Skip to content
MINIATURES

RAY LAROSE|MINIATURES

⌕
Or browse: Schemes Recipes Gallery Paints Conversion Chart

New to this? Start here

Gold 4 steps The basecoat, wash, highlight sequence most metal is built on. Ultramarine Armour 4 steps The same idea with an edge highlight, which is what makes armour read as armour. Rust 3 steps Stippling and drybrushing, and hard to get wrong. Ork Flesh 9 steps The whole ladder: a basecoat, two layers, a highlight, then glazes to blend it together.

Every miniature I have painted, with the paints and the steps to paint it again.

Paint Schemes

How I painted each model: the exact paints, the order they went on, and the finish they gave.

Before you start, and what the technique words mean
Thin your paint
Almost everything here goes on thinner than it comes out of the pot. Neat paint dries thick and fills in the detail you paid for. Add water a drop at a time on a palette until it runs somewhere between milk and heavy cream, depending on the brand, then build the colour up in two or three coats rather than one.
Start on a primed model
Unless a step says otherwise, every recipe here begins on a model that has already been primed - paint will not sit properly on bare plastic. Black unless the scheme says otherwise, which is what most of these were painted over.
The same words mean two things
Wash, shade and layer are both things you do and names Citadel puts on pots. The badge on a step is the action. The Type column in the paint list is which range the pot came from. A step badged "layer" is often painted with a Base paint, and that is not a mistake.
basecoat
The first solid colour over primer. Two thin coats beat one thick one.
highlight
A lighter colour on the parts that would catch the light.
layer
A slightly lighter colour over part of the coat below, leaving its edges showing.
wash
Thin, watery paint that runs into the recesses and shades the whole area at once.
edge
A highlight along a sharp edge only, painted with the side of the brush.
shade
Darker paint placed deliberately in the shadows rather than left to flow.
glaze
Heavily thinned paint over dry paint, to tint it and soften the join between two colours.
stipple
Dabbed on with the tip of the brush for a broken, rough, mottled surface.
drybrush
Almost-dry paint dragged across raised texture so it catches only the high points.
blend
Two colours worked into each other while both are wet, so there is no visible line.
special
Anything that is not one of the above. The step note says what it is.

Recipes

Methods I reuse across models - skin, metal, armour, cloth and the rest. Each step is one named paint, one technique and a note. Unless a step says otherwise, every recipe here starts on a primed model - the scheme that uses it usually says which colour.

Before you start, and what the technique words mean
Thin your paint
Almost everything here goes on thinner than it comes out of the pot. Neat paint dries thick and fills in the detail you paid for. Add water a drop at a time on a palette until it runs somewhere between milk and heavy cream, depending on the brand, then build the colour up in two or three coats rather than one.
Start on a primed model
Unless a step says otherwise, every recipe here begins on a model that has already been primed - paint will not sit properly on bare plastic. Black unless the scheme says otherwise, which is what most of these were painted over.
The same words mean two things
Wash, shade and layer are both things you do and names Citadel puts on pots. The badge on a step is the action. The Type column in the paint list is which range the pot came from. A step badged "layer" is often painted with a Base paint, and that is not a mistake.
basecoat
The first solid colour over primer. Two thin coats beat one thick one.
highlight
A lighter colour on the parts that would catch the light.
layer
A slightly lighter colour over part of the coat below, leaving its edges showing.
wash
Thin, watery paint that runs into the recesses and shades the whole area at once.
edge
A highlight along a sharp edge only, painted with the side of the brush.
shade
Darker paint placed deliberately in the shadows rather than left to flow.
glaze
Heavily thinned paint over dry paint, to tint it and soften the join between two colours.
stipple
Dabbed on with the tip of the brush for a broken, rough, mottled surface.
drybrush
Almost-dry paint dragged across raised texture so it catches only the high points.
blend
Two colours worked into each other while both are wet, so there is no visible line.
special
Anything that is not one of the above. The step note says what it is.

Aged Metal

🔗🖨
Armour
Uses Vallejo Real Metallic Metals range
Paints Used
Aged Metal Base (77.139)Vallejo⇆Aged Metal Shade (77.159)VallejoAged Metal Air Brush (77.179)Vallejo⇆Aged Metal Light (77.119)Vallejo⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatAged Metal Base (77.139)Vallejo
    Base metal·Vallejo Detail 2
  2. 2
    highlightAged Metal Shade (77.159)Vallejo
    Shade smoothly·Vallejo Detail 2
  3. 3
    highlightAged Metal Air Brush (77.179)Vallejo
    Bring up the centers·Vallejo Detail 2
  4. 4
    glazeAged Metal Light (77.119)Vallejo
    Brightest highlights·Vallejo Detail
Used in: Ganger, Maulers

