Duncan does BLANCHITSU! (Grimdark Warhammer 40,000)

WARNING! Contains some flashing images and a sprinkle of Grimdark & 40K Horror...
Well, this is a real first for sure! Duncan does BLANCHITSU for the very first time. Seriously though, we had so much fun doing something completely different (and unplanned!) and we were pleased with the end result. We loved using a limited colour palette, exploring colour contrasts and adding some grim, dark grunge effects. We hope you guys enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed exploring the grimdark horrors of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
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Paints used:
Zandri Dust Spray
Wraithbone Spray
Leadbelcher
Balthazar Gold
Corvus Black
Agrax Earthshade
Seraphim Sepia
Skeleton Horde
Catachan Flesh
Apothecary White
Basilicanum Grey
Lahmian Medium
Matt Black (Army Painter)
Evil Sunz Scarlet
Fire Dragon Bright
Typhus Corrosion
Nuln Oil Gloss
Fleshtearers Red
Martian Ironcrust
Reikland Fleshshade
Various red/orange rust pigments
#duncanrhodes
#twothincoats
#blanchitsu

[@JoeHardacre]

This is the sort of aesthetic I would love them to go for if/when the dark mechanicum finally gets some official support

[@alex_5398]

Yeah one day.......

[@Morganistalking]

Bit too much effort for me for a whole army personally.be a cracking kill team though.

[@andymeechan3924]

Embrace the kit-bash! It's rather rewarding.

[@JoeHardacre]

@@andymeechan3924 man I struggle to put together official models and following the instructions. I've got an arch lord discordant that's gonna lose half his leg at this point

[@andymeechan3924]

@@JoeHardacre I hear you, buddy! I'll keep my fingers crossed for Dark Mech kits for you.

[@Pyre001]

Grimdark/Blanchitsu has been really popular lately, and as a result I've seen about as many different styles as I've seen videos, all called Grimdark/Blatchitsu. Really cool to see the different kinds of things people take away from the same artist.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Agreed. It was fun to interpret it and have a go. 😊

[@vanillaicecream2385]

i paint grimdark quite simply, the less complex the scheme the better

[@OldManRogers]

Look up 'the zorn pallete' for ideas about blanchitsu

[@Powerhungry5000]

Duncan doing a grimdark paintjob? My life is complete!

[@ZhysaytheBandit]

I don't think I've seen any other Blanchitsu guide not use oil paints or streaking grime. Awesome idea for the Ruststalkers!

[@MrStatistx]

@@paulyg405 Just don't fall for the Vallejo trap if you want to replicate the actual Streaking Grime tutorials. I've seen a few confused posts of people buying Vallejo and wondering why they can't do the backwards highlighting with white spirits :)

[@neil9525]

Oils are so easy to use and give such a better finish. It tends not to suffer from pooling and can be manipulated for a long time after. You’ve just got to get past the thought that you’re using something complicated.

[@MrStatistx]

@@neil9525 I mean I don't like that I have to use something like white spirits and also cleanup is so horrible and I wouldn't want to use my good brushes, BUT I have to say that blending (like with wet blending on acrylics) with oils is extremely easy. A good "First try" oil product would be the Oil Brushers from Ammo Mig. Basically diluted enough, come with a brush in the cap and lets you play around with them a bit without having to go all in on the material buying.

[@stefan020290]

@@MrStatistx I kinda laugh at people always complaining about I have to buy twenty things for oil washes. You spent 200 dollars/ pounds/ euro on the latest Warhammer release but a cheap oil paint (about 3 Euro) some odorless white spirit (about 10 Euro for a litre at any hardware store) and an old brush is all you need and now seems to be waaay too much.

[@MrStatistx]

@@stefan020290 I have several reasons not to get into oil paints at the moment. .) I already paid a ton for acrylic supplies and feel that I need to use them more before I do something else. Same goes for my wet palette. It's for acrylics and i want to use it to get it's moneys worth. .) A subpoint from the previous: I want to learn the painting techniques with acrylics, before i use the easier oilblending. .) I simply don't like to use something like white spirits vs water. .) I am colorblind and it's easier for me to have colors that are named Treebranch brown, eggyolk yellow, bootstrap leather, magic glow blue or bruised purple (all just invented examples), instead of trying to mix them

[@dimitrizero2406]

Me: How many Agrax Earthshade must I use, Duncan? Duncan: Yes.

