Leo Martínez
Painting miniature models of High Elves from Lord of the Rings can be a challenging but rewarding task. With the right techniques and colours, you can achieve a striking and unique look for your High Elf miniature army. In this guide, we will cover the steps to paint a High Elf, from the undercoat to the final touches on the sword. We will also explore different methods for painting the face, sashes, and tunic to make your models stand out, as well as techniques for painting the armour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First step | Undercoat the model with standard citadel black spray paint |
| First colour | Auric Armour Gold for all the armour, including the shield |
| Second step | Apply a small coat of Nuln Oil to all the gold parts |
| Third step | Heavy dry brush of Golden Griffon |
| Fourth step | Add Biel-Tan Green to the armour to give it a green tinge |
| Fifth step | Light dry brush of Runefang Steel to finish the armour |
| Sixth step | Heavy dry brush of Leadbelcher and then a light dry brush of Runefang Steel for the chainmail and belt |
| Seventh step | Paint the robes and cloak with Kantor Blue |
| Eighth step | Use Rakarth Flesh for the grip on the shield, then give it a wash of Agrax Earthshade |
| Ninth step | Highlight the raised parts with Karak Stone and Ushabti Bone |
| Tenth step | Heavy dry brush of Leadbelcher followed by a lighter dry brush of Runefang Steel for the blade of the spear |
| Eleventh step | Paint the elvish detail at the base of the blade using Auric Armour Gold |
| Twelfth step | Use W.S. Green Undercoat for the gold armour and the elven cloak |
| Thirteenth step | Give the 'under robes' and boots a flat brown coat |
| Fourteenth step | Straight coating of white for the sashes |
| Fifteenth step | Use W.S. Black to give the sashes, gloves, face and the lower robes a wash |
| Sixteenth step | Add PVA glue to the base and dip it in flock |
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What You'll Learn
Painting the face
Next, base the rest of the face around the eyes with Dark Flesh. Then, highlight with Dwarf Flesh, followed by a 50:50 mix of Dwarf Flesh and Elf Flesh. Finally, highlight the nose, cheeks, and chin with pure Elf Flesh.
Some painters prefer to start with the flesh, which is Foundry Flesh Light, and the lower lip with Foundry Flesh Shade. This gives the face more expression than painting the eyes first.
Another option is to use W.S. Black to give the face a wash, adding contrast to other grey areas, like the cloak, and instant shading for detail.
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Painting the armour
The next step is to apply a gold base coat to the armour, using a paint such as Auric Armour Gold. This is followed by a small coat of Nuln Oil over all the gold sections. To achieve a green tinge, as seen in the movies, a heavy dry brush of Golden Griffon is applied, followed by Biel-Tan Green. A light dry brush of Runefang Steel is then used to finish the armour.
For a more intricate look, you can follow these additional steps: start by drybrushing the armour with a 50:50 mix of Burnished Gold and Mithril Silver. If the armour appears too bright, wash it with thinned Chestnut Ink until you achieve the desired shade. To add further detail, use a thin black line of paint in the armour joins to make them stand out.
Another method to achieve a metallic look on the armour is to use different shades of grey to create a silverish finish. You can base the armour with Chaos Black and then highlight with Regal Blue, Enchanted Blue, and Ice Blue.
The process of painting High Elf armour can be time-consuming, but the results can be very rewarding, creating a unique and eye-catching miniature.
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Painting the sword
First, you need to undercoat your model with a spray paint such as Citadel Black. Next, you will apply Auric Armour Gold to all the armour, including the sword. This is followed by a small coat of Nuln Oil over the gold parts.
The next steps involve dry-brushing. Start with a heavy dry brush of Golden Griffon, followed by Biel-Tan Green to give the armour its distinctive green tinge. Finish with a very light dry brush of Runefang Steel.
For the sword, you can follow the same process as for the armour, but you may want to add an extra step to highlight the edges of the blade. This can be done with a heavier hand when applying the Runefang Steel to the edges, creating a sharp contrast and giving the illusion of a sharp blade.
You can also add some additional details to the sword, such as an elvish design at the base of the blade, which can be painted using Auric Armour Gold.
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Painting the robes
To paint the robes of a High Elf from Lord of the Rings, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, you need to decide on the colour scheme. One option is to use a flat brown coat for the under-robes and boots, as mentioned by one painter. They also suggest using pure white for the sashes, which will be dulled down in the next step.
Another painter suggests using Kantor Blue for the robes and cloak, which will give a vibrant and rich colour. This is a personal preference and can be adapted to suit your own colour choices.
The next step is to add contrast and shading. For the white sashes, a wash of black paint will add depth and contrast, particularly if other areas of the model are grey or black. This will create a sense of depth and make the model more visually interesting.
For the blue robes, you can add shading by carefully applying PVA glue to the base and dipping it into flock or static grass. This will create a textured effect and add depth to the colour.
Finally, you can add highlights to the robes. For the white sashes, you can use Fortress Grey and then Skull White to achieve a silverish look, as mentioned by one painter. For the blue robes, you can use a dry brush technique with a lighter shade of blue to add highlights and create a sense of texture and movement to the fabric.
Remember to take your time and slowly build up the layers of paint to achieve the desired effect.
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Painting the shield
The next step is to paint the shield with Auric Armour Gold. This colour is specifically chosen to match the iconic look of the High Elves from the Lord of the Rings films, where their armour has a distinctive gold and green appearance. To achieve this green tinge, a small coat of Nuln Oil is applied over the gold sections, including the shield.
To complete the shield, the raised parts are highlighted with Karak Stone, followed by an even sharper highlight of Ushabti Bone. These highlights add depth and dimension to the shield, creating a realistic finish.
Some painters choose to deviate from the movie colour scheme and instead draw inspiration from Tolkien's descriptions. This alternative scheme features silver mail and a grey-ish cloak, with a white undercoat for the entire model. This variation offers a unique interpretation of the High Elves, showcasing the creative freedom that painters can exercise when crafting their miniature armies.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to undercoat the model. A standard citadel black spray paint can be used for this.
To achieve the iconic gold/green look, a layer of Auric Armour Gold is applied first, followed by a small coat of Nuln Oil. Next, a heavy dry brush of Golden Griffon and a generous amount of Biel-Tan Green are added.
Start by painting the eye balls with Skull White and then paint the pupils with two very thin black lines. Use a fine detail brush for this. Next, base the rest of the face with Dark Flesh and then highlight with Dwarf Flesh, a 50:50 mix of Dwarf Flesh and Elf Flesh, and finally pure Elf Flesh on the nose, cheeks and chin.
Start by drybrushing the blade with Boltgun Metal, followed by Chainmail, and finally a light drybrush with Mithril Silver. Wash with thinned Black Ink.