Balefire

🔗🖨
MandrakesFire
The erie green blue glow of my Mandrakes
Paints Used
Coal BlackPro Acryl⇆Sotek GreenCitadel⇆Baharroth BlueCitadel⇆White InkDaler-Rowney FW
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatCoal BlackPro Acryl
    Base the flame in a dark colour·Artis Opus Series S 3
  2. 2
    blendSotek GreenCitadel
    Everywhere but the deepest recesses·Artis Opus Series S 3
  3. 3
    blendBaharroth BlueCitadel
    Brighten 20% of surface·Artis Opus Series S 1
  4. 4
    shadeWhite InkDaler-Rowney FW
    Actually used to shade into the recesses to make the glow POP·Artis Opus Series S 1
Notes
All subtle blends - the effect is really sold when also used as OSL on surrounding items (minus the ink)
Used in: Drukhari Mandrake

Basic White Flesh

🔗🖨
Flesh
Standard Vallejo mix for tanned skins
Paints Used
Elf Skin Tone (72.004)Vallejo⇆Barbarian Skin (72.071)VallejoSunny Skin Tone (70.845)Vallejo⇆Elfic Flesh (72.098)Vallejo⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatElf Skin Tone (72.004)Vallejo
    Base all skin·Artis Opus Series S 3
  2. 2
    layerBarbarian Skin (72.071)Vallejo
    Deep shadows·Artis Opus Series S 3
  3. 3
    highlightSunny Skin Tone (70.845)Vallejo
    Blend in highlights·Artis Opus Series S 3
  4. 4
    layerElfic Flesh (72.098)Vallejo
    Final bright highlights·Artis Opus Series S 3
Used in: Death Korps of Krieg Infantry + Command Squad, Ultramarines 4th Company, Kronus Hegemony Black Scheme, Ironhead Squat Prospectors, Commissar, Death Korps Artillery, Commissar Yarrick, Cadien Shock Troops, Catachan Jungle Fighters, Reikland Reavers

Black Armour

🔗🖨
Armour
Used for armour and black vehicles, titans, etc
Paints Used
Coal BlackPro Acryl⇆Ice Yellow (70.858)Vallejo⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatCoal BlackPro Acryl
    Base all that jazz·Harder & Steenbeck Airbrush ULTRA 2024 Medium
  2. 2
    stippleIce Yellow (70.858)Vallejo + Coal BlackPro Acryl (1:2)
    Stipple with torn sponge·Beaky Make-up Sponge Medium
  3. 3
    edgeIce Yellow (70.858)Vallejo + Coal BlackPro Acryl (1:1)
    Add more yellow to the black for scratches and chipped in edges·Artis Opus Series S 1
  4. 4
    highlightIce Yellow (70.858)Vallejo + Coal BlackPro Acryl (2:1)
    If you want to dot highlight the corners (optional)·Artis Opus Series S 1
Used in: Ghazghkull Thraka, Dreadnought, Noise Marines, Jump Pack Intercessors, Orruk Warclans Megaboss, Imperial Knights - Knight Questoris, Ardboy Big Boss, Orruk Warclans

Black Weapons

🔗🖨
Weapon
Goto scheme for simple black weapons
Paints Used
Coal BlackPro Acryl⇆Mechanicus Standard GreyCitadel⇆Wolf Grey (72.047)Vallejo⇆LeadbelcherCitadel⇆Nuln OilCitadel⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatCoal BlackPro Acryl
    Base weapon·Artis Opus Series S 3
  2. 2
    edgeMechanicus Standard GreyCitadel
    Edge all panels·Artis Opus Series S 1
  3. 3
    highlightWolf Grey (72.047)Vallejo
    Dot highlights·Artis Opus Series S 1
  4. 4
    basecoatLeadbelcherCitadel
    Barrels, clips·Vallejo Detail 2
  5. 5
    washNuln OilCitadel
    Barrels, clips·Vallejo Detail 2
Used in: Ultramarines 4th Company, Ghazghkull Thraka, Maulers, Kommandos, Dreadnought, Commissar, Death Riders, Beast Snagga Boyz, Death Korps Artillery, Commissar Yarrick, Cadien Shock Troops, Imperial Knights - Knight Questoris, Catachan Jungle Fighters

Blood Bowl Bases

🔗🖨
Base
All my bases for Blood Bowl are done exactly the same.
Paints Used
BlackVallejo⇆Goblin Green (72.030)Vallejo⇆Moon Yellow (72.005)Vallejo⇆Bold Titanium WhitePro Acryl⇆SC00 (Matte Black)Scale75
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatBlackVallejo
    Primer over sand·Harder & Steenbeck Airbrush ULTRA 2024 Medium
  2. 2
    highlightGoblin Green (72.030)Vallejo
    Light touch·Artis Opus Series D Medium
  3. 3
    highlightMoon Yellow (72.005)Vallejo
    Even lighter touch·Artis Opus Series D Medium
  4. 4
    basecoatBold Titanium WhitePro Acryl
    White stripe
  5. 5
    layerSC00 (Matte Black)Scale75
    Rim the base
Notes
First, using PVA Glue and beach sand, cover tops of bases. Then primer black.
Dry brush the base with Goblin green then light touch of Moon yellow.
Freehand (lightly) the white stripe so it looks like it was done by hand
Used in: Tomb Kings Blood Bowl, Gouged Eye (Blood Bowl), Underworld Denizens, Rotters Blood Bowl Team, Untamed Troll, Reikland Reavers

