Painting Guide | Dark Elf Spiders in Grimdark Style
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As part of our month-long celebration of all things dungeon-themed at Bestiarum, we invited the wonderfully grim minds at Conclave Obscura to share their own creations, and they certainly delivered.
In this tutorial, bruce_p85 takes us deep into the bowels of a dungeon, where a Dark Elf High Priestess presides over a blood-soaked ritual before her twisted spider denizens. Through layered skin tones, veining effects, grimy inks, rusted weapons, fresh gore, and web-choked basing, he shows how a collection of miniatures can be transformed into a single, nightmarish scene of sacrifice and devotion.
For this project, I used several models from the remade collection, including Dark Elf Arachnaeborne, the Dark Elf High Priestess, and a selection of the legacy Fleshsmith’s Daughters. I also added half of a decayed body, 3D printed separately, to serve as a sacrifice on the altar.
The scene was arranged to suggest a gory ritual taking place deep in the bowels of a dungeon, with the Dark Elf Priestess presiding over the sacrifice while the twisted spider denizens look on in approval.
Painting Process
I started by assembling the base and models. After this, a similar painting process was followed across all of the models, with a few variations in the skin layering to create subtle differences between them.
On some of the models, I then drew in veins using oil pencils. These early vein marks helped create a more unsettling, organic look beneath the later layers.
Next, I added red and blue heat-map areas using thin Citadel acrylic washes, mainly Drakenhof Nightshade and Carroburg Crimson. These were applied selectively to create variation in the skin tones and to suggest bruising, blood flow, and areas of irritation beneath the flesh.
Once the washes were dry, I applied a light oil drybrush to soften and smooth the transitions. For this stage, I used Abteilung 502 Light Skin Tone and White, blending the colours back with a clean brush to create a more natural finish.
The paintwork was then sealed with UV resin. After this, I applied the base colours for the veins, using the same red and blue tones from the earlier heat-map stage. These were sealed again with UV resin, then reduced with IPA to create a veined, broken-up effect within the surface.
On one of the Driders, I used Tamiya X-22 to break up the shade into a vein-like pattern and seal the effect in a single step.
I then returned with another oil highlight, again using Abteilung 502 Light Skin Tone and White to blend the effects back into the skin and bring the raised areas forward.
To add grime and decay, I applied Villainy Ink Decrepit Filth over the models. This was then heavily reduced with a microfiber cloth and cotton buds dipped in spirit, leaving the filth mainly in the recesses and textured areas.
Villainy Ink Carrion Crimson and Nightshade were then applied into joints, recesses, and select transition points to create additional bruising, depth, and staining. These colours were blended carefully into the surrounding body tones so the effects felt integrated rather than sitting on top of the model.
To create a subtle underskin effect, I applied coats of PVA to the smoother body areas and around the leg joints. This gave those sections a slightly glossy, stretched, and organic quality.
For the weapons, I applied Dirty Down Rust Effect in patches, focusing on areas where corrosion and age would naturally gather.
Once the individual models were finished, I glued them onto the base and began tying the whole scene together. AK Interactive acrylic blood effect was applied to the altar to create the focus of the ritual and strengthen the sense of fresh gore.
Finally, I sprayed Green Stuff World Spider Serum liberally over the base and around the lower parts of the models. This helped integrate the figures into the scene and gave the diorama the feeling of a web-choked dungeon lair. I then used a brush dampened with water to remove excess webbing from the main parts of the models and blend the remaining strands into the environment.
Final Images
Artist: bruce_p85
About Conclave Obscura
"Conclave Obscura is a collective of dark creators—united to share, inspire, and amplify one another through the art of horror, grimdark, and the surreal.
Whether you paint, sculpt, draw, write, or tattoo, this is where your shadows find their kin."
This post was written by one of the lovely members of our community. If there's an article, guide or other feature you'd like to share, reach out to us at contact@bestiarumgames.com!
Editing by Sam Franquet