Up! Up! And away! 3 Awesome methods for painting cloaks | Warhammer | 40K | Duncan Rhodes

Cloaks appear on all manner of miniatures from a Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Captain to an Dungeons and Dragons Elvish Rogue. There are many ways to paint them too and in this tutorial, we show you how to paint cloaks in three different ways. First up, a great way for beginners or speed painters, a dry brushing method that yields great results easily. Secondly, we have a 'classic' method, similar to how we used to paint cloaks when I was in the Hobby Team back in my Games Workshop days. Finally, a bit more of an 'advanced' method using the wet-blending technique, whicxh is not as difficult as you may think.
All the techniques shown here can be used on any miniature with a cloak that you want from your favourite games such as Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Star Wars Legion, Conquest, Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings and many, many more!
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[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Hello. Thanks for watching. We hope you guys enjoyed this one. Let us know in the comments below if you have any other cool methods to paint cloaks, we'd love to read about them and even learn something new! Don't forget to Subscribe to the channel for more content, leave a Like and a Comment for the Algorithm God (the true 5th God of Chaos!)

[@FSDraconis]

I usually paint in a small room with an AC and fan running. Do you have any suggestions to help cope with the paint drying too fast?

[@Serpsor]

@@FSDraconis vallejo glaze medium has drying retardant mixed in - it's designed for wet blending and glazes (where you need the paint to dry a bit slower so you don't get tide marks)

[@Black_Blow_Fly]

@@FSDraconisif you have access to a strong enough gravity field it’ll slow down time.

[@FSDraconis]

@@Black_Blow_Fly As someone who loves everything Science and Fiction. I am unable to say how much I love this response enough. Now I am filled with the need to know how close would one have to orbit a black hole to have earth like gravity to paint miniatures inside of a space ship.

[@Moondog-wc4vm]

@@FSDraconis Just close enough for a Dan Abnett plotline to stretch out the jeopardy to edge of your seat butt clenching tension, and about 12% over the point where a Magos is willing to push his skill and his ship and his faith in the Omnissiah. Or in other terms about 50% less than any Space Marine squad is willing to push their own existence for the glory of the Emperor. 😉

[@johnnyreid7931]

"Duncan, where are my curtains?"

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Ummm.....'What's that! Over there!...' Turns and runs

[@VicodinElmo]

Reminds me of the time he took some stones from his garden for basing and said “don’t tell the Mrs”.

[@TitusCastiglione1503]

A most daring escape, Duncan.

[@ratatata3192]

​@@DuncanRhodesDRPA*cape billowing behind you*

[@travis8106]

Wheres the door hole?

[@arslanxelan9606]

As usual Duncan is the best at explaining. I have seen multiple youtuber's use this kind of round drybrush. Not a single one has explained why it is different or how to use it. Duncan as usual explains the new technique and how to properly use this brush. That is why he is, in my opinion the number 1 hobby painting teacher and the rest are not even close.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Wow, thanks for the kind words. We are humbled for sure 😊

[@guyperson754]

This is what I need more of. The most British sounding man alive teaching me how to make my models look extra fabulous.

[@Smilomaniac]

An interesting tip for drybrushing weathered fabric is that you can do a messy/heavy drybrush, then wash it down (nuln, agrax, reikland, whatever suits the base) and then a lighter drybrush on top of that (when dried, obviously) for a gradient effect that gives the impression of a bit of texture. It works great for leather coats and it goes without saying that this is a batch painting method more than a detail oriented one, though you can of course highlight, add scratches and all that afterwards for an extra effort result.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

What a great method. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@kwest9747]

To build on this method, most fabrics are a weave of threads running vertically with threads running horizontally. If you do a heavy dry brush following one direction and then the second pass in the perpendicular direction you can really work to create an impression of woven fabric texture.

[@Spartan12]

Somewhere Edna is yelling "No Capes!"

[@popcorngenerator1925]

Ok, the ease of that wet blend blew my mind, and now I’m really excited to give it a go! It always seemed so daunting. Great video.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It's easier than you think for sure. Just practice a little, make sure the paint is wet and have fun!

