6 October 2014

Mean and... green?

In my last post I spent many lines of text hand-wringing about what colour to paint my orcs and goblins. I thought I'd come to a decision - shades of yellowy-browny-tan was going to be the colour, definitely.

Then I read through my lovely big Foundry picture book (Dallimore and friends' advanced painting guide) and saw a whole army of orcs by Paul Baker with a Moss (Foundry paint triad 29) painted skin and it got me thinking. Again.



Orcs by the very talented Paul Baker

So, one of my favourite Foundry shades (Moss 29), with a yellowish, sallow tinge, but still "greenskin". I had to try it, and this is what I came up with:



I enjoyed painting him hugely - the first orc I've painted in years, and certainly the first since I really got into painting in a more oldhammery style.

What do you think? Stick with that colour for orc skin? I've also got some of Kev's lesser goblins that are now on sale through Alternative Armies (or will be when they finish redoing their website) that I've done in a reddish-brown to match my Crooked Claw gobbos. I'll show them off next time.

Cheers,
Rab

8 comments:

  1. I think they look superb! I prefer a slightly brighter green but I have more of a "cartoony" style than you and I think that your more subdued skin color is a perfect fir for your ,ore "realistic" style. Well done...


    ....now do about 200 more and you'll have an army...:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, thanks, Blue! I'm rather warming to this colour and will get a unit of them done like this (number two is already underway), but will keep pondering for my big'uns.

      Delete
  2. Yarp - a nice sallowy green looks great. I had fun varying skintones on the hordes of Gobbo's I painted up for the Siege game and that kind of shade was definitely a favourite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was trying to work it out and he's the first non-Bloodbowl orc I've painted since about 1993, and they were a really dark green. This is much more my idea of orciness and I'm nearly finished with a friend for him. Two's not much of a horde, but as soon as der uvver boyz 'ear dere's teef to be 'ad...

      Delete
  3. That's similar to the colour I've used on my goblins. I guess muted tones are more believable than garishly bright ones. I think he looks the business!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gareth - I shall have to go and look back through your goblins for inspiration especially if you've chosen a similar palette.

      Delete
  4. I like him. I nabbed your picture and I'm going to do some experiments with it. I'll email about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok, I'm intrigued... Do you have my email already? You can always PM me on the forum if not.

      Delete