[@azarael77]

"And then you take a pot of Agrax Earthshade and just dip the whole miniature into it."

[@SupBro-ww9go]

@@azarael77 as an autistic kid I used to be very literal minded, I did this several times

[@commentingisdangerous7530]

this was so awesome to watch. i really wish duncan would make a whole series of blanchitsu videos.

[@Kasigil0]

the transition frames broke my eyeballs

[@jackogoeswacko4smackos]

yeh so much flashing

[@sasserine]

A good rule of thumb, when attempting 'Blanchitsu': If the figure looks as if it could step into the cover of Black Sabbath's 'Mob Rules' album, you're on the right track.

[@pancakemogul]

Sick editing, Roger! Oh, and nice job on the mini, Duncan. Can't wait for Dunc Fu to be a thing.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks Jach, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@SupBro-ww9go]

Dunc Fu is best art

[@ConstableGrey]

Would be cool to see your Blanchitsu take on Warhammer Fantasy/Sigmar

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

If people enjoy this video we may just do that 😊

[@Basil_Ghothickovitch]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA More Age of Sigmar is definitely needed! That is so cool!

[@Salty_Sassenach]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA I'm enjoying it, I'm enjoying it.

[@DaThingOnTheDoorstep]

Fantasy yeah, Sigmar no. There is no grimdark in Sigmar.

[@Willie5000]

@@DaThingOnTheDoorstep Sigmar is so open ended that there's a lot of potential for grimdark.

[@bentwineham1986]

Oh, damn, I was looking for a blanchitsu painting tutorial just the other day! Duncan to the rescue!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

We aim to please 😊

[@justinavery8664]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA Great tutorial, it's nice to have a good water-based tutorial vs the oils. I'm looking for a different approach to painting Adeptus Titanicus... this might be a cool style for that. Blanche had some neat schemes for the old epic/titanicus.

[@cyborgbadger1015]

@@justinavery8664 agreed, however I still can't find any Citadel War-ter to thin my paints with.

[@MunitionsDudTester]

Loving this detour from the "norm"!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It sure was fun!

[@lowbrowminis]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA you doing the blanchetsu style is going to bring a lot of attention to the existing blanchetsu community. It's such a wonderful expression of parts of the Warhammer universe.

[@tenthdeviation]

Thank you Duncan, this is one of the most approachable and in-depth videos on the subject I've seen yet.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad it was helpful and it was our pleasure! 😊

[@RobinMadsenDK]

Thank you so much for these amazing videos Duncan! I painted my first warhammer model yesterday, and your videos help me so much and inspire me! + they are just a joy to have playing while i paint! Please keep up the amazing work and thanks again!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Wow, thank you for the kind words. So exciting that you painted your first miniature yesterday and we are glad we could help 😊

[@jackwilliams4087]

Welcome to the hobby.

[@Basil_Ghothickovitch]

For me, Blanchitsu is the quintessential of Warhammer - bizarre and grotesque above all. Also, the "grimdark" for which everyone is so praying does not necessarily mean only muted colors. I love paint that are bright and beautiful but realistic colors - which is so lacking in real life.

[@BLUEKOMMEH]

That's an awesome video Duncan! I've missed your style at the GW channel, but your explanation and demonstration methods in a more diverse range of projects is a great combination!

[@MCeeEscher]

Wow, outstanding work! The passion and attention to detail in this mini was obvious, and it came out breathtaking.

[@Svartig4ldur]

It's not true grimdark without an unneccessary dungload of streaking grime! Just kidding, love it!

[@KevinoftheCosmos]

Love it, Duncan. You're an MVP on my painting instruction team. I love how good your basing looks in particular.

