Painting Undead

Skeletons and Bone

I guess the first thing you need to know is how to paint bone.

When I want to take my time and develop a really nice bone color, I start with a basecoat of Snakebite Leather. I then gradually highlight with a mix of Snakebite Leather and Bleached Bone until I am using just Bleached Bone. I finish this with just a bit of a white highlight. Eye sockets get painted dark brown. I also paint Snake Bite Leather over all the teeth then pick them out in white. If I'm in the mood, I paint a small dot of orange in the eye socket then a smaller dot of yellow. This makes the eyes look like they're glowing.

To paint skeletons quickly:

  1. Prime white
  2. Basecoat Polly S Griffon Hide
  3. Basecoat blades and armor Polly S Flat Aluminum
  4. Basecoat weapon shafts and wood Raw Sienna
  5. Wash all bone areas with Raw Sienna
  6. Wash all armor and blades with Paynes Grey
  7. Wash wood with Raw Umber
  8. Pick out teeth in white
  9. Add the sheild
  10. Base with railroad flocking
  11. Seal

Wraiths and Wights

  1. Basecoat the robes. I like using purples, blues, greens, and reds for my wraiths.
  2. Basecoat armor and weapons Flat Aluminum
  3. Wash with Paynes Grey
  4. Highlight the robes with the base color
  5. Basecoat wood surfaces Raw Sienna
  6. Wash wood surfaces with Raw Umber
  7. Paint any bone areas as explained above
  8. Pick out details in brass or gold
  9. Paint a small dot of red in the eyes and highlight with a bit of yellow
  10. Base with railroad flocking
  11. Seal

Mummies

  1. Basecoat with Polly S Armour Dark Yellow
  2. Highlight with Polly S Dragon White mixed with the Dark Yellow
  3. Wash with Raw Sienna
  4. Paint exposed skin like you would paint bone
  5. Paint weapons as explained above
  6. Base with railroad flocking
  7. Seal

Banshees and Ghosts

  1. Undercoat with flat black spraypaint
  2. Use a heavy (very heavy) drybrushing of dark grey, working up into lighter and lighter shades or grey
  3. Highlight with light grey and white at the very tops of the folds
  4. Paint eyes red and add a pinprick of orange for the pupil
  5. Base with railroad flocking
  6. Seal