Flesh followed by a shade with P3 Umbral Umber, Rucksack Tan, Bootstrap Brown and Vallejo Model Colour Off White in varying mixes, to create a patch work effect.

Stitching was then highlighted with the Off White and then brushed with brown pigment. A black oil wash was then applied with the recesses and stitching being cleaned lightly to create a natural shadow.

Step 4: Snow and basing

A Secret Weapon Rocky Bluff was selected for the main base (this did need filing down in areas to provide a nice clean fit to miniature). The base was then primed in black and gradually airbrushed from dark to light greys and a final white dry brush.

Army Painter Winter Tuft was then applied across the base for added variety. Then snow was applied to the base and the miniature where appropriate to indicate heavy snow fall. The snow mix was an equal parts mix of PVA glue, water and Army Painter Snow flock. When dried the snow was then (in the deepest areas) highlighted with Vallejo Snow and Foam Effects. Finally 4 coats of Secret Weapon Water Effects were poured over the base to give the rock a wet look and create water pools in the melting snow.

Step 5: Final Details

Final details were quite quick on this mini, this involved eyes, chains and whelps (the little guys spawning/riding from him). For the whelps I largely built up the same colours for the flesh tones using a dry brush as they were too small for air brushing given their locations on the miniature. Eyes were standard approach, but done using a number 1 Vallejo Tamjyr Sable brush. These brushes are amazing and allow for perfect control…eyes with a number 1 brush!

Avoiding ‘crazy stoner eyes’: as a tip for beginners and something that is quite common (and something I did when I started) eyes are often painted in a way the makes them look insane. Basically white and then a black dot in the middle. If you actually look at your eye in the mirror you will see the iris actually touches at the bottom and top and therefor the white is broken. If you complete the black dot and make it marginally wider in the middle you will find the eyes look more natural. Also make sure they are looking in the same direction.

The chains were completed using a standard rust approach. Prime black, dry brush with P3 Cold Steel, wash with P3 Bloodstone, dry brush with P3 Cold Steel and finally lightly highlight with P3 Quicksilver.

The bronze talismans were done using a base of Vallejo Game Colour Tinny Tin, highlighted with Game Colour Bronze and washed with watered down Turquoise for verdigris. A final highlight of Citadel Hashut Copper was applied.

The tongue was wet blended from Game Colour Hexed Lichen Purple at the extremities and centre with Game Colour Squid Pink being used for the highlighted areas.

Until next time, Happy Painting.

From the Chief Slave

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