[@6077157707]

Stellar paintjob, as usual, and great explanation of what Blanchitsu is about. This is a great starting point for everyone to dig deeper.

[@kiesminis]

Fantastic work Duncan, such a great conversion idea and great paintjob!

[@athrocamtinian]

Great to continue see Duncan painting-- especially taking a hard at some grimdark BLANCHITSU! Great vid :)

[@euansmith3699]

Fantastic; one of my favourite painters tackling my favourite part of the grim-dark.

[@cordial001]

I love your idea behind this conversion and how you did it. Great stuff.

[@vthunder4238]

I just recently painted a great unclean one in blanchitsu style and I absolutely love it

[@BrooksSligh]

Exceptional work with this one, could be my favorite vid I've seen on your channel. Going to use a bunch of those techniques on the Delaques I'm planning right now...

[@kimmipops5143]

He looks so great! So nice with a different genre of painting 👍🏼

[@TheGoodMood]

So cool to see your take and approach to this painting style!

[@WatchItPaintIt]

Wow, very nice interpretation Duncan. I'm a huge fan of blanchitsu style - Mike

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you Mike. Its a fun style and quite fun to interpret too 😊

[@nlp3000]

I've been wondering for a while how Duncan would approach Blanchitsu - I wasn't disappointed! Well done.

[@julianmay5754]

How did you manage to make it both amazingly crisp and horrendously dirty at the same time?! What sort of sorcery is this?!

[@Smilomaniac]

I'm very happy you've done this. So many hobby youtubers emphasize "correct" painting but don't add much personal touch or inspire to paint differently. Blanchitsu was meant to inspire people to kitbash and not just plop down basecoats, but instead explore the model with your brushes. Kudos for doing this.

[@LurksNoMore]

Weird, sinister, and just plain awesome. Excellent video! :)

[@christianarnold2216]

Fantastic job! Please more of this style. Way more interesting and individual than the cleaner standards.

[@mattsmith6514]

Brilliant video, fantastic model, will definitely be giving this a go. My only (constructive) criticism would be that I think the video would have benefited from more of an intro explaining where Blanchitsu comes from, who John Blanche is and why they matter. Really enjoyed it though!

[@leethompson5634]

I agree, how can you describe this style without mentioning John Blanche!

[@oldskooljules]

I came here to say the same thing. Some people might know what it means, and I heard John's name mentioned at 3:22ish, but.. yeah. More details please.

[@bingorobins1010]

Absolutely amazing work as usual duncan.

[@xanadu7686]

Loved this tutorial Duncan! It really makes me want to take my Night Lords further. I was thinking having them stalking through a Battle Barge that they've knocked the power out of and are now stalking the corridors killing and capturing all the loyalists. I was wondering, how would you paint a Night Lord? I'm really interested in taking my painting to the next level, and need tips for realistic lightning bolts.

[@johnkelley9877]

What I thought was really interesting is the number of washes you used compared to paint. The effect is truly grim and dark and the model is very nice looking. Thanks for sharing this as i picked up a lot of information on using washes and Contrast paints.

[@Tremadog102]

I like how easy you make emulating the technique. I feel I should incorporate a few of these elements into my Adeptus Mechanicus army. They are cold green but I'm sure some of the metal could do with looking more grimy.

[@Eiersalatmacher]

This looks INCREDIBLE

[@psycosanches589]

Just something I find to make your purity seal squiggles (or any black squiggles, really) is to use very small fine tipped artist ink pens. I did it on a chaplain of mine. It's very easy and gives you alot more control than the paint might.

[@johnsmith3085]

Great stuff! A little tip for the Ak interactive pigment fixer: if you put a little of the pigments into a cup, add the fixer, and make a "wash" and apply it, it has a great dirt/soot/rust (depending on color of pigment) when it dries and it won't rub off. Use an old brush and if you're a brush licker like me, don't...

[@Tamis2Hamis]

This is really interesting. The creative side of painting is very cool and you do inspirational work Duncan. Thanks for the videos!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you enjoyed it and thank you

[@rhinoxrifter356]

Wow, what an awesome tutorial. Bravo!

