How I Paint - Green Flames

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The Pyregheist of the Nighthaunt are spectral entities wreathed in ghostly fire, their flames burning with an unnatural, otherworldly glow. I wanted the fire on mine to feel ethereal, less like natural flame of Aqshy and more like an eerie conflagration from Shyish. This guide shows how I achieved this spectral green fire effect, using layering and glazes to capture the haunting energy of the Nighthaunt.

Paints required:
  • Corax White
  • Striking Scorpion Green
  • Karandras Green
  • Incubi Darkness
  • Abaddon Black
  • White Scar
  • Lahmian Medium
Painting Green Flames

1. Begin by basecoating the areas you want to appear as green flames with Corax White. If you’re painting over a dark colour, apply several thin coats until you achieve an even grey-white finish.


2. Next, apply a wash made from White Scar mixed with Lahmian Medium in a 1:4 ratio. This allows the brighter white to gently settle into the recesses, adding subtle depth early on.


3. Once dry, give the flames an even coat of Striking Scorpion Green. 


4. Follow this with a second coat to intensify the tone. While the second layer is still wet, paint the upper half of the flames with Karandras Green, blending softly to avoid any harsh transitions between the two colours.


5. When dry, glaze the top third of the flames with thinned Incubi Darkness — remember, you’re glazing, not painting. Work quickly and repeat this step as needed to build a richer, darker tone.

6. For the smoky tips, mix a little Abaddon Black into the Incubi Darkness and continue glazing to create a natural fade into shadow.


7. To bring back the glow at the base, mix a small amount of Striking Scorpion Green into White Scar, thin it with water, and carefully glaze the lower third of the flames. Then, mix White Scar with Lahmian Medium and paint this mixture into the deepest recesses to represent the hottest, most intense areas of fire. These final highlights can be tricky but are essential for realism.


8. Finally, mix Striking Scorpion Green with Lahmian Medium in a 1:8 ratio and lightly glaze over the entire flame to tie the colours together. Use the same glaze to add a gentle Object Source Lighting (OSL) effect on nearby surfaces, capturing the eerie glow of the green fire.

That’s it, your ethereal green flames are complete. The blend of bright greens fading into dark smoke gives the Pyregheist’s fire a haunting, supernatural glow that perfectly suits the ghostly aesthetic of the Nighthaunt. It’s a striking effect that looks complex but is surprisingly achievable with patience and a few thin layers. 

How did you find the method? Have you any questions? Let me know in the comments. Happy Hobbying.

More of my How to paint... articles can be found here, including How I Paint - Nighthaunt.

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