[@lamMeTV]

Actual timestamps for the tutorial Dry Brush Method - 0:40 Classic Method - 10:30 Wet blending - 19:19

[@BlueBoy0]

doing gods work son

[@mirage809]

That drybrush technique is awesome. It has a nice, almost airbrushed on look. And I have some of those drybrushes, so I'm definitely giving that a go.

[@bergeracvandamme]

Duncan the superhero of painting tutorials.

[@FacesNBases]

Honestly one of the best painting videos I've seen for a long time. 3 really useful techniques all explained and demystified perfectly.

[@alexandreplaideux9237]

Wonderfull and crystal clear video! A reference now. Thanks !

[@yvesrochabinet]

Great tutorial, I especially loved the wetblending part! Thanks 👍

[@johnmakin-shaw3516]

Last night I was looking at my Custodes and trying to find a decent tutorial on painting cloth. Great timing Duncan - thank you!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Our pleasure

[@RaldoronWOR]

D, your blends are amazing. You make it look easy enough for me to try. I look forward to giving it a go.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Go for it! It's not that tough and is really fun too. Once you get it, and it won't take, long, you'll feel a world of possibilities open up when painting.

[@ArkAngel_45]

You know, that first storm cast you dry brushed, it would have looked intentional to paint it gold first so that the cape looks like it was "reflecting" into the calf on the left as you look at the mini

[@GunterXyax]

Completed Model Showcases: Drybrushing - 9:50 Classic Method - 18:50 Wet Blending - 25:21

[@lamMeTV]

Actual timestamps for the tutorial Dry Brush Method - 0:40 Classic Method - 10:31 Wet blending - 19:19

[@Paranormal-Stupidity]

All three look really good, but the wet blended one looks amazing. I may be brave enough to give it a go. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Go for it! It's really not as difficult as you think. It unfortunately has a reputation for being difficult to do but in all honesty, it's not. Just make sure your paint is wet and if available, use a wet palette, it sure helps

[@Paranormal-Stupidity]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA Thanks Mr Rhodes. I appreciate the words of encouragement. I'll give it a try.

[@USMCWing556]

Duncan Rhodes the Emperor of Painting :P

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks 😁

[@USMCWing556]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA Iv learned alot from watching your stuff thank you. But like Horus sometimes I dont do two thin coats :P

[@avaius]

​@@USMCWing556Heresy!

[@USMCWing556]

@@avaius Magus did nothing wrong :P

[@davidbauer9227]

Not all heroes wear capes, some teach us how to paint them! Thank you Sir!

[@rh6078]

Duncan in that cloak is definitely the hero we need

[@orkarmy]

i pressed like button just because of the miniature. hahaha 😂

[@ovan2190]

Great video, cloaks are what helped me understand blending and glazing the curvs are spectacular for that because you have a clear view of your shadows to make sure you're not painting into them and it feels easier to reapply the colors if a mistake happens

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Exactly. It's a great way to practice wet blending for sure.

[@DrFeelGoodHelpDesk]

"Cloaks are awesome and make your heros look fantastic!" Incoming Edna Mode rant on capes/cloaks.

[@Alf_Hairy-arse]

Three thin cloaks. I saw a picture today of someone's cloaks where they had painted the highlights on as small parallel lines. No blending or smooth transitions but it worked and looked really good as it implied the texture.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That sounds like an interesting technique for sure

[@chrisfowler9987]

Duncan and Byron crossover for the drybrush method.... It's blowing my mind 🤯 like watching Captain America pick up Thor's hammer 😂

[@jon2k3271]

Tried your Washes, all of them. they are Awesome, and my new holy trinity!

[@victoralgronovo6676]

That drybrush method is top tier for good results time wise. Great vid Duncan!

[@shnmraari9943]

Cant wait for the 300k sub mark! ALMOST THERE!

[@StrickenBiged]

One thing I like to do with cloaks, whatever method, is at the end do a glaze with an appropriately coloured and thinned down contrast paint. This just pulls all the layers and colours together and smooths any transitions out. Oh, and PS this video dropped at the perfect moment for me, as I have a load of cloaks and skirts to do on my Custodes this weekend. Thanks Duncan!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Great tip! And thanks for watching

[@colinpartch887]

I've never seen someone wet blend so quickly, incredible. I used to watch my aunt paint with oils, basically wet blending everything but acrylics dry so fast that it just adds another level of difficulty.

