Finding the Yellow: Painting My Trench Pilgrims
By José Rojas, Vermilion Studio
The completed Trench Pilgrims warband.
The Trench Pilgrims began as a personal project for gaming and tournaments. I fell in love with the setting and lore of Trench Crusade. Their pointed hoods reminded me of the capirotes worn in Spanish Holy Week processions, and I wanted to explore that appearance through painting.
My first association was reds and metallics. I wanted to try another direction, and an aged yellow felt unusual for these figures. I wanted the worn cloth, pale pinkish skin, wounds and rust to convey a hostile world while keeping the scheme readable.
Starting with the cloth
I began with black primer and a greyscale underpainting to establish the highlights. The cloth came first: I needed to see whether the yellow would work before developing the rest. I used inks, Contrast paints and mixtures to introduce different tones and degrees of wear. The figures needed to feel coherent without every piece of cloth looking exactly alike.
A closer view of the yellow cloth on a completed model.
The scheme developed gradually. I kept the metals dark and almost blackened, adding copper tones to the decorative details. As I worked on the skin, I adjusted the balance between the different surfaces. Rather than following a fixed recipe, I made decisions in response to what I could see on the miniatures.
Dark metal and decorative details on one of the larger models.
Keeping the weathering under control
The hardest part was stopping the dirt from overwhelming the yellows and pale skin. I enjoy grimdark, but I wanted the painting to remain visible. Although I often use oils on other projects, I did not use any on this warband. I built up the weathering gradually instead.
Pale skin and worn clothing across a small group from the warband.
Leaving room to improvise
This project reinforced something I enjoy about painting: letting an idea develop as I work. I found the cloth first and built the rest around it. Recipes are useful, but I also enjoy improvising and finding solutions along the way. Every warband teaches me something, whether it is for my own collection or for a client.
The yellow brings the troops together while allowing variation between individual figures.
About the painter
I'm José, the painter behind Vermilion Studio in San Luis de Sabinillas, Málaga. I've been painting for around twenty years and taking commissions for five. About two years ago, I started developing the studio, which is now the project I focus my efforts on. After a whole day painting for clients, I still find a little time to paint something for myself. I think my painting habit is beyond saving.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vermilionstudiovs/
Portfolio: https://vermilion-studio.vermilionstudiovs.workers.dev/trabajos
Editorial note: All five photographs show completed models. They illustrate the discussion but are not work-in-progress stages. Photo credit: José Rojas / Vermilion Studio.