Painting

Knitted owl — plum and ivory

Deep plum loops surround warm ivory face rings and a pale belly. Ochre beak and feet, amber eye discs and matching tiny catchlights give the knitted owl a warm, balanced finish.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the knitted relief
Remove support marks with care around the ear tufts and feet. Wash the print and complete any curing required by its material, then let it dry fully. Brush dust out of the knitted recesses. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, allowing each coat to dry.
Expected result
Primer covers the dry owl evenly, without filling the knitted recesses.
Points to watch
Do not sand away the raised loops or fill them with primer.

Read the complete guide · 4

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the knitted relief
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove support marks with care around the ear tufts and feet. Wash the print and complete any curing required by its material, then let it dry fully. Brush dust out of the knitted recesses. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, allowing each coat to dry.
Expected result
Primer covers the dry owl evenly, without filling the knitted recesses.
Points to watch
Do not sand away the raised loops or fill them with primer.

2. Apply the base colours

Deep plum foundation
Where to paint: Plum head, wings and back
Xereus Purplecitadel · 22-09
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Add a small amount of Rhinox Hide to Xereus Purple for a warm, dark plum. Thin the mix and cover the purple areas with two light coats. Work the paint into the loop recesses without leaving puddles; keep the eye rings and belly clear for the next colour.
Expected result
The plum areas are opaque, with the knitted relief still crisp.
Points to watch
Keep this dark mix off the smooth eye discs.
Warm foundation for the ivory
Where to paint: Ivory face rings and belly
Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Mix Zandri Dust and Ushabti Bone equally. Apply several thin coats to the face rings and belly, letting the black primer disappear gradually. Follow the existing rows of loops where ivory meets plum; the boundary should run through the sculpt, not form a thick painted ridge.
Expected result
The pale areas have a solid warm base and clean outlines.
Points to watch
Do not paint across the purple loops between the face and belly.
Ochre beak and feet
Where to paint: Ochre beak and feet
XV-88citadel · 21-21
Cover the beak and feet with thinned XV-88. Turn the figure to reach the underside of the beak and the narrow gaps beside the feet. Use the point of the brush at the boundary with the ivory face and purple body.
Expected result
Both feet and the entire beak have an even ochre-brown base.
Points to watch
Do not leave a black patch under the beak.
Amber eye discs
Where to paint: Amber eyes and black pupils
XV-88citadel · 21-21
Balor Browncitadel · 22-43
Paint both eye discs with an equal mix of XV-88 and Balor Brown. Keep the brush lightly loaded so the surface stays smooth. Let each thin coat dry before adding the next; aim for matching colour and coverage in both eyes.
Expected result
Both discs are evenly amber, with no paint on the ivory rings.
Points to watch
Do not build up a raised rim of paint around either eye.

3. Build the highlights

Light on the purple loops
Where to paint: Plum head, wings and back
Xereus Purplecitadel · 22-09
Genestealer Purplecitadel · 22-10
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Layer Xereus Purple mixed with a little Genestealer Purple over the upper curves of the loops, leaving the dark base between them. Increase the Genestealer Purple toward the ear tips and brow. Add a trace of Screaming Skull for a few final accents on the loops nearest the light, keeping lower wings darker.
Expected result
The head catches the strongest light; individual loops remain separated by dark recesses.
Points to watch
Avoid equal bright outlines on every loop; they flatten the body.
Soft ivory highlights
Where to paint: Ivory face rings and belly
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Pick out the raised ivory loops with Ushabti Bone, leaving the warm base visible in their grooves. Mix in Screaming Skull and brighten the upper face rings and centre of the belly with short strokes. Blend any harsh boundary with a thin layer of the intermediate mix rather than flooding the texture.
Expected result
Ivory looks warm and rounded, with deeper shading under the eyes and belly.
Points to watch
Keep the brightest ivory off the deepest knitted gaps.
Warm accents on beak and toes
Where to paint: Ochre beak and feet
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Balor Browncitadel · 22-43
Layer Balor Brown onto the exposed loops, leaving XV-88 in the recesses. Add a little Ushabti Bone and touch the top of the beak and a few upper loops on each foot. Keep these highlights narrower and quieter than the ivory around the eyes.
Expected result
The ochre parts are distinct without competing with the face.
Points to watch
Do not turn the beak or feet pale cream.

4. Paint the details

Matching pupils and tiny catchlights
Where to paint: Amber eyes and black pupils
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Balor Browncitadel · 22-43
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Lighten the lower outer area of each iris with Balor Brown and a little Ushabti Bone. Paint a round Abaddon Black pupil in each eye, keeping both directed the same way and leaving an amber border. Add one small Screaming Skull catchlight at the same upper side of each pupil. Let the painted contrast supply the shine.
Expected result
The gaze is aligned and each eye has a single crisp catchlight.
Points to watch
Do not add extra eye outlines, eyelashes or glossy blobs.

All paints and materials (10)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Xereus Purplecitadel · 22-09

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Genestealer Purplecitadel · 22-10

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

XV-88citadel · 21-21

Balor Browncitadel · 22-43

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

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Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the knitted relief
Remove support marks with care around the ear tufts and feet. Wash the print and complete any curing required by its material, then let it dry fully. Brush dust out of the knitted recesses. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, allowing each coat to dry.
Expected result
Primer covers the dry owl evenly, without filling the knitted recesses.
Points to watch
Do not sand away the raised loops or fill them with primer.

Knitted owl — plum and ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the knitted relief

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the knitted relief

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Deep plum foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm foundation for the ivory

Expected result

Points to watch

Ochre beak and feet

Expected result

Points to watch

Amber eye discs

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Light on the purple loops

Expected result

Points to watch

Soft ivory highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm accents on beak and toes

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Matching pupils and tiny catchlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Knitted owl — plum and ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the knitted relief

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the knitted relief

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Deep plum foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm foundation for the ivory

Expected result

Points to watch

Ochre beak and feet

Expected result

Points to watch

Amber eye discs

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Light on the purple loops

Expected result

Points to watch

Soft ivory highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm accents on beak and toes

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Matching pupils and tiny catchlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …