UMS "Agram" : Freehand for Sons of Horus Spartana < Articles < Hobby

Freehand for Sons of Horus Spartana

Miha Kolarić, 20th April 2026

This week, our Miha is working on the "Freehand" technique on Spartan for Sons of Horus for the game Horus Heresy.

I'll explain my process a bit and give some tips if you're interested in trying this technique yourself.

The first step is to find some references, something that we will use as inspiration and a guide for the colors later. It is important to emphasize that we are not trying to copy the drawing 1:1, but rather use it as a starting point and then add our own details.

I used a drawing by Richard Bagnall as inspiration, of course you can use your own sketches.

The second step is to define the space and create guides. I recommend using white paint as we will cover these guidelines later. It is important to define the surface we are working with and the important parts of the drawing through the guidelines.

Then we move from the background colors to the foreground colors, in this case reds, then blacks, then golds. Don't worry too much about making it perfect at first, just mark where each color goes and start building a blend from darker to lighter.

After that, the process of adding details where needed and marking the edges of zones to create light begins. Here I started working on the face, which I later changed the most with more detailed eyes and I tried to make the nose stand out more.

The last step is very long and requires a lot of effort. It's about fixing and adding more details where needed, when painting something detailed in such a small area mistakes will happen, just let it dry a bit and fix it. In the picture you can see how the red has transferred to my face, I fixed that later. I also added more details by using lighter shades of paint in certain areas.

This was the final result, I still tried to add some things, but every time I changed something intentionally, something would change by accident. It's important to know when to accept that a freehand is finished. Your first one won't be perfect, but through practice you will get better and better.

One tip I will give you is to always have an object in your photo that can serve to show the viewer the size of your drawing. Most people I have shown the final image to thought it was a much larger drawing. I like to use coins.

Now, to show you how easy it is to start freehand and what can be achieved through practice, I'll give you two pictures, one of the brushes and paints I used for this project, and the other of some of my other freehands. I'm sure you'll notice the progress over time.

Thank you for reading, I hope I have encouraged you to try the freehand technique on your models.

Latest articles

Miniature Painting Workshop - 75mm Dwarf

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "514"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(3) "107"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(40) "Miniature Painting Workshop - 75mm Dwarf"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(44) "Radionica bojanja minijatura - 75mm patuljak"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(40) "miniature_painting_workshop_-_75mm_dwarf"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(44) "radionica_bojanja_minijatura_-_75mm_patuljak"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(14418) "
	On 09-10.05.2026. we held a new weekend miniature painting workshop. This time it was the turn of a dwarf in 75mm scale.

	

	




The workshop was held over two days (a whole weekend) and the participants painted a 75mm miniature dwarf. The focus of these lectures was painting various textures - metal, human skin, textiles and leather. Water-based acrylic paints were used in the workshop. For this purpose, the workshop leader, Ivan Knezović, chose a 75mm miniature dwarf from Durgin Paint Forge, sculpted by Carlos Perez Bugedo. The lectures were adapted so that the leader devotes equal time to all participants and can be adapted to all categories of miniaturists (from beginners to slightly more advanced).



	

	

	

	


The workshop took place as follows:

	First, the lecturer sits at his desk and explains and demonstrates each step in painting a miniature/model on his specimen. His work is displayed on a screen via a camera and projector, which the participants listen to, watch, and ask questions about.

	Then, the participants sit at their desks and apply the knowledge they have gained. The facilitator circulates among the participants and checks how each participant is doing. This way, he or she can adapt to each participant individually.




	

	

	

	The workshop will include the following thematic units:

	1. NMM (Non metallic metal)

2. Reflections of ambient colors on metal

3. Steel / gold

4. Face painting (male)

5. Adding vibrancy to the face (filters)

6. Extracting textures from fabric, metal and leather

	

	

	POWERED BY: Carta Magica, Fireball Figurines, Durgin Paint Forge, Playsupport
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(14428) "
	09-10.05.2026. smo održali novu vikend Radionicu bojanja minijatura. Ovoga puta na redu je bio patuljak u 75mm mjerilu.