[@robertjensen1438]

In a long-lost episode, Superman has a close shave with death because his cloak wasn’t the right size. It was a narrow S cape.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Touche lol Nice 👍

[@weaselstonk6780]

Clearly my favorite dramatic hero is Duncan Rhodes.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Ahhh shucks 😊

[@Dracobyte]

Awesome painting tutorial as always!!!

[@jakublhotan9029]

Wow. Awesome tutorial. Thank you Duncan 😊

[@nathanmintz8185]

I know you weren't at Adepticon but my son and I stopped at the two thin coats painting booth. We had fun and my son super loves your paints. I've enjoyed the little bit I have used them

[@kevinpemberton8999]

Another master class. You’re awesome at working in tips throughout your tutorial reinforcing basic techniques that get disregarded.

[@artemtrytiak6911]

Amazing video. I really like all 3 techniques explained to achieve a similar effect. Love it

[@ClaytonPajot]

I really like the way the wetblend cloak turns out. I really need to practice my wetblending, and this might be the inspiration I need.

[@dondongman]

Have you done a video on painting Angron?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

We sure did! It's over on the Academy (www.duncanrhodes.com) website in the 40K Chaos section 😊

[@dondongman]

@DuncanRhodesDRPA got it thanks I'll be sure to check it out

[@VentiChristopher]

Love this video! I am going to apply this to my current project painting Vigilors.

[@arexz1231]

Love it really, used one of your technics showed here on one of my minis and it looks great. I went with blending

[@jorgenpinoy1724]

Thank you so much, I wil definitely use your tips🤟

[@twistedphoenix]

Love this format. Great job

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@thierrysultan1468]

There was Conan. There is Superman. You're an absolute showman, and a real help !

[@frankiehullett4881]

You make it look so easy!

[@anneliseolsen6896]

A nice video. Personally I use three different methods to painting cloaks. 1: The Old 'Eavy Metal Classic, of layering; two or three paints, of a dark, mid, and light shade of a colour family. Essentially the same as the second style of painting cloaks you showed, just without the wash/shade stage. 2: Camo cloaks on Space Marines; there I use a mix of the first two styles of painting cloaks you showed in this video. So a dark tone base layer, a wash/shade layer, followed by two dry drybrush layers, first of the same colour as the base layer, then a lighter tone paint for highlights. 3: Camo cloaks on Eldar (now: Aeldari) Rangers; There I use the second method I mentioned above, but also paint in smaller diamond like shapes.

[@Baerengulasch]

I was just looking for some tips to paint cloth/cloaks. Thanks!

[@Luke-mn6is]

Awesome video Duncan, I will definitely be giving the wet blending a go, I usually go for a the classic method but I find it can take ages getting clean gradients with this video you will have me saving hours! thanking you !!!

[@alphaleigpyne]

This would help me for Stormcast Eternals Warcry models. This would also work with other colours on capes. Thank you Duncan.

[@justinmeyers5535]

Can’t wait to get wave 1 and 2 from your kick starter.

[@jeanfoutre3620]

Fantastic videos! thank you Duncan

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jasompinard4576]

The Wayne Gretzky of explaining miniature painting. 🏆🏒🇨🇦

[@Moondog-wc4vm]

3 thin cloaks might have to be new catchphrase. That was super man! (say that in your mind in a Newcastle accent)

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

I did the accent in my head too 😂

[@diebabrika8904]

Hey Duncan! I just wanted to tell you that I love your range of paints. Its great, it comes in dropper bottles, and my paint doesnt dry up in little pots. You got me into painting when I wanted to do some Skitarii when you still worked at GW, so thanks for that too. Became my hobby through that. Keep going and greetings from Germany!

[@stujm84]

I love painting cloth, which is handy as im collecting Adepta Sororitis! Great video Duncan, ive only really done them the layer method but ill defo give the blending a try now, that looked amazing 👍

[@YuTv1408]

It amazes me how you can built up an entire dialog based on colors. Also the patience you have to make these miniatures.

