How to paint that perfect ethereal look?

[Draconis]

Question for all of my fellows here.

I've recently started working on some customized Spirit hosts for my High Elf undead VC, but I am running into a bit of dilemma before I even prime the models.

You see, I want a nice, deep, glowing etheral look. With bits of green peering through on the body and seeming to glow brighter then the rest. The theme of my army paint scheme wise is Silver and Blue mostly, but I am torn here.

I don't know if I want to do a Green Ethereal glow, or a blue ethereal glow. I am thinking the blue might be better for cohesion of units but also for the bright green glowing bits.

Thing is, I have NO IDEA how to go about painting this and actually making it LOOK realistic as possible. I want to make these things actually look like they are weaving through the mists.

So some ideas I have starts with a green basecoat or a blue basecoat and then drybrushing slightly whiter tones onto it or whatnot.

Basically, I'm looking for any and all advice, and I'd appreciate some help guys, so please, help a fellow hobbyist in need if you can.

 

[YourMumRang]

I like the idea of using light-sourcing. Using 2 different sprays to base can mean you can go for that other-worldly light thing.

Other than that I suggest trying coolminiornot and going to find a tutorial. Google it.

 

[Draconis]

Already did that. Still am. No tutorials really that I could find, and all Google turns is up is two hits which I've already perused and found to be useless, and almost nothing for tutorials. I've tried all variations of search phrases etc.

Which is why I am turning to the community here.

 

[Viking]

LoTR Oathbreakers "How To" Paint Guide (Good for Ethereals)

This is one guide you can use. I saw a different guide for these guys where they came across with a bit darker undercoat. Also, there are a few threads that people have volunteered their ethereal recipes in the painting Logs.

This is a style I think a lot of people are interested in, and I will also be looking to work some out for a batch of Chaos Knights and Chaos Warriors (for my Black Knights and Spirit Hosts, respectively.) I liked the other how to guide someone else posted as it had better pictures and a more in depth blue ethereal look as well. If you search thru the threads long enough you will find a lot of good info. I wish I had it bookmarked because I just got my Vamp minis in from Reaper today.

Good luck!

 

[Kaptain Von]

Hmm.

Right. I start off with a white undercoat and mix a glaze of a fairly dark colour. I use Vallejo's knock-off Liche Purple for this, you'd probably want to use Dark Angels Green or maybe even Snot Green, depends how bold you want them. This first glaze is about 2:3 paint:water. Slosh it on. Don't be shy. Go nuts. You may want to do it twice if you want your ghosts to pop more.

Then mix up a glaze of black ink and glaze medium - very important that, takes the shine off - of about 1:4 ink:water consistency and slap that on. You might need to do a couple of layers. What this does is provide shading and make the raised bits (which caught more of the first, thicker glaze) stand out as the most colourful.

If you want to highlight, add a tiny wee drop of your original colour to Ghostly Grey (or a 3:1 mix of Space Wolves Grey and white, if you don't have any), and do the business with faces, hands, whatever you want to look slightly more obvious. I highlighted the face, bosom and hands on my Banshee, and didn't bother doing anything with the Spirit Hosts other than use a slightly thicker black glaze on their weapons (they're new-school Flagellants, you see). You can also use a 1:1 glaze of your primary colour (and, again, glaze medium) to make clothes slightly bolder and more vivid - again, I did this on my Banshee just to make her slightly more interesting to look at.

I'll have some pictures. Eventually. My photo-fu is weak, though, so it might take a while...

 

[Viking]

Spikehead's "Moonlight VC Army" featured in this post is a pretty sexy style for ethereals:

Spikehead's Moonlight VC Army - "Your Army Theme" post

He gave a walkthrough here...I really like the finished product and I am going to expiriment and see if a similar effect can be finished with red paint.