	

	Radionica se provodila kroz dva dana (cijeli vikend) i polaznici su bojali 75mm minijaturu patuljka. Fokus ovih predavanja bilo je bojenje raznih tekstura – od metala, ljudske kože, tekstila i kože (leather). U sklopu radionice korištene su akrilne boje na bazi vode. U tu svrhu, voditelj radionice, Ivan Knezović, izabrao je 75 mm minijaturu patuljka tvrtke Durgin Paint Forge, koju je sculptao Carlos Perez Bugedo. Predavanja su prilagođena tako da voditelj posveti jednako vrijeme svim polaznicima i može se prilagoditi svim kategorijama minijaturista (od početnika do malo naprednijih).

	

	

	

	Radionica se odvijala na sljedeći način:

	Prvo, predavač sjedi za svojim stolom te objašnjava i demonstrira pojedini korak u bojanju minijature/makete na svojem primjerku. Njegov rad se preko kamere i projektora prikazuje na platnu što polaznici slušaju, gledaju, ali i postavljaju pitanja.

	Potom, polaznici sjedaju za svoje stolove i primjenjuju stečeno znanje. Voditelj kruži između polaznika i provjerava kako svakom polazniku ide. Na taj način, može se prilagoditi svakom polazniku ponaosob.

	

	

	

	Radionica će uključivati sljedeće tematske cjeline:

	1. NMM (Non metallic metal)

	2. Refleksije boja iz okoline na metalu

	3. Čelik / zlato

	4. Bojanje lica (muškog)

	5. Dodavanje živosti na lice (filteri)

	6. Izvlačenje tekstura tkanine, metala i kože (leather)

	

	

	POWERED BY: Carta Magica, Fireball Figurines, Durgin Paint Forge, Playsupport
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 11:39:00"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 11:41:50"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "107"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "2"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Ivan "
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Knezović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(4) "ivan"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "knezovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(8) "IvanKlan"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "94527877845e989fe51bd34849504967876063aa"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2006-01-01 00:00:00"
    ["created"]=>
    NULL
  }
}

Ivan Knezović, 26th May 2026

We visited: Festival Svet v Malem 2026, Pivka, Slovenia

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "513"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "64"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(56) "We visited: Festival Svet v Malem 2026, Pivka, Slovenia "
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(61) "Posjetili smo: Festival Svet v Malem 2026 u Pivki u Sloveniji"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(52) "we_visited_festival_svet_v_malem_2026_pivka_slovenia"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(60) "posjetili_smo_festival_svet_v_malem_2026_u_pivki_u_sloveniji"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(3433) "
	On May 23, 2026, we participated in the international plastic model making competition Festival Svet v Malem 2026 in Pivka, Slovenia.

	

	The competition is traditionally held at the Military History Park in Pivka.

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(3434) "
	23. svibnja 2026. sudjelovali smo na međunarodnom natjecanju u plastičnom maketarstvu Festival Svet v Malem 2026 u Pivki u Sloveniji. 

	

	Natjecanje se tradicionalno održava u Parku vojne povijesti u Pivki.

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 10:22:52"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 10:22:52"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "64"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(9) "Krunoslav"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(8) "Belinić"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(9) "krunoslav"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(7) "belinic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "Kruno"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "eb3fda45fbec0258e90d809803b10491c548b22f"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2015-01-18 09:19:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2015-01-18 09:20:39"
  }
}

Krunoslav Belinić, 26th May 2026

We visited: KupKA 2026

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "512"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(22) "We visited: KupKA 2026"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(25) "Posjetili smo: KupKA 2026"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(21) "we_visited_kupka_2026"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(24) "posjetili_smo_kupka_2026"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(3642) "
	On May 16, 2026, we participated in the international plastic model making competition KupKA held at the Museum of the Homeland War in Karlovac.

	

	

	

	The competition was organized by the Slavoljub Penkala Modeling Club from Zagreb.

	

	

	

	

	Thanks to the organizer for an interesting competition, to the judges for some medals, and especially to my colleagues from the Maketarski Club Novi Sad - IPMS Serbia for the medal!

	

	

	
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(3602) "
	16. svibnja 2026. sudjelovali smo na međunarodnom natjecanju u plastičnom maketarstvu KupKA održanom u Muzeju domovinskog rata u Karlovcu.

