How to paint leather with just two colors

Transcript

Racing the clock against nighttime Theraflu, trying to speed paint a leather belt before passing out. Very busy day, feeling it now, but I wanted to get some leather done real quick and not break the hobby streak.

The Old Recipe vs. The New

Usually my go-to for leather is Burnt Umber, Mahogany Brown, and then XV-88. But these two pots are ancient — totally separated, nasty inside, and I don’t have my vortex mixer hooked up. I don’t think I could save them.

That said, this was my go-to until I started using the Scale 75 paints, which are awesome. But tonight we’re going to try something even simpler — just one speed paint and one highlight:

• Satchel Brown — a dark reddish brown speed paint
• Serpent Bite Leather from Nostalgia/Contrast range

Two colors. Let’s give them a shot.

Base Coat: Satchel Brown

It’s looking very dark in the pot. We’ve got one of our chainmail guys here — belt and a pouch. I love painting pouches.

A lot of these paints I’ve never used before, so you’re seeing me figure them out on the fly. This is definitely our Burnt Umber equivalent for the dark base. I need to figure out the consistency a bit more, but we can definitely work with this. I’ll hit the scabbard too while I’m at it.

I could do the feet as well, but I’m going to wait and see what color I want for those.

Highlight: Serpent Bite Leather

We don’t need much. Tiny brush — I would normally never use a brush this small, but we’re going to stipple.

You can go about this a few different ways: edge highlight, glaze, stipple — or a little bit of all of them. It’s easy hitting the rough edges and the spots where the speed paint didn’t settle.

Think about it this way — anytime leather flexes, it gets what’s called “pullup.” That’s the lighter color you see at bends and creases. So anywhere there’s a bend or a sharp edge, start stippling there.

If you put a little too much on, clean the brush off and blend it out. You’re giving the illusion of wear.

Wrapping Up

Two colors, very quick, easy worn leather. Not something we’re going to sit here all day doing for every model. Once it fully dries it’ll look a bit different too.

Added a few highlights to the top of the wood — I’ll probably end up painting over this, but might as well. The straps took the speed paint really well, so I’m literally just painting over the speed paint effect to increase the contrast.

And there we go. Leather belt done. See you tomorrow.