How to Paint: A Grimdark Imperial Fist!

This video shows the whole process of how to paint a Grimdark Imperial Fist for Warhammer 40'000.
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Also, I have hundreds of hours of video tutorials on my patreon and my website:
www.RichardGrayCreations.com
www.patreon.com/RichardGray
The following paints were used:
Games Workshop: Mephiston Red, Wild Rider Red, Cadian Fleshtone, Ushabti Bone, Yriel Yellow, Sotek Green, Balor Brown, XV-88
Vallejo: Neutral Grey, Ice Yellow, Black, (Metal Colour Magnesium)
P3: Morrow White (Any brand of white is fine)
Scale 75: Dwarven Gold, Neco Gold
Winsor & Newton: Oil Colour: Burnt Sienna, Black, Sansodoor solvent
Forge World: Dark Sand

[@michaelgoldsmith3834]

Thank you for posting all these videos!

[@f.s.3197]

Thanks for shareing a lot of knowledge with us. Such a inspiring video!

[@malcolmalden]

whenever i lose motivation to paint, your videos immediately pump me up!

[@akamucrimsidae]

Thank you for sharing your process, very educational and concise - a potent addition to my painting arsenal

[@G_Signer]

amazing style, one of the best painted IF ive ever seen

[@waldgir]

Fantastic video. I need to try this method on my marines. Thank you for sharing!

[@alexeysumerov4039]

These amasing lenses put this sculpture alive. Thanks for awesome tutorial, man.

[@sebastienfournier3672]

I'm going to try your technique for sure. I really liked your approach.

[@GloriousMiniatures]

I've been doing some grim dark Imperial Fists a different way, but I am really enjoying the stippled on base tones and the texture that it gives! Lovely work.

[@Undoing77]

I find myself going back to this stippling technique more and more. It's really effective and satisfying to do. It works exceptionally well with oils over black primer and a gloss coat also, especially for that grimdark style. Well done mate!

[@keithparker5625]

Wow. This looks amazing.

[@54Kaaaa]

I'm trying my hand at a more grimdark result. THANK YOU, this was very inspiring.

[@TheMercenaryBrush]

Love your stuff man. Beautiful as always.

[@geteavnroc2250]

This is freakin amazing. Thank you for making this.

[@eldraque4556]

really like the stipling the base coat idea, top one

[@xNolaNerdx]

Excellent work!!!

[@w4rpf1nnlad]

Hands down best IF paintjob. Sons of Dorn can be proud.

[@whyisthereaholeinmybutt7256]

Bummed I’m just now seeing this 8 months later, absolutely beautiful!

[@carltonbirds]

That turned out well nice 👍

[@lightningblade6067]

I would love to see this done with black templars

[@Withspoons]

Yeah. Im painting deatwatch and black is a bitch when it comes to get good volume and textures etc. Would be really interesting.

[@BigNewsMorgans]

Try to use something like thunderhawk blue

[@BigBazz-Clips]

i'm updating my imperial fist and black templar armies so that would be perfect

[@slyfawkes7772]

Marco Frisoni NJM called... He recommends chromatic blacks. Try mixing orange and blue.

[@kaibe5241]

Absolutely adore the approach you've taken here. Best grimdark I've seen so far.

[@johnmyers5256]

That model came out fire

[@traceofwind]

Came here from Reddit, subscribed and impressed! Thanks for sharing!

[@shogunmage9036]

That point of the video where you are line highlighting the bolt rifle while talking about paint speed. Those line highlights were ultra fast and impressive. I'm literally, right now, painting Heavy Intercessors and have painted 30 regular intercessors in the past. I know the process. That was crazy cool to see. 👌

[@FruitNinjaXD]

Amazing video! I would love to see a blood angel

[@Celtic_Iron]

Spent nice bit of money going for a really Eavy Metal light scheme for my imperial fists and now..... I'll be spending more swapping for grimdark style. This is by far the best imperial fist model I've seen

[@basicminiaturepainting]

This was so easy to follow,thank you loads also just subbed

[@ScudLance]

dude. sick

[@linkerss]

Looks great. I think some weathering on the transfer would take it even further, food for thought

[@asiburger]

1:20 - Me: This is already looking dope. 3:25 - Richard: You can see the model looks kinda... awful atm. 3:26 - Me: Yeah, disgusting!

[@zigryd123]

had the same....

[@SuddenOfDeath]

Thank you for sharing

[@fabiotesta4542]

Amazing thanks for sharing

[@Wijkert]

For anyone wandering, when Richard says Sansodor, he means Winsor & Newton's version of white spirit witch doesn't smell.

