Sylvaneth are walking forest spirits - all bark, branches, leaves and roots - which makes them a wonderfully organic, naturalistic army to paint. There are no hard armour panels here; everything is wood, foliage and gentle magic.
The signature look
Pale silver-green or grey bark bodies, deeper green and autumnal (orange, red, brown) foliage, glowing wisps and seed-pods, and soft magical light. The palette can be spring-fresh or autumnal depending on your glade - both look striking.
Painting bark and wood
The bark bodies are perfect for drybrushing and washes:
- Basecoat a mid grey-green or brown, wash to sink the grain, then drybrush up to a pale silver-green to catch every knot and ridge.
- A wood-effect contrast paint over a bone undercoat is a fast route to natural-looking timber.
Foliage and glow
- Leaves - vary the greens, and add autumnal reds, oranges and yellows for a richer, more natural look. Contrast paints make multicoloured foliage quick.
- Wisps and seed-pods - the magical glow uses object-source lighting: a bright core (blue, green or amber) glazed softly onto the nearby wood.
Tips and common mistakes
- Drybrush the bark. It is the fastest way to bring out the wood-grain texture.
- Vary the foliage. A single flat green looks artificial - mix in warm autumn tones.
- Soft glow. Keep the magical light gentle and diffuse, not a hard neon.