Customer briefing

Echoes from the Sea and Eternal Shadows: Dark Angels Reborn

This project came to us thanks to a client passionate about Dark Angels, who was looking for more than just a painted army: he wanted to tell a story with each miniature. After discovering our work on social networks and exploring other projects we had done, he decided that Art-W Studio was the perfect place to bring his vision to life.
The brief was clear and ambitious. It was a small army that had to keep the classic essence of the Dark Angels, but with a darker, grimdarker twist. The miniatures included legendary heroes such as Lion El’Johnson, Azrael and Asmodai, along with iconic units such as the Deathwing Knights. In addition, he asked us to make the bases reflect a very specific environment: a bright beach with light sand and turquoise waves.
There were no requests for conversions or custom parts, but the challenge was to find the perfect balance between the traditional colors and the more somber aesthetic the client was looking for. He wanted the miniatures to look game level, eye-catching and premium, depending on their importance, and for every detail to convey the essence of the chapter.
With this mission in mind, we started working to transform his vision into reality.

General picture of the project Game, Ornate & Premium level

Black Armor and Turquoise Waves: A Contrast of Art and Warfare

Our approach to this project was methodical and collaborative, with clear communication at every stage. It all started with the assembly of the miniatures, a step we executed with precision before moving on to painting. We spent time creating a sample miniature, a Bladeguard Veteran, which included both the grimdark schematic and the themed base, making sure the client approved the overall vision before moving on.
The painting was divided into two large blocks: heroes such as Lion El’Johnson and Azrael, with black armor illuminated in desaturated blue tones, and the Deathwing units, with armor in ochre and bone tones. After applying the bases, we incorporated brush details and oil washes for a grimdark finish to highlight the joints and textures.
The big challenge was the bases. Recreating a luminous beach with golden sand and turquoise water was a technical challenge that we carefully solved, adding foam and splashes for a more realistic effect.
Throughout the project, we sent daily previews to the client, from the first basics to the final details. This not only allowed him to track progress, but also ensured that we were aligned with his vision at every stage.