[@Haldrada1066]

This is awesome. I always found that Blanchitsu is always so focussed on warm tones though. It would be cool if you revisited this one day using blues/greens.

[@AGreen-dg5jb]

Goodness! You're amazing! Well done, sir!

[@tokoloshgolem]

Seriously, one of your best videos. You should aim to own the Blanshitsu painting technique.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Wow, thanks!

[@stoicshield]

I love the mask. I started to paint my Dajyal Grekh and I wasn't sure how to blend in some of the armour pieces. Now I have a good feeling about this.

[@rathowyn]

Brilliant! I've never heard of Blanchitsu before so this was an excellent introduction. My only note would be that the flickering transitions, while wonderful for the aesthetic, probably warrants a photosensitivity notice at the start of the video as well as in the description. I found it difficult to follow some of the steps purely because my brain was busy trying to reorient after the flickering. Nonetheless, an excellent video that has me fascinated by this approach to colour schemes. Kudos!

[@fraserhogg7198]

Hey Duncan, huge fan of this video, as well as all your others, I'm not a new painter, but you've definitely helped me get better and I've learned to take my time more! I recently picked up the Bloodborne board game and was wondering if those miniatures would be something that you're interested in doing yourself? Lots of work leather and beaten metal to do! Thanks again, Duncan, for all these videos!

[@warbanda]

Wow, that was really interesting. great model

[@SkinnySkull13]

Awesome! Now i want to try this out on my own minis!

[@jimostlund2166]

Awsome job. That guy is a true recepie for Nightmares :D

[@artofadamlumb952]

Duncan I love your work but no mention of John Blanche in an intro and definition on Blanchitsu?

[@PatrickRollens]

I felt this was missing as well. John Blanche played a fairly foundational role in the early aesthetics of Games Workshop (both 40k & fantasy). He is still creating art today!

[@artofadamlumb952]

@@PatrickRollens exactly.

[@dehoofdwerker]

Lovely excursion into some of the weirder parts of 40k! 👍👍👍

[@odgeUK]

Looks incredible

[@fiendsfootage]

Top stuff, great to see this style revisited (although would prefer a bit more red - and black and white checks maybe). The video transitions are a bit epilepsy-inducing though.

[@aarnelylykorpi1087]

For anyone interested: you can get really good oil effect with acrylics by watering down Abaddon Black a lot. I've used it when I have painted blanchitsu.

[@jamesvance8407]

Man that looks great. Expected no less anyway!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you James. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

Great conversion. Kinda reminds me the Machine War Horse/ Apocalyptic Trumpeter in the Animatrix, or the Pestilential Advent by Keith Thompson.

[@harbl99]

Best evocation I've seen of the style is the first image result for 'Chad Blanchitsu'. Whoever drew that image grokked the aesthetic.

[@woolblanket379]

Nice! would love more grimdark content.

[@MatthewBester]

Lovely. A nice change. I've never made a Blanchistsu model.

[@rollespil1000]

Looks amazing! 💖

[@terminator572]

Reminds me of that skeletal rider you would see in The Animatrix

[@UntestedGaming]

Came here to say this

[@stephenhupfer]

This is awesome! I think the Ork - Runt herder Spanish collar bit would of been a better item, but this is so good!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Love the video .So much going on .

[@Jammil2477]

Great explanation of how to do this style, you broke it down with ease and it was easier to understand than other channels. Your model looked like it came to life, is that what this style does more than the other paint styles?

[@l1zrdking]

I really dig how this turned out, great paint scheme and all. My only quibble is, Id love to see the mount way, way bigger, but only because it reminded me of the rider from the Animatrix, that was such a breathtaking scene so those proportions are burnt into my mind. But that's just a me problem.

[@kennethchan6029]

Duncan, you make it so easy in the video as always.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks Kenneth 😊

[@grotoiler6104]

ohhhhh man this is soooo sick!

[@jimyoyoma8956]

Awesome thank you for sharing. Would love to see this style done on something fantasy as well to see how you can do it on nonmetallic figures

[@KabinMiniatures]

Awesome work!

