Miniature Showcase

Maimed Cultist

As part of that giant monster project I posted about a few weeks ago there were cultists that came with it. I have a total of six to paint and each one is different from the rest. These are the pieces that go with the amazing glowing green bases I painted a while ago. As I’ve said, this project is huge and has multiple pieces that go with it.

The first step, as always, is to paint the skin first. Just like real life, the skin is the first layer and the clothes make up the layers on top. I used a fair skin tone with the intention of giving it a bit of life with some Flesh Wash. I applied about three layers of watered down Fair Skin paint to gain the smooth skin effect that is needed. This paint job begins on top of a couple of layers of white primer over a grey miniature. This miniature is missing both hands and still seems to be happily chanting away to summon his evil lord.

For the next step, I painted the robe a dark, modest gray. I used a couple of layers of gray paint to achieve the necessary opacity. I did have to go in afterwards to clean up the lines where the robe meets the skin. There are always small mistakes in small projects like this piece, but it is reassuring to know you can always go in and correct those mistakes with a bit more paint and a steady hand. It is also important to clean up your lines before you start applying special effects and final details to the miniature.

After painting the robe I wanted to add a dirty effect to it, so I added some brown wash to add a bit of brown to the robe and create an effect of dirtiness. I liberally applied the brown wash but I did make sure not to leave bubbles behind. I’ve noticed that bubbles can ruin the effect that wash is meant to give a miniature. Apply the paint slowly and evenly to minimize bubbles popping up. Make sure you keep enough wash on the brush to prevent bubbles as well.

Next, I added some Flesh Wash to the skin. This serves two purposes. It adds shadows and highlights to the skin portions of a miniature and it adds a realistic sheen to the skin. This is already beginning to look like a real person coming to life. That is one of the reason I love painting miniatures. With a bit of paint and patience, you can bring a character to life right before your eyes. I love how the wash highlights the skin stretched over the ribs of the cultist.

I added some white on the face for the eyes and added a bit more for the third eye in the middle of the forehead. I used black for the human eyes. For the third eye, I painted the initial pupil in black but added some glowing fluorescent green paint to add some flare. I also added some Blood paint effect to the stumps of the mutilated hands. I made sure it dripped onto the robes and leg of the miniature in as realistic a way as possible. I like how the eyes make the cultist look both like he is praying but also a bit surprised, perhaps because his hands are now gone.

Once the miniature was done, I glued it onto its intended base. The cultist sits at the center, feeding his life force to the magic circle beneath him and to the beast before him. All thought is gone, only the drive to feed the beast fuels the cultist now. Soon nothing will be left of the cultist but the energy that course through the monster.

Have any questions or comments? Message below or find me on Twitter @DnDWifeStories and on Instagram @dndwife. I would love to hear from you!