The color range we can apply to this faction is terrific. Everything from natural hues to the most outlandish patterns tend to work with relative ease, and given the fantastical lore of the Lizardmen/Seraphon, color choices seem to favor boldness over convention. That said, given the great variety of models and potential for customization, I definitely encountered a degree of decision paralysis when it came time to settle on my own color scheme. I ultimately found myself so indeterminate on what colors I wanted to paint my army that I instead decided to instead focus on what kind of play style I wanted to utilize, what kind of army composition that would require, and what kind of backstory would make sense given those choices. Once I had worked through this process, the final color scheme then came to me more easily. In another post, I started developing the backstory for my Seraphon army. Locating their origins on the Western side of the Spine of Sotek, in the boundary between the Forbidden Jungle and the Copper Desert, I started looking for suitable inspiration from the natural world. While I enjoyed the more vibrant options suggested by GW in their various rulebooks, I felt many of these weren't a good fit for an army who were torn from the Old World and thrust into the Age of Sigmar. I wanted to use organic, primal colors which would fit a Coalesced force who -for reasons perhaps only the Slann could fathom- were committed to defending their ancient temple complex across time and space. I started looking at different kinds of lizards whose real-world natural habitats were close to the fantastical realms inhabited by my Saurian host. I was drawn particularly to certain varieties of iguana, uromastyx, calote, skink, and monitor lizard. I have attached links to articles and images of all the relevant critters, and in my next posts I'll document the progress I've made painting my figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_iguana https://blog.nature.org/science/2019/09/10/the-iguana-invasion/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydosaurus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uromastyx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorny_devil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plains_skink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotes_mystaceus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_lizard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
After no few abortive attempts that all ended in a quick dip into spirits, and some growing frustration which at times also lead to me soaking in spirits , I finally devised a schema with which I felt relatively happy. I ultimately settled on using Zandri Dust as my base color, washing that with Agrax Earthshade, then brushing Underhive Ash over the scales. Some accents were picked out using Orruk Flesh for the darker shades, and a lighter Brilliant Yellow Green as well. Their eyes are picked out with Medium Cadmium Yellow and Averland Sunset. The shields were all done with a mix of Hooker's Green and Phthalocyanine Blue Shade Green, and then brushed with Militarum Contrast, so each one is unique. I debated edging the scales, but for now I'm pleased without that level of detailing. The straps are mixed Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna with a bit of Rhinox Hide, same on the spear shafts. Each model has all its metal hardware done in a different metallic color, and as I build more Saurus I may break them into units by those colors. The blades of regular units are done in a non-GW Obsidian Black Iridescent paint, and my elites and heroes will have their weapons done in a mix of Pearl White Iridescent and White Silver Iridescent paints, with a custom metallic color for their metal hardware. The teeth, horns, and claws were all done in Wrack White, with the inner portion of the mouths done in a slightly diluted Deep Hue Cadmium Red. Once the models are mostly done to my liking I'll paint the bases with a nice mud effect paint. I acquired slotted 32mm round bases so that I might potentially return to square 25mm bases should the opportunity present itself, but for larger models I'm not sure how I'll convert them to rectangular bases. On the whole I'm pleased with the outcome of my efforts, and I like to think I've found a relatively natural look for my rank-and-file infantry choice. Some of my other models will get more exotic colors, but I wanted to start with something I might see sunning on a boulder in the wild.
Last post for today, a glimpse of a hated foe who somehow also survived the End Times. Perhaps they took advantage of my Slann's efforts to preserve his temple-city, slipping unseen beneath the protective ley lines of the Astromatrix and into the new Realm.