Monday, April 10, 2023

H is for 'eavy Metal (kinda)


 ‘eavy Metal is the name of Games Workshop’s in-house painting team. Whenever you see Warhammer models used in promotional materials, on the GW website, box art or in official magazines, they were painted by the ‘eavy Metal team.

These guys are good. Really good. Games Workshop wouldn’t employ them unless they made their models look absolutely fabulous. Over the years, the team has also developed a very particular and identifiable style - a painting style that has become synonymous with the name ‘eavy Metal.

‘Eavy Metal painting is most easily defined by a heavy use of edge highlighting. The brightest edges of their models often lightened to nearly pure white. Their work is not particularly realistic, but the contrast is so strong and the colour so vibrant it stands out brilliantly, often looking more like a colour illustration than a three-dimensional model. 

The team is also known for using VERY thin layers of paint - multiple thin layers will always look better and smoother than one thick layer, though it takes a lot more time to get an opaque coverage. They also use a lot of glazing, which is painting over another colour with a highly translucent but different colour paint in order to tint it. It goes hand and hand with the very thin layers, and is commonly used to add darker tones and shadows.

I don't have any examples of my 'eavy Metal style... because I can't paint like that. I mean, I've tried a bit, but I just don't have the skills to pull it off. At least not yet. So let's just sit back and enjoy looking at the professionals:

Seriously, this is NOT an illustration. This is an honest-to-goodness plastic model, just a few inches tall. Check out the link to see it from more angles. Credit: Golden Demon

Golden Demon is an annual miniatures painting contest, where the 'eavy Metal style dominates. You really want to see some impressive art (ie, not mine)? Go scroll through their pages for awhile.

Anyway, hope y'all have great week!

Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK


3 comments:

PT Dilloway said...

That is some impressive painting, especially on the last one.

Birgit said...

That is amazing artistry.

jabblog said...

So much detailed work that is probably not fully appreciated by the onlooker/purchaser.

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