Workbench: Painting Non-metallic Gold Flags

Today I am presenting a step-by-step tutorial on a quick-and-dirty NMM gold technique for use on fabric. Thanks to a big commission I've been able to get my hands on the new paint range and these make this technique easy. No really, NMM isn't really hard anymore, just don't try and paint the sanguinor with this few stages. Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I really, really don't like the eruption of NMM as the "mark of a competition painter" and the promotion of the technique - mostly from Cool Mini or Not who have only a few styles they like. I do though like using it on fabric as using metallics on a banner makes it seem like you have put foil on the fabric.

Basecoat: XV-88

The flag I am painting belongs to the last of the Imperial Agents and was originally a Cadian HQ banner. I've been doing this as a "drying time" project while working on other things (more on those in future posts, watch this space). having blocked out the main colours (need neatening in places) I basecoated the gold with the XV-88 base colour.

Wash: Seraphim Sepia

Step two involves a very liberal wash of Seraphim Sepia shade. These new shades are bleedin' marvelous, they have much denser pigment than the old washes, dry with tidier gradiations of tone and best of all, do... not... stink. Good god some of the darker shades of the old washes reeked, I had to leave the room after washing a forty strong Night Goblin unit.

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

Once the Seraphim Sepia is dry I applied a second, slightly less liberal wash of Agrax Earthshade. This gives the deepest brown tone that you need. Now, let it really dry.

Leave to dry!

Once dry you can see the lovely gradiated shading achieved by the washes. By allowing them to pool in the centres of the smaller pieces (in the opposite of the usual technique!) you create the dark central shading you need.

Highlight: Balor Brown and White Scar

Now you need to start taking the highlights up. This needs to happen quite quickly and starkly to achieve the NMM look. I used Balor Brown and White Scar in a roughly 3:2 mix. Pay attention to where the highlights are going to make the reflective look happen. This isn't something I can teach you, look for examples in paintings - rennaisance painters are a good source.

Second Highlight: Balor Brown and White Scar

A second highlight is applied and some catchlights with a 2:3 mix of the Balor Brown and White Scar, I.E. just add some more White Scar!

Glaze: Casadora Yellow

Once I was sure that the highlights were dry I watered down some Casadora Yellow shade and glazed the entire area to knock back the whiteness of the highlights. I could have used the Lamenters Yellow glaze but this creates a very intense yellow and I wanted a bit browner. Leave this to dry as well.

Final Highlights: Balor Brown and White Scar

Finally I rehighlighted with the same mix from the second highlight stage. This sharpened the highlights and gave the reflective appearance. I can see a few areas where I have to clean the highlights - damn camera shows all - but all in all a nice look with minimal effort. Give it a go, well worth picking up some of the new colours.

Place holder for glamour shot of the finished banner and miniature!

So there you have it! The PVP NMM method. Rather too many TLAs (three letter acronyms) but you get the picture. More painted piccies soon!

TTFN