How to Paint Green Flames
How to Paint Green Flames on Miniatures
The Pyregheist of the Nighthaunt are spectral entities wreathed in ghostly fire, their flames burning with an unnatural, otherworldly glow.
For this guide, I wanted the fire to feel ethereal. Less like natural flame from Aqshy and more like an eerie conflagration from Shyish. The aim is to create a smooth blend from bright, glowing greens into darker, smoky tones.
New to painting Warhammer Miniatures → Start here: Warhammer Painting Made Simple
For other miniature painting guides → Faction Painting Hubs
This method uses layering and glazes to build the effect, so take your time and allow each stage to dry before moving on.
The Pyregheist of the Nighthaunt are spectral entities wreathed in ghostly fire, their flames burning with an unnatural, otherworldly glow.
For this guide, I wanted the fire to feel ethereal. Less like natural flame from Aqshy and more like an eerie conflagration from Shyish. The aim is to create a smooth blend from bright, glowing greens into darker, smoky tones.
New to painting Warhammer Miniatures → Start here: Warhammer Painting Made Simple
For other miniature painting guides → Faction Painting Hubs
Paints Used:
- Corax White
- Striking Scorpion Green
- Karandras Green
- Incubi Darkness
- Abaddon Black
- Army Painter Matt White
- Lahmian Medium
- Corax White
- Striking Scorpion Green
- Karandras Green
- Incubi Darkness
- Abaddon Black
- Army Painter Matt White
- Lahmian Medium
Painting the Green Flames
1. Basecoat
Begin by basecoating the areas you want to appear as flames with
Corax White
. If you are painting over a darker colour, build this up in a few thin layers until you achieve a smooth, even grey-white finish.
2. Initial glaze
Apply a thin wash made from
Army Painter Matt White
mixed with
Lahmian Medium
in roughly a 1:4 ratio. This allows a brighter white to settle into the recesses and begins to establish depth early on.
3. First green layer
Once dry, apply an even coat of
Striking Scorpion Green
across the flames.
4. Second green layer
Apply a second coat of
Striking Scorpion Green
to intensify the colour. While this second layer is still wet, introduce
Karandras Green
into the upper half of the flames.
Blend the two colours gently to avoid harsh transitions.
5. Adding the darkest green layer
When dry, glaze the top third of the flames with thinned
Incubi Darkness
. Work quickly and build the intensity gradually with multiple thin layers.
This step shifts the upper areas towards a deeper, more spectral tone.
6. Adding smoky tips
Mix a small amount of
Abaddon Black
into the
Incubi Darkness
and continue glazing the tips of the flames.
This creates a natural fade from green into darker, smoky ends.
7. Adding heat glow
To bring back the sense of heat and energy at the base, mix a small amount of
Striking Scorpion Green
into
Army Painter Matt White
and thin it slightly.
Carefully glaze this onto the lower third of the flames.
Then mix
Army Painter Matt White
with
Lahmian Medium
and apply it into the deepest recesses to represent the brightest, hottest parts of the flame.
8. Final glaze
Mix
Striking Scorpion Green
with
Lahmian Medium
in roughly a 1:8 ratio and apply this as a very light glaze across the entire flame.
This ties all the colours together and smooths the transitions.
The same glaze can also be used to add a subtle glow onto nearby surfaces, helping suggest an object source lighting effect.
1. Basecoat
Begin by basecoating the areas you want to appear as flames with Corax White . If you are painting over a darker colour, build this up in a few thin layers until you achieve a smooth, even grey-white finish.
2. Initial glaze
Apply a thin wash made from Army Painter Matt White mixed with Lahmian Medium in roughly a 1:4 ratio. This allows a brighter white to settle into the recesses and begins to establish depth early on.
3. First green layer
Once dry, apply an even coat of Striking Scorpion Green across the flames.
4. Second green layer
Apply a second coat of Striking Scorpion Green to intensify the colour. While this second layer is still wet, introduce Karandras Green into the upper half of the flames.
Blend the two colours gently to avoid harsh transitions.
5. Adding the darkest green layer
When dry, glaze the top third of the flames with thinned Incubi Darkness . Work quickly and build the intensity gradually with multiple thin layers.
This step shifts the upper areas towards a deeper, more spectral tone.
6. Adding smoky tips
Mix a small amount of Abaddon Black into the Incubi Darkness and continue glazing the tips of the flames.
This creates a natural fade from green into darker, smoky ends.
7. Adding heat glow
To bring back the sense of heat and energy at the base, mix a small amount of Striking Scorpion Green into Army Painter Matt White and thin it slightly.
Carefully glaze this onto the lower third of the flames.
Then mix Army Painter Matt White with Lahmian Medium and apply it into the deepest recesses to represent the brightest, hottest parts of the flame.
8. Final glaze
Mix Striking Scorpion Green with Lahmian Medium in roughly a 1:8 ratio and apply this as a very light glaze across the entire flame.
This ties all the colours together and smooths the transitions.
The same glaze can also be used to add a subtle glow onto nearby surfaces, helping suggest an object source lighting effect.
Key Points
- Work with thin layers and build colour gradually
- Blend while paints are still wet where needed
- Use darker tones towards the tips of the flames
- Keep the brightest highlights at the base
- Glazes are key to achieving smooth transitions
- Work with thin layers and build colour gradually
- Blend while paints are still wet where needed
- Use darker tones towards the tips of the flames
- Keep the brightest highlights at the base
- Glazes are key to achieving smooth transitions
Related Guides
This guide is part of my Miniature Painting Guides collection.
Discussion
How did you find the method?
Have you tried painting green flames or other spectral effects before?
How did you find the method?
Have you tried painting green flames or other spectral effects before?
I am trying something new with the colours in the boxes. What do you think?
Drop a comment below.
Let me know in the comments. I would be interested to hear what has worked for you.
Happy hobbying!
If you are enjoying the content, feel free to follow the blog. It really helps and keeps you updated with new tutorials.
Return to the home page.
Let me know in the comments. I would be interested to hear what has worked for you.
Happy hobbying!
If you are enjoying the content, feel free to follow the blog. It really helps and keeps you updated with new tutorials.
Return to the home page.
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