Why Your Faces Look Flat (And How 3 Colours Fix It)

During a recent stream, someone asked one of the most common questions in miniature painting: "How do I paint realistic faces?" Naturally, we dropped everything and turned it into a teachable moment! In this quick tutorial, I break down my process for painting natural, believable skin tones using tonal values, colour theory, and a simple approach that works for both beginners and experienced painters alike. Starting from the basecoat, we'll build highlights, shadows, and subtle colour variation to bring a face to life in under 30 minutes. Whether you're painting your next D&D character, a Warhammer hero, or a display piece, these techniques will help you create faces with more depth, realism, and character. No fancy tricks. No secret paints. Just solid fundamentals that will improve every face you paint.