Painting the Barrow Guard-Step by Step Guide

A very good friend has been dreaming of painting his Grave Guard for over fifteen years.

Fifteen years. Think about that.

So here’s a little help-a guide to break through that wall between vision and execution. If you're reading this, I hope you find it helpful. When you begin, try to remove all pressure from the process.

This guide is for him-and maybe for you too, if you've ever stood at the threshold of a long-awaited project, unsure how to begin. These Barrow Guard miniatures (from the newer Age of Sigmar range) carry the old soul of Warhammer's Grave Guard, but with more flow and energy. As someone who usually sides with old-school sculpts, I say this without hesitation: the new models are better.

So if you’ve been waiting to bring your Vampire Counts army to life, or you’re simply looking for a triadic colour scheme to paint a standout undead unit, this tutorial will guide you through every step-from the first basecoat to the final tuft of moss.

Paint Recipe & Materials for Warhammer Barrow Guard

Base Paints:

1. Warplock Bronze
2. Retributor Armour
3. Screaming Bell
4. Leadbelcher
5. Hot Orange (Vallejo Game Color)
6. Caledor Sky
7. Rakarth Flesh
8. German Green Beige WW2 (Vallejo)
9. Luftwaffe Camo Green (Vallejo)
10. Dark Fleshtone (Vallejo) – for base edge
11. Ice Yellow (Vallejo)

Highlights & Layers:

1. Sycorax Bronze
2. Evil Sunz Scarlet
3. Emperor's Children
4. Vallejo Pink
5. Pallid Wych Flesh
6. Contrast "Voluptuous Pink"
7. Vallejo Metallic Medium
8. Washes, Inks & Effects:
9. Liquitex Transparent Burnt Umber
10. Liquitex Titanium White Ink
11. Citadel Nihilakh Oxide
12. AK Interactive European Earth pigment

Basing Materials:

1. Gamers Grass Tiny Dark Moss tufts (2mm)
2. Green Stuff
3. Milliput White
4. Gravel

Choosing a Triadic Colour Scheme for the Barrow Guard

This project uses a triadic colour palette:

Violet – Yellow-Orange – Blue-Green

These colours form a triangle on the colour wheel, offering vibrant contrast without chaos. By allowing Violet to lead, and using Orange and Blue-Green as support, the scheme feels lively yet grounded .

Why this works:

• Strong contrast keeps the model visually interesting.
• No single tone dominates when used properly- but one should still lead.

Step-by-Step: How to Paint Your Barrow Guard Miniatures

1. Zenithal Priming

Create instant contrast and mood before you lay down colour.

Prime black.

Spray Titanium White Ink from above (approx. 60° angle).

Focus highlights on upper surfaces. Leave lower areas dark.

The translucent nature of acrylics will do some of the heavy lifting for you.

2. Ancient Bronze Armour

Base: Warplock Bronze

Mid-tone: 50/50 Warplock Bronze + Retributor Armour

Edge Highlights: Sycorax Bronze

Final Highlights: Sycorax + White (just dot points)

Shade: Agrax Earthshade

Glaze Shadows: Transparent Burnt Umber

3. Helmet Plume

This element draws the eye and anchors your triadic contrast.

Base: 50% Hot Orange + 50% violet-red (75% Evil Sunz Scarlet + 25% Caledor Sky)

Highlight: Pure Hot Orange

Final Lights: 1:1 Ice Yellow + Liquitex Yellow Medium Azo

Spotlights: Ice Yellow

Shadow: Thin glaze of red-violet

4. Helmet Wings

The coppery wings work in tandem with the plume to add contrast and interest.

Base: Screaming Bell

Shadow: Burnt Amber + Black (glaze)

Highlights: Retributor Armour + Ice Yellow

(Don’t overdo it — Screaming Bell is a beautiful tone, and you want it to show.)

5. Robes – The Tattered Regal

The Grave Guard once served lords. Their robes should whisper of that.

Base: 75% Red + 25% Blue

Highlights: Vallejo Pink

Second Light: Emperor’s Children

Shadow: Blue glaze

Midtone Refresh: Contrast “Voluptuous Pink”

6. Rusted Iron & Bladework

Base: Black + Leadbelcher

Lights: Pure Leadbelcher

Edge Highlights: Vallejo Metallic Medium

Shadows: Black lining

Rust tones: Vallejo Red Black, stipple with Evil Sunz Scarlet + Hot Orange

Oxidation: Nihilakh Oxide in recesses

Rust Deposits: AK Interactive Light Rust pigment

7. Basing – Forgotten Entrance to the Barrow

Use texture to tell a story. These warriors walk across memories. The faded stone beneath them reflects the passing of time.

Sculpt a Forgotten Tomb Base:

Mix 50% Green Stuff + 50% Milliput White

Flatten and carve cobblestones with a hobby knife

Texture edges to suggest erosion

Add gravel and moss tufts to blend into the base

Painting the base:

Base Layer: German Green Beige + Luftwaffe Camo Green

Highlights: Rakarth Flesh or Pallid Wych Flesh

Tufts: Gamers Grass Tiny Dark Moss

Dusting: European Earth pigment

Base Edge: Black

Final Result and Thoughts:

If you’ve waited years to start your Grave Guard, let today be different. The dead don’t dream...but we do. And sometimes, finishing a long-held project is how we honour that dream.

If you paint yours, tag me on Instagram or share a link in the comments. I’d love to see what you've done.

Best Regards

Gimnir