Painting giant worms

Introduction

The first "serious" part of the commission, these Reaper Great Worms are painted using traditional techniques instead of Contrast.

Original state

The worms have been basecoated in violet and green.

Original idea

I wanted to honor and use the original colors, so I thought to shade and drybrush in a monochrome progression. I applied Biel-Tan Green and Druchii Violet, respectively. Barely visible, I know.

First, a drybrush of Hexed Lichen.

Then Heavy Violet.

Barely visible? Yes. Also, Hexed Lichen is saturated and vibrant, where Heavy Violet is desaturated. Drybrushed over, it simply overwhelmed the previous layer. And it was all barely perceptible.

Same, same, but different

Wash Nuln Oil. The darkening is already more visible.

Drybrush Heavy Violet. Again, already much better.

Mix Reaper Spectral White into the Heavy Violet and drybrush successive layers. Each lighter drybrush was applied in a thinner line around the spine (if worms have one).

I then applied the same idea to the green worm. Wash Nuln Oil.

Drybrush with successive layers of Heavy Green, mixed with Scorpion Green.

Underbelly

I wanted something different for the softer, fleshier parts. Basecoat Heavy Skintone.

Then shade with Druchii Violet and Biel-Tan Green, respectively.

First, drybrush with Heavy Skintone as a general highlight, then start mixing in Pale Flesh and drybrush successive lighter and thinner layers, with the final drybrush of Pale Flesh just in the middle.

Mouths

Basecoat Bonewhite.

Wash Seraphim Sepia - to color the teeth.

Apply Carroburg Crimson selectively, to color the fleshy parts / gums.

Highlight the teeth with Bonewhite, then Wraithbone.

Base

Now the commission work does not include the base, but these sculpts include chunks of earth and rock on and around the belly. I did not want to leave that grey. So basecoat Wraithbone and coat Wyldwood - going for the dark earth look. 

Midway, I applied Stirland Mud to the base around the rocks. Then the wash and final drybrush.

Pustules... or, whatever

I was missing something to add on to them, when I noticed a bunch of small round protrusions all around their bodies. I went the usual nurgle-y pustule recipe: Heavy Goldbrown, Carroburg Crimson, Sun Yellow.

Finished!