	

	

	

	Natjecanje je organizirao Maketarski klub Slavoljub Penkala iz Zagreba

	

	

	

	

	Hvala organizatoru na zanimljivom natjecanju, sucima na ponešto medalja, a pogotovo kolegama iz Maketarskog Kluba Novi Sad - IPMS Srbija na medalji!

	

	

	
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 10:14:10"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 10:14:10"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}

Marko Paunović, 26th May 2026

Back to Basics Workshops in Gallery VN

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "511"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "64"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(38) "Back to Basics Workshops in Gallery VN"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(83) "Back to Basics radionice bojenja minijatura za najmlađe u Galeriji i čitaonici VN"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(38) "back_to_basics_workshops_in_gallery_vn"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(81) "back_to_basics_radionice_bojenja_minijatura_za_najmlade_u_galeriji_i_citaonici_vn"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(6246) "
	In May 2026 we held our Back To Basics miniature painting workshops for the youngest in Gallery VN.

	

	The workshops were completely FREE for all participants!

	

	

	

	

	The Back to Basics method is a method of making models and miniatures that focuses on a fun process intended for younger ages, but everyone is welcome! In three separate sessions on Thursdays, participants (aged 7+) painted miniatures of their choice (knight, princess, king, wizard and barbarian). 

	

	

	

	

	

	

	1st session: Painting miniatures of choice, Thursday, 07.05. - from 18:00 to 19:00

	2nd session: Painting a miniature of your choice, Thursday, 14.05. - from 18:00 to 19:00

	3rd session: Painting a miniature of your choice, Thursday, 21.05. - from 18:00 to 19:00

	

	

	

	

	

	
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(7790) "
	U svibnju 2026. održali smo naše Back To Basics radionice za najmlađe u Galeriji i čitaonici VN.

	

	Radionice su bile BESPLATNE za sve polaznike!

	

	

	

	

	Back to Basics metoda je metoda izrade maketa i minijatura kojoj je fokus na zabavnom procesu namjenjenom mlađim uzrastima, ali svi su dobrodošli! U tri zasebna termina četvrtkom, polaznici (od 7+) su bojali minijature po izboru (vitez, princeza, kralj, čarobnjak i barbarin).

	

	

	

	

	

	

	1. termin: Bojenje minijature po izboru, četvrtak, 07.05. - od 18:00 do 19:00

	2. termin: Bojenje minijature po izboru, četvrtak, 14.05. - od 18:00 do 19:00

	3. termin: Bojenje minijature po izboru, četvrtak, 21.05. - od 18:00 do 19:00

	

	

	

	

	

	
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 08:06:32"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-26 08:06:32"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "64"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(9) "Krunoslav"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(8) "Belinić"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(9) "krunoslav"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(7) "belinic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "Kruno"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "eb3fda45fbec0258e90d809803b10491c548b22f"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2015-01-18 09:19:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2015-01-18 09:20:39"
  }
}

Krunoslav Belinić, 26th May 2026

Painting Faces at Tabletop Level

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "510"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(32) "Painting Faces at Tabletop Level"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(35) "Bojanje lica standardom za tabletop"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(32) "painting_faces_at_tabletop_level"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(35) "bojanje_lica_standardom_za_tabletop"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(4367) "
	In this short article, I will describe two ways to paint faces on a so-called tabletop standard. The text follows two versions of the painting. One will use a store-bought wash, and in the second, slightly less contrasting one, I will use a wash that I got from regular paint. This way, the reader can choose which method suits them better.

	  

	The first step is to dye the base color.

	Left: Since I'm going to use a store-bought wash in this example, I decided to go for a darker shade of skin tone.

	Right: In this example, I'm going to use the color as a base for the wash, so I decided to go for a slightly lighter skin tone - and therefore a lighter base color.

	  

	The next step is to apply the wash.

	Left: I use a regular, store-bought Reikkland Fleshshade wash.

	Right: On a drop of the darker skin tone, I add two drops of Lahmian Medium and a drop or two of water. This creates my own wash, which I apply similarly to the example on the left.

	  

	Then comes the first highlight.

	Left: I apply the base color to the raised parts of the face and thus get the first highlight.

	Right: Just like in the example on the left, I use the base color as the first highlight.

