PAINTING HOBBITS
This Painting Masterclass article shows you how to paint the four Hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, as they set out from the Shire, to eventually reach Rivendell and the House of Elrond where they are reunited with Bilbo.
GETTING STARTED
All of the models were given an undercoat with Chaos Black spray and any sections which the spray had missed were then painted over with watered-down Chaos Black.
PAINTING THE FACES
Each of the Hobbits' flesh sections were painted with the same basic colours. Starting with a basecoat of Bestial Brown, an equal quantity of Dwarf Flesh was then added for the first highlight. Dwarf Flesh was then used on its own followed by a final highlight of Elf Flesh onto the most prominent parts of the flesh such as the nose, cheekbones, chin and knuckles. Each of the flesh areas was then given a Flesh Wash. To create a more earthy appearance on the model of Sam, the final highlight of Elf Flesh was left out.
To finish off the faces, an equal parts mix of Bestial Brown, Dwarf Flesh and Dark Flesh was painted onto the bottom lips. This mix was also used to add some colour to Pippin's cheeks.
FRODO |
SAM |
MERRY |
PIPPIN |
BILBO |
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 |
 |
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Click on each image above for a more in-depth tutorial.
Bilbo's face was painted slightly differently to represent the fact that he is much older than the other Hobbits. The same basecoat was used, adding a small amount of Fortress Grey to the Dwarf Flesh in the highlight stages. The same mix that had been used for Pippin was also applied to Bilbo's cheeks.
The hands and feet of the hobbits are painted with the same initial basecoat and highlight stages used on the faces.
PAINTING SWORDS
Each
of the Hobbits' swords were painted with a basecoat of Boltgun Metal, highlighted
first with Chainmail, then again with a highlight of Mithril Silver.
Merry and Sam's swords were then given a wash with a thinned-down mix of Brown Ink and Black Ink to create a rusty effect.
Frodo's was left gleaming as he wields the magical sword Sting. If you want to represent Sting as it glows when enemies are close, apply a thinned down wash of Blue Ink after the final highlight stage.
BASING THE HOBBITS
Sand
was glued onto the base with white glue and then, once dry, given a Brown Ink
wash. This was drybrushed with a mix of Snakebite Leather and Fortress Grey,
and was finally flocked with static grass.
Now that the skin, swords and bases are all set, explore how to paint each Hobbit individually by simply clicking one of their faces from up above!
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