We’re into full swing with the model now.

Layering is when we take that base

coated, shaded plastic and add mid-tones over the top of it, to create even
more depth.

It’s essentially a form of highlighting, although the more extreme “edge

highlighting” technique is something I’ve broken out into its own category,
coming next.

The best example of layering I’ve completed recently is for these Lumineth
Realm-lord Vanari Dawnriders, as their horses have a lot of depth to them, but
are smooth, organic beings, not hard-edged armour panels or swords. The
layering on creatures like this has to be more subtle than the glint of light off
the edge of a spear.

It’s therefore important with layering that we use subtle blends and thin coats,
in order to create as gradual a gradient as possible between light and dark.

There are obviously degrees of this, but you can see on the legs and neck areas
how each horse has been base coated with a darker mid-tone, shaded to get all
that lovely dark detail into the recesses of its flesh, and then layered back up
with brighter and brighter colours (in smaller and smaller areas) until you
have a nice range of tones throughout the whole model.

Take your time, use thin coats, and don’t overload your brush – this will cause
the layers to come off as too harsh and vivid. Also: never be afraid to start
again, if you need to, by painting your base colour back over and starting
again.

As long as you’ve followed the priming and base coating stages, as well as
kept your paint thin, you’ll be fine. Like I said: if you’re patient and careful,
there’s no miniature-painting mistake that can’t be made into a marvel.