How to Paint Cloth - Red
How I Paint Cloth on Warhammer Miniatures(Step-by-Step Beginners Guide)
In this article, I am going to go through a step-by-step process for painting cloth. This is a classic painting technique that avoids using washes. It was one of the first painting lessons I received over 35 years ago and is excellent for developing brush control and understanding how to build up smooth colour transitions with thin layers of paint.
This method is perfect for beginners and for anyone wanting to improve their painting.
For this guide, I used a Skaven Clanrat and decided to paint the cloth red.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the blog at no extra cost to you.
Paints Required:
- Khorne Red
- Rhinox Hide
- Mephiston Red
- Evil Suns Scarlet
- Wild Rider Red
Brushes Required:
- Medium Layer Brush
- Small Layer Brush
- Brush Soap
Brush care:
- Masters Brush Cleaner (Amazon affiliate link)
Once I’ve finished painting, I always clean my brushes with this to keep them in good condition.
Step 1 – Basecoats
To begin with, the cloth was given a basecoat of Khorne Red. The paint was thinned with a small amount of water so that it flowed smoothly and evenly over the model. Aim for a consistency that allows the paint to cover without leaving brush marks.
In some areas, a second thin coat was required to achieve a solid, even finish.
For this step, I used a Medium Layer brush.
Step 2 – Shading
When painting cloth, I use recess shading rather than washes. This is because washes settle according to gravity, whereas recess shading allows you to place shadows exactly where they should fall.
To shade the folds, I mixed Khorne Red with Rhinox Hide in roughly a 3:1 ratio. This mix was thinned slightly and carefully painted into the recesses of the cloth.
Try to be reasonably neat, but do not worry if some of the shading spills onto raised areas—this will be corrected in the next step.
For this step, I used a Medium Layer brush.
Step 3 – Tidying the Shading
Next, I tidied up the previous stage by repainting the raised areas of the cloth with Khorne Red, restoring the mid-tone and sharpening the contrast between shadow and highlight.
This stage is important for defining the structure of the cloth and keeping the finish clean.
For this step, I used a Medium Layer brush.
Step 4 – Highlighting the Cloth
Now we begin building up the highlights.
Mephiston Red was thinned and applied to the raised areas of the folds. When applying highlights, aim to leave some of the Khorne Red visible in the mid-tones.
Use the side of the brush where possible and paint in controlled strokes along the direction of the folds, drawing the paint toward the highest points.
For this step, I used a Medium Layer brush.
Step 5 – Further Highlights
In this stage, we refine the highlights further.
First, Evil Suns Scarlet was applied in thinner, more focused lines along the tops of the folds. Be sure to leave some of the Mephiston Red visible beneath.
Finally, Wild Rider Red was applied very sparingly to the highest points of the cloth—usually where folds meet and catch the most light. These should be very fine, short lines to create a sharp highlight.
For this step, I used a Small Layer brush.
Final Thoughts
This technique focuses on careful paint application and building smooth transitions through layering rather than relying on washes. While it takes a little more time, it gives you much greater control over the final result and helps develop core painting skills.
With practice, this method can be applied to any colour of cloth and scaled up to more advanced techniques such as glazing and blending.
Related Guides
- Skulls and Bone
- Weathered Armour
- Miniature Bases
Discussion
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.
Comments
Post a Comment