[@MJWhitto]

I always watch these videos thinking "great lets do the easy method" then find myself trying the hard one 😂. Thanks for pushing me Duncan😉

[@raymondbarnell9123]

awesome as usual

[@danieleskyline]

I loved it!!

[@kinkykonky]

following your approach to painting minis has definately taken me to a higher level. i like the way you approach the paintjob everytime. trying new methods like blending or just how you drybrush is so well explained, but i have always found the amount of wash you put on the mini to be extreme! i dont dare use that much amount and playing around with it later to clean it up. but as always your tutorials are amazing and i fully trust the method!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you so much 😀 As for the wash application, it's just a personal choice I've used for as long as I can remember 😊

[@kinkykonky]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA i use it too, i love washes but i find it very "interesting" about the amount of wash you first apply!

[@b312n.v9]

Time to try

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Go for it!

[@dungeonsanddrybrushing]

Great tutorial. Very well done. I have never really used wet blending for cloaks so I'll have to give it a shot. Normally I use the layering method.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome. Have fun :-)

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , DRPA . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you too! 🐺🐺🐺

[@jamesandrews1410]

So Duncan has red bed sheets? You go boy!

[@bigyeticane]

This video was very helpful. There are a lot of cloaks and folded clothing on the Blackstone Fortress minis that I am painting up. All 3 techniques produce a unique look, and none of them look worse than the others, IMO. The blend technique looks more difficult than dry brush or classic methods. I want to try all of them eventually though. Thanks for the vid, Duncan!

[@MrPonchonator]

Great video, thanks.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

You are welcome!

[@bc2006]

Drybrushing looks better and more natural if done properly because it mimics the way things wear and reflect light in real life. The traditional layering method is more cartoony unless you spend a ton of time blending.

[@kwest9747]

Yes, drybrushing is less reliant on the artist having a perfect understanding of how light falls.

[@christopherolland5684]

road to 300k suscribers, you deserve it! amazing work!!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you so much 😀

[@rolandnavarro5946]

Finally pulled out the series D from AO! I love those brushes. Was wondering why he preferred the GW one

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Habit lol

[@LordGrantius]

🎶 did you ever know that you're my hero and everything I would like to be? 🎵

[@ZacharyMalott]

Hi Duncan. Greetings from the US! I know you probably won't see this comment, but if you do, I just want to let you know that you have truly inspired me to paint. 13 year old me discovered your channel through a friend of mine a couple of months ago. I went on to paint my first mini and now I love painting and I am working on finding a couple friends to play Warhammer with. Thank you so much for everything you do. You truly are the hero none of us deserve. PS. I always apply 2 thin coats :)

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Hi @zacharymalott1198 thank you so much for the wonderful message and welcome to this amazing hobby. Im so glad that you are enjoying it and having so much fun 😊

[@TheSerpentineFire]

i made my Sword brethrens from my Black Templar Arm with red Cloaks :) Not an easy task, but it turned out very nice. And no where im finish i found your video :) Great Vid as always

[@evileyeball]

I never understood people saying wetblending is hard, I did wet blending one fateful evening in summer 2005 when painting a half metal half plastic Rubric marine box by complete accident on the Aspiring sorcerer's cloak. I painted it white and then wanted to add a Blue rim around the base but I didn't give enough drying time in between and it made this wonderful gradient between Blue and white and I was like "Holy Crap, this is magic" so I then tried it on the loin cloth parts of all the rubric marines in the same squad, and then did it again on a second squad but in orange. To date this is the biggest case of OOPS I SUCCEEDED I have ever had.

[@joegkushner]

Some of my favorites include the old Ral Partha Wizard with Runesword. I believe in the new skirmish version, he's a Wraith Lord. I also enjoy the 'Sword of Twilight' for the old Mordheim range.

