Painting Fire

General Elessar · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:32 pm

Any tips on how to paint fire? It's for Aragorn Weathertop model.

BilboOfTheWhiteTower · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:43 pm

I always start with white and move to red. Basically, just a hint of white at the very bottom mixed in with some yellows then blend up to orange and then up to some red on the tips.

Elland · **Joined:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 4:55 am **Posts:** 181

I agree with BilboOfTheWhiteTower's advice, but would also add this - do a google image search for "torch" and use that as a good visual image. Once you've gotten the yellow, orange and reds onto the flame, I usually give it an orange wash to help blend the colors together. Not a very deep/dark wash, but something like a 1:1 of blazing orange/Golden Yellow, then with that mix a 1:1 orange/liquid hand soap. Add to that, up to 4x the amount paint in water and you'll have a nice glaze. If the paint wash still looks too thick, add more water. If it starts looking too thin, stop adding water. It would be better to do a couple very thin coats than one thick though. I usually test it by cleaning my brush, then dipping it in the glaze and then seeing how a paper towel soaks it up from the brush.

So, to clarify:

1:1 orange/yellow = mix
1:1 mix/liquid hand soap
4:1 water/mix+soap

If you're starting from a black undercoat, I would paint the flame with Iyanden Darksun first and then build up the yellows on that before hitting the orange/reds.

Edit: if you don't have liquid hand soap handy, you can use 'ard coat instead. The problem is that you'll get a glossy finish.

Sticky Fingersss · **Joined:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:20 am **Posts:** 1058

After you painted hte fire, drybrush some black on the edges of the flame. This gives great impression of smoke.

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:38 am

I might have to try starting with white sometime ... I always start with a black undercoat then go from red through orange then yellow up to almost white - i like the black undercoat as it leaves a darker contrast to the flames themselves ... never tried with the white undercoat.

Elros of Numenor · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:07 am

well I think durinsbane's balrog guide is probably the best method of painting fire I have ever seen. A must see if you haven't already. although i would probably avoid using red.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 1:45 pm

Elros of Numenor wrote:

well I think durinsbane's balrog guide is probably the best method of painting fire I have ever seen. A must see if you haven't already. although i would probably avoid using red.

I would also recommend this painting guide for fire. Click here to view it.

Elros of Numenor · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:13 pm

But....that's the guide I was talking about.

General Elessar · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:16 pm

What about a little bit of blue in the middle?

Elros of Numenor · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:41 pm

I'm gonna say no, because if you look at pics from the film there is no noticeable blue colour on the torch. just keep it simple and go with yellow and orange

I'm certainly not a great painter though. The mods should have some good advice.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:59 pm

Elros of Numenor wrote:

But....that's the guide I was talking about.

I know, I was seconding your recommendation and linking the quide you were talking about for General Elessar in case he was unable to find it

@General Elessar - I doubt the flames were hot enough to have a blue flame, but you could add some if you really wanted. I wouldn't know quite how to go about doing so though. Maybe a simple watered down wash of blue for the deepest recesses? I still think it'd look better without blue though.

Painting Fire

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