How to Paint Skaven Fur
How to Paint Skaven Fur and Flesh
A simple and effective method for painting Skaven fur and flesh with smooth transitions and natural tones.
This guide covers a straightforward approach to painting Skaven fur and exposed flesh, focusing on creating a natural transition between the darker fur and lighter skin areas. The process is designed to be efficient for batch painting while still producing a detailed and characterful finish.
New to painting Warhammer Miniatures → Start here: Warhammer Painting Made Simple
For other miniature painting guides → Faction Painting Hubs
Paints Required
- Matt Black Spray
- Thondia Brown
- Skrag Brown
- Deathclaw Brown
- Cadian Fleshtone
- Kislev Flesh
- Pink Horror
- Bugman’s Glow
- Agrax Earthshade
- Carroburg Crimson
Step 1 – Priming and Basecoats
Begin by priming the miniature with a matt black spray.
Once dry, apply a basecoat of Thondia Brown to all fur and flesh areas, leaving the tail separate for now. A medium layer brush works well for this stage.
Step 2 – Drybrushing the Fur
Using a small drybrush, lightly drybrush the fur with Skrag Brown. This will catch the raised textures and begin to build contrast across the model.
Step 3 – Building the Fur to Flesh Transition
Thin Skrag Brown slightly with water and apply it to the muzzle, ears, forearms, hands, and feet.
Next, layer Deathclaw Brown onto the same areas, leaving the Skrag Brown visible in the recesses.
Highlight the raised areas of the muzzle and ears with Cadian Fleshtone. This combination creates a smooth transition between fur and exposed skin.
Step 4 – Shading
Wash all fur and flesh areas with Agrax Earthshade.
This step deepens the shadows, softens transitions, and ties the colours together with a slightly dirty, natural finish.
Step 5 – Highlighting
Once the wash is fully dry, lightly drybrush the fur again with Skrag Brown, followed by a very light drybrush of Deathclaw Brown.
Switch to a small layer brush and reapply Cadian Fleshtone to the muzzle, ears, hands, and feet, leaving the shaded recesses visible.
Step 6 – Fine Details
Apply finer highlights using Kislev Flesh to the knuckles, ears, and raised facial details.
Mix a small amount of Pink Horror with Kislev Flesh and apply this to the nose and tips of the ears to introduce a subtle pink tone.
Step 7 – Painting the Tail
Basecoat the tail with Bugman’s Glow using a thin, even layer.
Once dry, apply a 1:1 mix of Cadian Fleshtone and Pink Horror.
Wash the tail with Carroburg Crimson to deepen the tone and enhance the fleshy appearance.
To highlight, mix Kislev Flesh with a small amount of Pink Horror and paint thin bands across the tail to create a segmented, organic texture.
Final Thoughts
This method creates a natural transition between fur and flesh while maintaining strong contrast for tabletop visibility. It is especially effective for painting large Skaven units, as drybrushing and washes do much of the work.
By keeping your colours consistent and transitions smooth, you can achieve a cohesive army that still retains plenty of individual character.
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