[@Brickerbrack]

Sans odor, if you will. 😉 Took me a second to click that... 😂

[@YouAreAsleep]

Absolutely love you work. But table top to you is competition to me lol! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@Sir_Gonzo]

Please do a Space Wolf next. I have seen a million SW painting guide vids and each one is different. But after your Ultramarine video, I'd be really keen to see what you can do.

[@Ovalmodels]

Stippling is the future! I use small eye shadow sponges you should give them a try!

[@ianjones6630]

This is great. I’d like to see how you would do this style for White Scars

[@bringbattlewargaming8720]

Tabletop ready 😂😂😂😂, that is amazing. Well above tabletop standard

[@slaik3088]

I would love to see your take on a grimdark sororitas

[@TehEze]

really approachable video. Thank you I'll second the "grimdark"-Emperors Children. I'd be keen on seeing that But personally, black armor is something that I'd like to see

[@zigryd123]

i love it !

[@chrisg3726]

Amazing work again Richard, could you please do this for a Blood Angel? There’s some other great efforts of doing Grimdark BA’s but I’d love to see it with this technique and skill please.

[@MrStatistx]

The big risk with priming black and leaving it in recesses and such, is that combined with the thinned yellow over it, it can easily read as green. When I did my imperial fist, I only used brown and yellow and everyone was saying it looked green. Add that I'm colorblind, it took me a while to figure out that the black I left over was the reason.

[@sergiobarrachina3330]

Very impressive a nice looking, man! Could recommend a sequence of colors that could be used to paint blood angels armor using a similar technique? Thanks in advance and keep it up!

[@thomashermansen9263]

Fantastic work. I really love it. Would you consider doing a Spacewolf? I'd really like to see your take on the greys.

[@jensskautrup640]

Marvelous

[@davidkinniburgh2265]

I’m really blown away by this method. Thank you for sharing. I do have a couple of questions though. How easily can this method be transferred to a split scheme? For example Angels of Redemption? Also, how well does this method work on tanks with big flat areas?

[@whiteshields1830]

Would love to see a Dark Angels version of this! These Grimdark tutorials are amazing and you make it look so easy!

[@davidkinniburgh2265]

It would be amazing. I would also love to see this.

[@kynanwilliams8012]

Nah, don't want to see any traitor chapters yet

[@BigNewsMorgans]

I think its like the same process but using caliban green and warpstone green

[@halfgodstudios8381]

Hate fists - love your yellow!

[@sunsolstar]

great!!!

[@forthealliance1772]

Hi, love the work. Any chance of an Iron Fist or Black templar Dark Grim video in the future?

[@youtousim]

Awesome tutorial. Surprised you didn't "scratch" some paint over the decals though. Would complement the battle worn stile nicely i think.

[@adrianalvarez9069]

Hi there! Incredible tutorial for grimdark space marines. Do you think you could make one with Dark Angels? Thanks mate!

[@leekendrick6015]

Love this method, could you do a sisters model? Thanks!

[@PhilTheEar]

SOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!! How would you recommend using this approach for Black Templars? That black armor seems hard to make Grimdark since its already so... dark?

[@jaxham7793]

i feel personally attacked every time he calls this tabletop standard because i know i would never be able to get even close to this level of skill and detail with all the time in the world

[@kaibe5241]

Um. That's amazing.

[@JimmyDeeola]

Awesome! Please consider doing one for Salamanders 💯🙏

[@1Hamsterly]

Please could you paint a Salamander in this scheme? It´s easy to follow but i would really like to see how you would approach it. Especially with a bare Headed SM + Helmet!

[@michaelgoldsmith3834]

Even though the stippling technique may be less skill oriented, I do think that as far as the grimdark universe of 40k goes I have never imagined the armor of space Marines being particularly shiny and reflective unless described as heroes before battles ( maybe more like ceremonial?) So I think this really fits in better with the universe.

[@ehwanuwungah1098]

Can you paint an right boy, please I’d love to see your grim take on it

[@pierrepesnel7355]

Hi, thank you for your video, the result of your figurine is really nice, and helps a lot to try new techniques. Do you think that the grimdark painting technique you use could give a nice rendering on Tau Fire warriors? I find that it lends itself particularly well to Space Marines. Good day

[@Enkili4613]

Jeez this and your ultramarine look so good. I have tried to do something similar for a salamander but can get it right. What colors would you suggest for a salamander?

[@judsonbates1359]

Love your videos but wish you used only a brush. That’s ok though, you are one of the few artists I watch who does use an airbrush. You are a great teacher and I always pick something up in your videos.

