What is the Grimdark Style? To put it simply, the Grimdark Style takes the settings from which it is derived from seriously. The Warhammer universes are either dark-dystopian or dark-fantasy. Many artist painting miniatures from these settings strive to accurately depict the look and feel of these worlds through our work. So close your eyes, try your best to imagine a dark and dystopian world that sees only war, and get ready to learn how to paint that image.
Skill Level: Beginner
Curriculum
1. Introduction – Thinners and Solvents
2. Washes and the Reductive Technique
3. Basic Applications
4. Textures and Pigment Powders Applications
5. Heavy Rust Applications
6. Chipping Techniques
7. Intro to Oils
8. Mottling
9. Oil Filtering
10. Oil Review
Materials
Click on the headers below to find the recommended materials used in this course.
Some items may be a bit difficult to find, but a little internet searching usually finds you everything you’ll need.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic Inks and Washes
- Coelia Greenshade
- Carroburg Crimson
- Reikland Fleshshade
- Nuln Oil
- Agrax Earth Shade
- Vallejo Black Ink
- Vallejo Red Ink
Weathering Enamels and Washes
- Streaking Grime AK7001 (From the Locomotive and Carriage Set AK7000)
- Streaking Grime AK012
- Rust Streaks AK013
- Rust Streaks AK7002 (From the Locomotive and Carriage Set AK7000)
- Dark Brown Wash AK045
- Light Rust Wash AK046
- Crusted Rust Deposits AK4110
- Decay and Abandoned Weathering Set AK4180
- Slimy Grime Light AK026
- Slimy Grime Dark AK027
- Dust Effects AK015
Pigment Powders
- Light Rust
- Dark Rust/Dark Ochre
- Light Yellow Ochre or Bone Dust
- Black Soot
- Medium Earth Or Medium Brown
- Faded Green
- Rubble Dust
Abteilung502 Oils
- Smoke
- Neutral Grey
- Dark Mud
- Industrial Earth
- Buff
- Light Flesh Tone
- Basic Flesh Tone
- Faded Flesh Tone
- Shadow Flesh Tone
- Red Primer
- Warm Red
- Dark Rust
- Light Rust
- Turquoise Lights
- Blue Green
- Copper Patina Oxide
- Magenta
- Yellow Ochre
- Blood
- Starship Filth
- Dead Flesh
- Magic Potion For Brushes
- Magic Gel for Brushes
True Metals by Ak Interactive
- Copper
- Brass
- Gold
- Old Bronze
- Steel
- Silver
- Gun Metal
Brushes
- Windsor Newton Series 7 sizes 0-4 Traditional
- Windsor Newton Series 7 sizes 1-6 Miniature
- Royal and Langnickel Golden Talkon Set
- Royal and Langnickel Camel Hair Set
- Various cheap brush bundles from local hobby stores
Various Tools and Solvents
- Wool Dobbers
- Various Palette Knifes
- Mold Line Removers
- Iwata HPCS Eclipse Airbrush
- Paasche H-3as Single Action Airbrush
- Iwata Smart Jet Pro Studio Compressor
- Isopropyl Alcohol 99%
- Klean Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits or White Spirits
- Klean Strip Lacquer Thinner
- Distilled Water
- Bulk Two-Part Modeling Compound for Basing. I use Aves Apoxie Sculpt
- Green Stuff
- 1/4 inch Cork Board
- Plasticard Sheets
Hey mate – when you suggest using a clear coat lacquer with oils, is that the kean strip lacquer thinner?
Lacquer varnish/coat is separate from the thinner. Here’s one… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O55ZK (they also make a matte version). Lacquer thinner will do the same thing as if you sprayed mineral spirits on the model.
Thanks for the help guys! X
Great tutorial nd oils are where I need to up my game.
Hey man – just wanted to say thanks for the time and effort you put into these videos.
I appreciate it! Thinking of remaking the series!
Awesome videos
Thanks! I appreciate it!
Thanks for the great series! I have made some good progression with enamels and oils but really struggle to clean up acrylic washes (and enamels and oils) with isopropyl alcohol. I often just remove back to the primer. I try to be very gentile not rubbing the model, but so far no luck. Do you have any further tips than being very gentile with the q-tip?