orc flesh question

[Harry von Fleischmann]

I have some orcs/goblins from a KS arriving this spring and i’m thinking ahead as to how to paint them. I’d like to use a non green skin look on them and was thinking of a GW base with a GW contrast wash. Any suggestions for a tolkien orc style finish? I’ve never used the contrast stuff so all advice gratefully received!

[Patrice]

A good question which arises sometimes... 

Personaly (but that's me) I hate apple green colour for Orcs. And dark brown isn't a favourite either, it can look too ...human.

I go for a kind of dark-brown green. Depending on when I painted them (some of my old ones were painted in Humbrol many years ago! and have been somewhat refurbished, others are more recent) I use WW2 German uniform green with a brown or light brown wash, or the contrary.

[armchairgeneral]

I usually use English uniform kharki for orc skin. Seems to look okay and gives a reasonable contrast to their usual black clothing and iron armour.

[Harry von Fleischmann]

thank you; i was thinking khaki with a wash. Any ideas of a wash over a flesh colour?

[2010sunburst]

I went with a blue grey, highlighted a shade or two lighter, then washed with Vallejo skin wash and was very happy with the results.  They still look organic, but not human.  Personally I think the bright apple green orcs look too cartoonish.

[Will Bailie]

Also not a fan of apple-green orcs.  I try to mix it up, with a variety of greys, browns, tans, and other shades.  Mostly my goal is to avoid uniformity!

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

I have mainly used Vallejo English Uniform.  This is mainly a mid brown shade but with a very slight hint of green - a nod to the green orcs of other fantasy.  I then do a wash with Army Painter Strong tone.  It is quick but gives reasonable results, although not up to the standards of many here.

This will give you some idea.


 

[SotF]

Other than my old GW Orks that I haven't repainted, I've largely used a mix of greys and browns for them. Normally a very dark brown with some slight green tinges to it to take it away from human skin tones, to a slightly yellowed grey (mixed using a bone/parchment with black rather than a normal grey).

[zemjw]

Most of mine are painted with Humbrol Enamel Chocolate Brown, which dates them

I have some new ones inching towards the top of the painting queue, so the ideas here are sparking some thoughts. Definitely still brown, but a tinge of green sounds interesting.

[jetengine]

Lots of different muted tones imo is the best option.

[FramFramson]

It's pretty gamey. But if you're desperate, salted orc can keep you going for a while. Just don't ever boil it, I mean ever.

OH!

Oh you're asking about PAINT COLOURS. Ahahah, just never mind what I was saying then. 

[FierceKitty]

It's pretty gamey. But if you're desperate, salted orc can keep you going for a while. Just don't ever boil it, I mean ever.

OH!

Oh you're asking about PAINT COLOURS. Ahahah, just never mind what I was saying then.

Roast orc is reported to have excellent crackling too.

[Commander Carnage]

I go with a ruddy flesh color.

[dadlamassu]

Tolkien describes them as "swart" (dark complexion) or "sallow" (unhealthy yellow or pale brown colour), and at least one in Mordor is "black-skinned".

So mine are: black, grey, several shades of brown, an unhealthy greenish brown, desert sand/yellow and a sickly pale brown and washed with black or dark brown (and a few green - given by my brother).  I found WW2 uniform and military vehicle camouflage colours very useful.

[swiftnick]

I usually go for black or almost dark blue.