Blood Splatter

🔗🖨
Blood
Best way to blood-up a unit
Paints Used
Blood for the Blood GodCitadel⇆Lahmian MediumCitadel⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    washBlood for the Blood GodCitadel + Lahmian MediumCitadel (2:1)
    Mix with medium·Artis Opus Series S 5
Notes
Heavily soak the brush with this mixture - then, using a drinking straw, blow HARD to spray the blood everywhere. Makes a great splatter pattern.
Used in: Ganger, Orruk Warclans Megaboss, Orruk Warclans

Brown Leather

🔗🖨
Leather
Quick n easy leathers
Paints Used
Rhinox HideCitadel⇆Abaddon BlackCitadel⇆Lahmian MediumCitadel⇆Doombull BrownCitadel⇆Skrag BrownCitadel⇆XV-88 (Deep Ochre)Citadel⇆Ushabti BoneCitadel⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatRhinox HideCitadel
    Base all leather·Artis Opus Series S 1
  2. 2
    basecoatAbaddon BlackCitadel + Lahmian MediumCitadel (1:2)
    Shade all leather recesses·Artis Opus Series S 1
  3. 3
    highlightDoombull BrownCitadel
    Chunky·Artis Opus Series S 1
  4. 4
    highlightSkrag BrownCitadel
    Scratchy damage highlight·Artis Opus Series S 1
  5. 5
    edgeXV-88 (Deep Ochre)Citadel
    Shakey - edge and scratch·Artis Opus Series S 00
  6. 6
    highlightUshabti BoneCitadel
    Dot highlight sparingly·Artis Opus Series S 00
Notes
Modifying: Saw this new recipe on WarhammerTV - new Armageddon Ork Boyz video - June 2026 Release (updated photo to come)
Used in: Ganger, Death Korps of Krieg Infantry + Command Squad, Hounds of Morka, Squig Rider, Gouged Eye (Blood Bowl), Kommandos, Kronus Hegemony Black Scheme, Commissar, Untamed Troll, Death Riders, Noise Marines, Wazdakka Gutsmek, Beast Snagga Boyz, Death Korps Artillery, Armageddon - Orks, Commissar Yarrick, Cadien Shock Troops

Brown Leather - Alternate Version

🔗🖨
Leather
A deeper rustic brown to work in unison with my standard brown. Think leather vest vs leather belt
Paints Used
Black BrownPro Acryl⇆Dark Golden BrownPro Acryl⇆Light UmberPro Acryl⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatBlack BrownPro Acryl
    Artis Opus Series S 3
  2. 2
    edgeDark Golden BrownPro Acryl
    Artis Opus Series S 1
  3. 3
    highlightLight UmberPro Acryl
    Artis Opus Series S 1
Used in: Reikland Reavers

Dark Skin

🔗🖨
Flesh
A darker skin tone recipe used across factions
Paints Used
Dark Flesh Tone (72.044)Vallejo⇆Charred Brown (72.045)Vallejo⇆Tan (72.066)Vallejo⇆Bugman’s GlowCitadel⇆
Steps
  1. 1
    basecoatDark Flesh Tone (72.044)Vallejo
    Base all felsh·Artis Opus Series S 3
  2. 2
    layerCharred Brown (72.045)Vallejo
    Deepen the shadows·Artis Opus Series S 1
  3. 3
    highlightTan (72.066)Vallejo
    Lighten the highlights·Artis Opus Series S 1
  4. 4
    highlightBugman’s GlowCitadel
    Brightest highlights into the pink tones·Artis Opus Series S 1
Notes
Blend 50:50 mixes of all between layers - closer to a glaze
Used in: Death Korps of Krieg Infantry + Command Squad, Ultramarines 4th Company, Ironhead Squat Prospectors, Ironhead Squat Exo-Kyn, Death Korps Artillery, Cadien Shock Troops, Catachan Jungle Fighters, Reikland Reavers

Paint Inventory

The paints I actually own - every pot on my shelf, not a catalogue of what exists. This is what the schemes and recipes are painted with.

PaintBrandTypeHueUsed in

Paint Conversion Chart

Citadel colours matched to their closest Vallejo, Pro Acryl and Two Thin Coats equivalents, by eye, over time. Nothing here is a measured colour match - the dots say how close each one really is.

Still filling this in: 8 of the 108 colours used in the recipes here have no row yet. Mostly Vallejo. A blank means not mapped, not that no equivalent exists.

How close the match is: near identical usable avoid

CitadelVallejoPro AcrylTwo Thin Coats