Painting

Arctic fox — winter white

Warm white fur is shaped by soft cool shadows beneath the body and between the tufts. Dark nose, amber eyes and brown claws keep the Arctic fox's expression clear without turning the winter coat grey.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean the sculpt and prime it
Remove supports and tidy their contact marks without sanding away the fur. Complete the cleaning and curing required for your printing material, then wash the finished model with a suitable cleaner and let it dry. Apply thin coats of Grey Surface Primer from several angles. Check beneath the belly and between the toes before painting.
Expected result
The sculpt is clean and dry, with an even thin primer coat in every recess.
Points to watch
Do not paint over dust or moisture, and do not fill the fur grooves with primer.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and prime it
Where to paint: Whole model
Greyvallejo · 70.601
Remove supports and tidy their contact marks without sanding away the fur. Complete the cleaning and curing required for your printing material, then wash the finished model with a suitable cleaner and let it dry. Apply thin coats of Grey Surface Primer from several angles. Check beneath the belly and between the toes before painting.
Expected result
The sculpt is clean and dry, with an even thin primer coat in every recess.
Points to watch
Do not paint over dust or moisture, and do not fill the fur grooves with primer.

2. Apply the base colours

A pale base for the white coat
Where to paint: White winter fur
Celestra Greycitadel · 21-26
Ivoryvallejo · 70.918
Mix two parts Celestra Grey with one part Ivory. Thin the mixture enough to flow from the brush and cover the fur in two light coats, allowing each to dry. Turn the fox to reach the underside and the far legs. Keep the nose, eyes and claws free for their separate base colours.
Expected result
The pale coat is opaque and the sculpted tufts remain sharp.
Points to watch
Avoid thick paint at the paws and the roots of the ears.
Dark nose and amber eyes
Where to paint: Eyes and nose
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Tau Light Ochrecitadel · 22-42
Paint the nose and the visible eyes with a thin coat of Abaddon Black. Once dry, place a small area of Tau Light Ochre inside each eye, leaving a narrow dark rim. Keep the colour within the sculpted eyelids; the white fur around the eyes must stay clean.
Expected result
The nose is black and both eyes have a small amber centre.
Points to watch
Do not enlarge the eyes or draw a dark mask across the face.
Brown claws
Where to paint: Claws
Dryad Barkcitadel · 21-23
Use Dryad Bark to pick out each visible claw. Approach from the tip with a fine brush so the colour does not creep onto the white toes. Turn the model and check the rear paws too.
Expected result
Each claw is distinct from the fur around it.
Points to watch
Do not merge the claws into a brown band around a paw.

3. Build the shadows

Soft cool shadows
Where to paint: White winter fur
Celestra Greycitadel · 21-26
Fenrisian Greycitadel · 22-68
Mix Fenrisian Grey with Celestra Grey and dilute it until a brushstroke is translucent. Build soft shadows beneath the body, inside the ears and between the larger tufts. Let each pass dry. Near the face, use less paint and keep most of the muzzle pale.
Expected result
The fur still looks white, but the belly and sheltered tufts are noticeably cooler.
Points to watch
Do not cover the whole animal with a dark wash or outline every hair.

4. Build the highlights

Warm white on the upper fur
Where to paint: White winter fur
Ivoryvallejo · 70.918
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Layer Ivory over the upward-facing fur, following the existing tufts with short brushstrokes. Add White Scar gradually and cover a smaller area with each lighter mix. Concentrate the brightest strokes near the forehead and shoulders; keep the flank and lower tail softer. Blend any hard patch back with the previous mix.
Expected result
Light flows across the head and back, with the cooler shadows still visible.
Points to watch
Avoid chalky drybrushing and extra lines that look like new hair.
A small light edge on each claw
Where to paint: Claws
Dryad Barkcitadel · 21-23
Karak Stonecitadel · 22-35
Add a little Karak Stone to Dryad Bark and paint a short stroke on the upper side of each claw. Keep the bases dark. Use only a tiny pale accent at a few exposed tips so the claws do not compete with the face.
Expected result
The claws have shape but remain dark overall.
Points to watch
Do not turn the whole claw ivory.

5. Paint the details

Finish the expression
Where to paint: Eyes and nose
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Add small black pupils inside the amber eyes, checking that both look in the same direction. Use a tiny White Scar dot for the strongest eye reflection. On the nose, blend a trace of Eshin Grey into the black and highlight only the upper curve. Keep the surrounding fur matte; a touch of gloss varnish may be used only on the eyes and nose after the paint has dried.
Expected result
The gaze is coherent, the nose reads clearly and the fur stays matte.
Points to watch
Do not enlarge catchlights or spread gloss into the white fur.

All paints and materials (10)

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Celestra Greycitadel · 21-26

Ivoryvallejo · 70.918

Fenrisian Greycitadel · 22-68

White Scarcitadel · 22-57

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Tau Light Ochrecitadel · 22-42

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Dryad Barkcitadel · 21-23

Karak Stonecitadel · 22-35

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Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean the sculpt and prime it
Remove supports and tidy their contact marks without sanding away the fur. Complete the cleaning and curing required for your printing material, then wash the finished model with a suitable cleaner and let it dry. Apply thin coats of Grey Surface Primer from several angles. Check beneath the belly and between the toes before painting.
Expected result
The sculpt is clean and dry, with an even thin primer coat in every recess.
Points to watch
Do not paint over dust or moisture, and do not fill the fur grooves with primer.

Arctic fox — winter white

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean the sculpt and prime it

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and prime it

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

A pale base for the white coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Dark nose and amber eyes

Expected result

Points to watch

Brown claws

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Soft cool shadows

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Warm white on the upper fur

Expected result

Points to watch

A small light edge on each claw

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Finish the expression

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Arctic fox — winter white

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean the sculpt and prime it

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and prime it

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

A pale base for the white coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Dark nose and amber eyes

Expected result

Points to watch

Brown claws

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Soft cool shadows

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Warm white on the upper fur

Expected result

Points to watch

A small light edge on each claw

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Finish the expression

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …