Painting a Kraken - Step By Step

[AntiMatter]

Hi folks,

 

The new Deepstar Kraken model is coming out soon for DeepWars and I painted up this one for display using a lot of inks and liquid acrylics. This model (not really a miniature when this big) was done in different stages. The base painting was done with blue skin and light tentacles. The mantle and top of the tentacles were given two washes of Marine Blue (Ultramarine) liquid acrylics (Dr. Phil Martins brand) mixed with matte medium and water. When the first was dry, the second was applied. The underside of the tentacles was done with a mix of Cerulean Blue ink (Liquitex) + white paint + Matte medium and water.

 

 

After removing from the base, as it was making it difficult to reach the bottom of the tentacles, I applied many light blue glazes (Cerulean Blue + Ultramarine Blue + White) for highlights and some dark (Ultramarine Blue) glazes for shadows.  The goal was to make the blending mostly smooth but not to go overboard and spend too long on it. The reason will become clear soon.

 

 

The next stage was the big one. Dots of blue-green, green, yellow-green, white and various shades of orange and Burnt Umber were applied to the mantle and tentacles. This was done using Liquitex inks and Phil Martin liquid acrylics to make sure the dots were very pure in color and, more importantly, flowed evenly off the end of the brush, which was held and used like a pen. After the dots had dried, glazes of inks colors were applied, yellow-green to the mantle and tips of tentacles and bright orange to the “face”. When this dried, more dots were applied over them and highlights were applied to some of the dots using a bit of white or yellow mixed into the ink.

 

 

 

 

The eyes were done with yellow liquid acrylic mixed with white, black, and a bit of blue as the base. It was highlighted with more white and a touch of yellow. The black iris was painted, then more white highlights were applied around it to clean it up. Finally, the big highlight was added at the top with thinned white. The eyes were not painted as gems (bright bottom, dark top with hot-spot secular reflection) here as the light was meant to be diffused by the water. Maybe next time. The base was done with washes of Burnt Sienna ink first, then washes of Pthalho blue and Marine Blue ink to darken the rocks. it was all drybrushed with Americana brand Buttermilk, then some glazes of greens, magentas and purples were added to the sponges and corals. The barnacles were drybrushed with some white to make them stand out.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2018 by AntiMatter

[kazmania7]

I luv the forehead effect, simply Decadent !!!

[Kelcore]

That is really gorgeous!

[pogre]

Quality work - beautiful!

[Pochi]

Wow! This is gorgeous! Saving this to my inspiration folder. Thanks for sharing!

[Darcstaar]

Great work.  The effort paid off!

[Glitterwolf]

Stunning!

[AntiMatter]

Thanks guys. Here is a shot next to the Argonaut sub for deepWars.

 

[LarsM]

Absolutely amazing!!

[Cyradis]

I love this!

[Egg of Coot]

Very nicely done.

 

The Egg

[Sharkbelly]

Wow. Ridiculously good.

[robsontpm]

This is PERFECT

[Chaoswolf]

That's amazing!!

[pcktlnt]

Beautiful!