#paint lightning

MABEL No. 88

So here is a short little update on how I like to do my lightning.  This may change as the project goes on, but as of right now this is how I do it.  Sorry for the bad photos, I can't seem to find my camera.  The lightning effect is one of the last things that I add to my mini's just because it can be a little sloppy for me.  I will always recommend looking at some pictures of natural things to try and get a better feel for what you are trying to paint.  This technique also works really well for lava effects, just change the colors to reds!

Step 1:

I paint the area where I want to have the lightning effect in a regal blue.

Large brush

Regal Blue

Step 2:

Over the regal blue I add a really thick line of Ultramarine's blue.  Be sure to give it a little shape and branch it off a little.  This essentially acts as the farthest lit region that the lightning would produce.

Large brush

Ultramarine's Blue

Step 3:

Over the Ultramarine's blue I do a line of 1:1 Ultramarine's blue to Ice blue.  I try to give it a little more shape as well.

Large brush

1:1 Ultramarine's Blue to Ice Blue

Step 4:

At this point I really add in the detail.  I switch to the smaller basecoat brush so I can get a finer line.  While staying in the previous paint I really try to make the lines go thin and wild, just like lightning would naturally do. This step is done with pure Ice blue

Basecoat brush

Ice Blue

Step 5:

The final step is to go and add a little bit of pure white to the areas where there are branches, or wherever you think the lightning would be brightest.

Basecoat brush