[@vladkriuk5156]

Thank you, every video is priceless!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you like them and thank you so much for the kind words Vlad 😊

[@Marlena_M]

Great stuff Duncan!!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@jasoncarpenter5974]

Fantastic job Duncan. Will you be doing any more of these styles of tutorials? You really made it pop. Most I see start with great paint jobs and then... they cover them up so much it looks like a black mess. You made it look easy and I’m going to apply this to my tech priest dominus

[@vladvig3]

Yaaaz, awesome man!

[@Kastor992]

Aww yeaahh! This is great! I'd love to see your take on the grim-dark Turnip28 setting!

[@danielmiller3596]

I took a lot inspiration out of the painted pictures from the warhammer books when I experimented with it.

[@waamatt]

Gorgeous conversion. Might need to copy - ahem - pay homage to that for my own collection. ;)

[@casegibson6456]

I love grimdark ! Thanks !

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

We like Grimdark too 😁

[@guckstdu2075]

Definitely my favorite style of painting. No use of highlighting every edge and corners which makes the model looking more like a comic.

[@Plagues138]

Need more kitbashing! That model is great

[@Wiiwillrockyouup]

Very well done and looks amazing, though rather by-the-books.

[@orkinho1]

Looks pretty cool

[@peterdavey7350]

Loved this

[@northd6840]

Nice to see the departure from your normal tutorial....and no oils. Thumbs up

[@MiszAgrippa]

Awesome, thats the 40k I like!

[@Fulgrim2]

For some reason “Forces” from Berserk is blaring in my mind as I look upon this model.

[@torcaace]

rip miura :(

[@peeledapples4176]

I'm a fair painter but I've always struggled with this kind of grimdark style, thanks for demystifying it a bit!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Happy to help!

[@I_am_Spartacus]

Love this... the model has a Tuskan Raider vibe to it as well.....I wonder if you'll ever break out the oils Duncan for something different ;)

[@SekaiNoGaijin]

Really great!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you

[@zibitron4650]

That looks cool

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

Sir Duncan Rhodes. Master of the ethos '2 Thin Coates'. One of the cleanest painters I have seen in action. Was this a hard process for you? To purpously dampen down and grime your usually clean-as-a-whistle miniatures? I think so as you somehow managed it without the need for oil paints or streaking grime! It is really quite an incredible feat, as it actually looks like Johns style....grimey, battle worn but clean at the same time. Masterful Duncan! Bravo sir 👏

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It was both liberating and fun to try something new

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA it was the first time I started exclusively painting Grimdark few years ago now, altho I do use oil washes. Again cheers for such a cool video sir 👏

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

@@ArnoldJudasRimmer.. thanks for watching. I need to try oil washes. I've not really given them a go.

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA they just add so much depth I find as I do not play 40k. I am a lore junky, and a collector of 40k since 1996 games day 🤣. I build dioramas, and collect character models. I find oil washes exceptionally good when doing those fantastic forgeworld Primarch Models, particularly the ones that have rank and file astartes being slaughtered by them. I use the oil washes to dull down those miniatures and the substancial bases on them. I NEVER use it on the actual primarch as it just makes them properly pop! The drying time is insane also, giving lots of time to get effect you want. 👌

[@mattpk1609]

Never heard of Blanchitsu before - great video

[@Basil_Ghothickovitch]

John Blanche is real Warhammer icon and legend. He created everything - from the Dаemons of Chaos to the Vostroyan Firstborn and Stormcast Eternals.

[@Iceeagle85]

He also had (or still has?) a article series called Blanchitsu in the White Dwarf magazine where he showed his painted conversions.

[@lokalnyork]

Duncan, You put Dank into GrimDark :)

[@DziaduzLasu]

Amazing!

[@YuriPRIMErpg]

This would be so perfect for oldschool Inquisitor skirmish game

[@lowbrowminis]

This is my favorite video of yours.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks Tyler 😊

[@edwindrood2816]

Great video