[@glazednbased]

The rohan army cloaks and banners are calling me now

[@ashleydingle1476]

I really struggle with cloaks, and was actually just about to paint these models so great timing! I tried the classic method, but the gradient wasn’t smooth enough, Will now try the wet blend

[@justsayin5288]

Fantastic intro 😂 This also came just in time for my Primaris captain, really helpful

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelhall-oc4nj]

My favorite cloak in warhammer is the Horus heresy sword praetor

[@necpwnz]

First method is so easy yet so quick and effective. I dunno how I did not met/realize it earlier, but that what DRPA for! Thanks!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

You're very welcome! ☺

[@G_Signer]

i never painted a single mini, but its weirdly fascinating to watch xD

[@ryankyle2467]

I kinda do a mix of the first one with the second one and it comes out pretty good now! Not so much when I first started. But I’ve tried the wet blending method many times before and I’ve almost never gotten it to look at all good without putting on 1,000 coats of paint! Way too time consuming. And on something like the rest of it is already going to take you many many hours you can’t really afford to spend another 3 to 4 hours or more just on the cape. But like I said, that’s me! It might work great for other people. It might be even a bigger nightmare then it is for me for others! Find what works for you and stick with it! I kinda wish you added many like a time scale so people that don’t know knows how long each takes. But that’s just a thought! I know how it was the last time I left a suggestion…..

[@noah12317]

Great Timing for my Black Templars. They are going to look even better

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Sweet! I love Black Templars. Probably the most 40K looking Astartes of the bunch

[@MatteV2]

For drybrushing, if you're new, and dont want to spend a lot of money, a cheap makeup brush does excellent work!

[@DickFitzwell0917]

Got wave 2 of TTC paints yesterday! DRPA subscriber since launch. Keep going Duncan!!!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome. We hope you like them and thank you so much for the support, it sure means the world to Rog and I.

[@SinisterCheshire]

man this is perfect. I'm in the midst of painting Stormcast Praetors with red cloaks! now if only the huge gaps in the cloaks were a bit easier to clean up...

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome!

[@fredcrist7045]

I use a mouse pad turned with the bottom up. It's textured doesn't absorb the moisture, and is cheap. It works great for me.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@Varigos]

Awesome

[@grimdarksun]

That intro is what I'd call, "luxurious". Move over, L'Oreal, we have a new hero! (Also, great tutorial and it's going to be handy for my AdMech!)

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

🤣🤣🤣

[@WoodD24]

When I was waiting for the launch of vanilla I had been playing warcraft 3 since launch. I thought back then that all the flavorful heroes would make their way into the MMO in due time. There a some I'd say are still unavailable... Shadowhunters as a skin for shaman. (Could get away with just heritage armor and a weapon.) Dark Rangers as mentioned. Necromancer (warlock skin) Moon priestess (skin for MM hunter?) Blood mage as a skin for mage (brings back the orbs and adds phoenix themed spells)

[@vatiti9573]

The wet blend is basically the method I went for when I painted a Custodian Guard/Shield Captain cloak (which was my very first cloak), except that I did it without any tutorial or reference (it turned quite good, I'm honestly really satisfied of my work on it), and I pushed the color gradient until having a thin full white line on the edges, as if it was some kind of glossy velvet fabric (and I mean, it's Custodes, velvet battle cloaks sound pretty in tune with the whole idea of prestige that Custodes convey).

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome. It's not that difficult a technique and with some patience, the results look amazing.

[@fatmaru]

Really enjoying these 3 ways tutorials. So much useful info in 1 video!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome, thank you!

[@mochatoast887]

You Duncan, your my dramatic Hero lol

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

🤣

[@ayonmetar2301]

Haven't even watched the video yet but here is my like just for the lovely dorky intro.

[@samuelhinkle4092]

A true hero

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Ahhh Thanks 😀

[@shmitan6908]

Just in time for me to paint abaddon lol, wish me luck

[@YeeKongChan]

You gained a like immediately after the first 25 seconds

[@chipstercamarillo9373]

I really liked the wet blend gonna try it on some of my models. Which one would you say would be better for the inside of the cloaks? And in the case of having different colors inside and outside would you keep it a darker shade?

[@ThePingouin2ter]

Sometimes, heroes do wear capes !

[@Domesthenes]

Is there a video or tutorial you have about your palette? I've been using one of the bowl paint holders with a central palette (basically one of the cheap ones from a dollar/pound store) but I like the one that you have there! Maybe a tutorial/video on the various types of palettes and the benefits/drawbacks of each?