[@zootsnchoons649]

Hey Rich, massive fan of your work. I was wondering if you varnish your display pieces and if so any recommended products? I'd also love to know what the song is that you used in the intro. Cheers

[@crossroaddevil4711]

Yeah, i did that!) Have one more question - if i can do this with dreadnought, or him need different techniques? From a "Start Collecting!" got is only venerable brother and even then a parts. Dunno what's to do with him now)

[@IDHC_CBSickles]

the yriel yellow and ice yellow highlights could those be added by stippling as well or even and over brush?. i sadly dont own an air brush atm and am looking for other ways to recreate this.

[@lukasvalkovic2205]

I wish I could paint with that confidence in what I am doing..

[@Amleto51]

Amazon job pls make space wolves method!! Ty for this video

[@Amleto51]

How much time you wait before to Apple matt varnish after oil wash? Ty❤

[@sunsolstar]

actually...I liked the look of the color before the air brush!!!!....

[@myhobbychannel1292]

I like your tuts, can i use a cheap makeup brush or are the hairs too soft for that? I Think i Will try to paint my chaos bloodbowl team like That.

[@thomasgross8289]

I just bought the 40k elite edition box set, never played, built, or painted a model in my life and i THINK I have decided between imperial fist or a custom chapter, (successor chapter think they are called). I don't really want to match the set box art and was looking to paint them a unique way, that being said i found your videos very helpful. Another thing if any can tell me, will regular supper glue work on the minis? The models were advertised as no glue necessary but the box advises to glue them.

[@bartjot4321]

any1 know what brush is being used for the scratches on the gun/armor and stippling og the highlights alike at 36:14?

[@jollyjollyme]

Hey I am new to painting miniatures, please may I ask: for the Yriel Yellow you used an airbrush, could I use a smaller dry brush instead? Thanks :)

[@Otter_in_water]

Hey Richard, what size dry brush from Artis Opus are you using in the stippling step?

[@rip.tear.]

Do you think that maybe a bright yellow to start with, as it looks kind of gold at the end? EDIT: Can you do Blood Angels next please?

[@IDHC_CBSickles]

@richard gray if you dont have an air brush can you just dry brush the yellow base and ice yellow highlights?

[@thomasgross8289]

The stippling technique would work, just do it in a more concentrated manner, smaller areas the lighter you go

[@danjackco24]

Can you use this method with stormcast eternals

[@jamesbarrass3968]

Do u think u can achieve this result without the airbrush step?

[@Amleto51]

Airbrush psi ? Ty ❤️

[@pawekarolczuk4271]

I love it. But it seems we have a different definition of Table Top 😂😁. For me that would be couple of hours and I wouldn't get any closer to it. Awesome.

[@naib_stilgar]

You mention Magnesium but show Burnt Iron. Which paint did you use, actually?

[@jamesvandiver7193]

Can you do a Templar next?!?!?!

[@Khalek420]

dude!

[@brandontaylor2328]

I failed my first attempt. Rewatching for my second attempt.

[@apocalypsenow6559]

I would like to see Word bearers, first born or primaris model. With deep purple shadows. Amber lights for his lenses. Please and thank you. Are these kind of highlights possible with a brush? I have no issue taking extra time to do it with a brush myself so if you could discuss that in another video as well?

[@NickMK]

"I don't bother with micro sol" I think you would save yoursel a lot of time and pain if you did

[@crossroaddevil4711]

Thanks, dude. Please make emperor's children in this technique. They're not on KZbin, besides bad category nmm and terrible-pink-marines. P.S. Excuse me for my English, in West Ukraine its pretty bad😅

[@bobbyp5059]

Bet you couldn't replicate this on my unpainted imperial fist army...

[@Desheep]

My only issue with this is: I don't think grimdark is appropriate for imperial fists. You don't see the UK royal guards or soldiers in Washington in damaged, dirty armor. Hell you don't even see Ukraine soldiers in dirty armor, but that's a whole other discussion about why grimdark is a silly meme.

[@Deutschritter.]

ist mir eindeutig zu dunkel, die Rüstung wirkt fast eher schmutzig gold als gelb der Goldton hier passt eher zu den Celestial Lions

[@jonathanmiel1160]

Hey ! love the vids. However I think you should not sort the paints used by brand, but rather by colors or by parts of the model you've painted. It would be easier if we want to have a quick look in the description :) thanks

[@DelkaSable]

You have paid so many attention to the scratches, but central scull & wings, man, shame on you, EMPEROR'S DISLIKE!

[@asderix]

Awesome result! However, your constant lip smacking and swallowing sounds really annoyed me and I ended up watching the video with sounds off.