Painting

Decorative cross — antique ivory, aged gold and restrained crimson

Antique ivory surrounds aged gold relief, with crimson reserved for sculpted rose petals where present. Thin layers and local recess shadows keep the carved leaves, flower curls and raised edges clear.

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Colours on the model

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Decorative cross — antique ivory, aged gold and restrained crimson

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the rose cross plaque
Brush dust from beneath the leaves and inside each rose, wash the plaque and dry it upright. Apply Grey Surface Primer across the broad field first, then use oblique passes to cover the sides of the sword and floral relief.
Expected result
The grey foundation is level across the plaque and continuous around every petal, leaf and sword edge.
Points to watch
Do not fill the petal separations or build a primer ridge along the stepped border.

Read the complete guide · 4

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the rose cross plaque
Where to paint: Whole model
Greyvallejo · 70.601
Brush dust from beneath the leaves and inside each rose, wash the plaque and dry it upright. Apply Grey Surface Primer across the broad field first, then use oblique passes to cover the sides of the sword and floral relief.
Expected result
The grey foundation is level across the plaque and continuous around every petal, leaf and sword edge.
Points to watch
Do not fill the petal separations or build a primer ridge along the stepped border.

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour
Where to paint: Recessed plaque and stepped frame
Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16
Thin Zandri Dust until the brush leaves a smooth stroke, then cover the plaque in two light coats. Work around the sword, vines and flower edges with the point of the brush instead of brushing over them.
Expected result
The ivory field is solid and calm from corner to corner, with no primer showing beside the raised ornament.
Points to watch
Do not fill the engraved border lines or round off the sharp steps of the plaque.
Base colour
Where to paint: Raised sword, vines and leaves
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Paint Retributor Armour along the sword from pommel to tip, then turn to the vines and leaves in short sections. Follow each leaf vein with the brush so the metallic paint does not bridge the carved channels.
Expected result
The whole raised botanical and sword relief is gold, with every leaf vein and grip ring still visible.
Points to watch
Keep gold off the crimson petals and away from the flat ivory background between stems.
Focal detail
Where to paint: Four sculpted roses
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Fill one rose at a time with Mephiston Red, starting in the centre and pulling colour towards the outer curl. Rotate the plaque before moving on so the lower lip of every petal is covered.
Expected result
All four blossoms are fully crimson and distinct from their gold leaves, with no ivory showing in the petal folds.
Points to watch
Do not paint the surrounding leaves or the vine stems red.

3. Build the shadows

Controlled shadow
Where to paint: Recessed plaque and stepped frame
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Load only the tip with Agrax Earthshade and draw it along one groove at a time. At each corner, stop, rinse the brush and lift the excess before continuing onto the next edge.
Expected result
The border and raised composition separate clearly from the plaque, while the large ivory planes remain clean.
Points to watch
Do not wash the whole plaque; broad brown stains will make the ivory look dirty rather than aged.
Controlled shadow
Where to paint: Raised sword, vines and leaves
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Place Agrax Earthshade into the carved veins and crossings with a fine brush. Pull each bead towards the lower side of the relief, then dry the brush and lift any tide mark from the blade face.
Expected result
The sword remains bright and flat-sided, while leaves, grip and overlapping vines separate into readable layers.
Points to watch
Do not pool shade around the rose edges; a brown halo will muddy the red focal shapes.
Controlled shadow
Where to paint: Four sculpted roses
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Touch a small amount of Agrax Earthshade into the centre of a rose and let capillary action carry it beneath the overlapping petals. Wick away any brown that spreads across the broad red face.
Expected result
Each blossom has a dark centre and clear petal overlaps without losing its rich crimson body colour.
Points to watch
Do not ring the whole flower with brown; the shadow belongs inside folds, not around the silhouette.

4. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight
Where to paint: Recessed plaque and stepped frame
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Glaze Ushabti Bone across the upper third of each raised border step. Finish with short Screaming Skull marks on the top edge and the sharpest corners, leaving the lower half in Zandri Dust.
Expected result
The plaque has a clear top light and crisp architecture without competing with the gold sword or red roses.
Points to watch
Do not outline every edge in pale cream; repeated bright lines will flatten the stepped frame.
Shape and highlight
Where to paint: Raised sword, vines and leaves
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Draw Liberator Gold along the chosen lit edges and touch the upper half of selected leaves. Add Stormhost Silver only to the sword tip, two guard corners and a handful of leaf points nearest the top light.
Expected result
The sword is the brightest vertical element; vines and leaves support it with smaller, warmer glints.
Points to watch
Do not silver every leaf vein or both sides of the blade; the relief should look aged, not chrome-plated.
Shape and highlight
Where to paint: Four sculpted roses
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Feather Evil Sunz Scarlet over the upper half of selected petals, following each curl. Finish with a pinhead of Screaming Skull on only the sharpest petal tip of each rose.
Expected result
The petals look curved and satin-like; the four tiny pale accents form a restrained rhythm around the sword.
Points to watch
Do not edge every petal in cream or turn the rose centres orange.

All paints and materials (10)

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

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Decorative cross — antique ivory, aged gold and restrained crimson

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the rose cross plaque
Brush dust from beneath the leaves and inside each rose, wash the plaque and dry it upright. Apply Grey Surface Primer across the broad field first, then use oblique passes to cover the sides of the sword and floral relief.
Expected result
The grey foundation is level across the plaque and continuous around every petal, leaf and sword edge.
Points to watch
Do not fill the petal separations or build a primer ridge along the stepped border.

Decorative cross — antique ivory, aged gold and restrained crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the rose cross plaque

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the rose cross plaque

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Focal detail

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Decorative cross — antique ivory, aged gold and restrained crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the rose cross plaque

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the rose cross plaque

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Focal detail

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

Controlled shadow

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Shape and highlight