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Painting a lightsource on a miniature can really add character and visual interest, whether it is from a flaming torch or a magical lighting effect. In this stage-by-stage example, I have used a wall section, mainly because it’s a large area so you can see what is going on. These techniques are easily transferable to any miniature.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3 This Stage is the initial wash with a dark brown oil wash, sometimes called a filter.
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 9
The yellow tone is starting to build up to a substantial yellow color.
Stage 10
This final layer of clear yellow is straight from the pot, without any thinner added, for a concentrated color.
Stage 11
The first stage of the light source highlights are applied using a mid-tone yellow (Gold Yellow 007), following the direction of the arrow.
Highlights are also painted further out than the clear yellow paint, giving a subtle effect on the top of the bricks.
Stage 12
The edges of the bricks are now highlighted with a bright yellow (Moon yellow 005), concentrating on the top right corner of the brick.
Stage 13
The final dot highlight is applied in the top right of each brick. The whole wall is then varnished; notice how the whole effect is slightly toned down.
The sewer backdrop is very heavily weathered with oils and left as a gloss finish.
The Tomb of Horrors backdrop with multiple light sources adds warmth to an otherwise very drab (and cold) dungeon, as above.
Light sourcing magic
The same principles are used for magical effects, just with different colours. Tamiya also have a small range of transparent / clear paints ideal for these effects. As described in stage 7, weak washes are initially painted on, building up to a stronger pigment where the light is at its most intense.
The base was painted first as a standard wooden floor and then the washes of red, orange and yellow were applied around the rings. I have followed the direction of the wood texture with the highlight paint colours to accentuate the wood grain.
The final Anton & Umara- Sundering book 4 box cover.
The lava field base
The same techniques are used here, just on a larger scale. The sides of the rock closest to the hot lava were initially drybrushed with a mid-tone yellow and then washed with a thinned down Tamiya clear yellow paint, to add richness and slightly darken the colour so the final highlight on the extreme edges, with Vallejo Flat yellow 953 will really stand out.
Applying this to miniatures
With the same techniques used as above I have lightsourced Lorcan, a Cambion character taken from the Sundering books.
With the palette of this figure being limited to only red, black and silver, adding a light source from his flaming sword, is a good way of introducing another colour.
I have used the natural seam-line of the leg armour plates as a hard edge highlight and a focus for the paint to follow.
Farideh & Lorcan – The Sundering book 3 box cover.