	  

	Then the second highlight.

	Left: I get the second highlight by mixing the base color with a lighter shade.

	Right: I follow the same process as on the left, with the caveat that I never use pure white to mix the highlight, it's always an off white – with a minimal amount of some pigment.

	  

	The penultimate step is to outline the eyes.

	Left: This step is identical in both cases.

	Right: I outline the eyes with some off-white paint (to make my life easier, it's usually two lines).

	  

	The last step is to add shadows around the mouth and eyes.

	Left: In this case, you can use a darker wash like Nuln Oil or Druchi Purple.

	Right: I mixed black and purple and added two drops of Lahmian Medium and a drop or two of water to create a darker wash, then applied the mixture to the eye sockets, making sure not to get the wash on the previously drawn eyes.

	And the last thing is drawing the pupils – just vertical lines of dark/black color against the horizontal light lines for the eyes.

	 
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(4347) "
	U ovom kratkom članku, opisat ću dva načina za bojanje lica na takozvanom tabletop standardu. Tekst prati dvije verzije bojanja. Jedna će koristiti kupovni wash, a u drugoj, malo manje kontrastnoj koristit ću wash kojeg sam dobio iz obične boje. Na taj način, čitatelj može izabrati koji način mu više odgovara.

	  

	Prvi korak je bojanje u osnovnu boju.

	Lijevo: s obzirom da ću na ovom primjeru koristiti kupovni wash, odlučio sam se za tamniju nijansu boje kože.

	Desno: u ovom primjeru koristit ću boju kao osnovu za wash, tako da sam se odlučio za malo svjetliju nijansu kože – a samim time i svjetliju osnovnu boju.

	  

	Sljedeći korak je stavljanje wash-a.

	Lijevo: Koristim običan, kupovni Reikkland Fleshshade wash.

	Desno: Na kap tamnije nijanse boje kože stavljam dvije kapljice Lahmian Mediuma i kap do dvije vode. Na taj način dobivam vlastiti wash kojeg nanosim slično kao i na lijevom primjeru.

	  

	Zatim ide prvi highlight.

	Lijevo: Nanosim na izdignute dijelove lica osnovnu boju i na taj način dobivam prvi highlight.

	Desno: Jednako kao i u lijevom primjeru, kao prvi highlight koristim osnovnu boju.

	  

	Potom drugi highlight.

	Lijevo: Drugi highlight dobivam mješajući osnovnu boju s nekom svjetlijom nijansom.

	Desno: Pratim isti proces kao i lijevo, uz napomenu da nikada ne koristim čistu bijelu boju za miješanje highlighta, uvijek je to neki off white – s minimalnom količinom nekog pigmenta.

	  

	Predzadnji korak je iscrtavanje obrisa očiju.

	Lijevo: Ovaj korak je identičan u oba slučaja.

	Desno: Nekom off white bojom iscrtam obrise očiju (da si olakšam život, to su najčešće dvije crtice).

	  

	Zadnji korak je dodavanje sjena oko ustiju i očiju.

	Lijevo: U ovom slučaju, možete koristiti tamniji wash poput Nuln Oil ili Druchi Purple.

	Desno: Pomiješao sam crnu i ljubičastu boju te dodao kap dvije Lahmian Mediuma i kad do dvije vode da dobijem tamniji wash te smjesu nanio u očne šupljine pazeći da wash ne dođe na prethodno iscrtane oči.

	I zadnja stvar je ucrtavanje zjenica – samo okomite crtice tamne/crne boje u odnosu na horizontalne svijetle crte za oči.
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-20 10:46:57"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2026-05-20 10:46:57"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}

Marko Paunović, 20th May 2026

Latest battle-reports

Kill Team - Blooded vs. Vespid Stingwings 28th February 2025, GW - Warhammer 40.000, and Antoni Pastuović (Imperial Guard)

22nd April 2022, GW - Warhammer 40.000, Borna Pleše (Space Marines) and Kristijan Kliska (Tau Empire)

17th November 2021, GW - Warhammer 40.000, and Nino Marasović (Space Marines)

Association of miniature collectors, modellers and tabletop wargamers "Agram"

Freehand for Sons of Horus Spartana

Latest articles

Latest battle-reports