@ Cubs: I did not paint that effect. I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it. I think it is some reflected glare from the flash I used. In person, I think these little buggers look extraordinarily alive (it's the quality put into the sculpting).
Nooo! Rookie mistake ... always take credit! They look great, no matter.
My painting mentor thinks I should just stick with the same run but I keep thinking I might want to try something different (a brownish-yellow run or something else). Again, any suggestions?
I had the brownish-yellow runs a couple of times and it was very unpleasant. Jeez, I hardly got a wink of sleep for two nights in a row.
Having said that, I think a couple of skintone varieties can only be a good thing. Maybe give the original old red-brown orc skin a try, too?