This Kingdom Death: Monster commission features four of the game’s most iconic and challenging adversaries: The Phoenix, The Watcher, The King’s Man, and The Hand. Each of these magnificent sculpts has been brought to life at our Level 4 high-quality standard, creating a collection that’s as impressive on display as it is terrifying on the game table.
The Phoenix
The Phoenix is undoubtedly one of Kingdom Death’s most spectacular monster designs, and it was a true pleasure to paint this magnificent creature. The model’s dynamic pose, with wings unfurled and body twisted in motion, creates an immediate sense of power and otherworldly grace.
For this piece, we focused on creating a rich colour gradient that transitions from deep blues in the wings to dull oranges and finally reds at the start of the feathers. This colour progression not only mimics the appearance of flame but also draws the eye upward across the model, emphasising its imposing presence.
The feather texture received particular attention, with each individual plume highlighted to create depth and dimension. The face was treated as a focal point, with careful blending to bring out the creature’s fierce expression and supernatural gaze.
The Watcher
The enigmatic Watcher represents one of the more unnerving entities in the Kingdom Death universe. For this model, we emphasised the contrast between the dark, imposing figure and the eerie glow of its lantern.
The lantern itself was the perfect opportunity to showcase our object source lighting techniques. The warm amber glow spills across the surrounding surfaces, creating dramatic shadows and highlighting the textural details of the model. This lighting effect was built up through multiple thin glazes, gradually intensifying the illumination while maintaining a natural falloff of light.
The Watcher’s robes were treated with subtle colour variations to add visual interest to the large surface areas while still maintaining the sombre, mysterious nature of the entity. Small details in the fabric and glowing ornaments help break up the darkness and add points of interest throughout the model.
The King’s Man
The King’s Man represents a more humanoid yet no less disturbing adversary. The ornate armour and mask create a stark contrast to the twisted physique beneath, telling a visual story of nobility corrupted by the dark forces of the Kingdom Death world.
For this model, I paid special attention to the metallic surfaces of the armour, an elegant and royal appearance that suggests centuries of service to a dark master. The base was designed to complement the figure while telling part of its story – the cracked stone and remnants of civilisation hint at the King’s Man’s connection to a fallen kingdom.
The Hand
Perhaps the most disturbing of the four models, The Hand embodies the body horror aesthetic that Kingdom Death is known for. This bizarre creature demanded a painting approach that would emphasise its alien and unnerving qualities.
I approached The Hand with a palette of sickly flesh tones for its brains, using subtle variations to distinguish between different tissue types and create a sense of unwholesome vitality. Glossy effects were selectively applied to enhance the moist, organic appearance of certain areas, while other sections were kept matte to create textural contrast.
Level 4 High-Quality Standard
All four models were completed to our Level 4 high-quality standard, which includes:
- Advanced color blending and smooth transitions
- Specialized lighting effects, particularly on The Watcher’s lantern
- Fine detail work on focal points and character-defining features
- Texture differentiation between materials (metal, flesh, fabric, feathers)
- Cohesive color palette across the collection
- Subtle weathering and environmental effects
- Custom bases that enhance each model’s narrative
This level of quality transforms these already exceptional sculpts into showcase pieces that capture the unique aesthetic and atmosphere of Kingdom Death: Monster.
Expanding the Nightmare
These four monsters join our client’s growing Kingdom Death collection, providing both formidable challenges for gameplay and striking display pieces. Each monster brings its unique presence and gameplay mechanics, dramatically expanding the narrative possibilities of their campaign.
For those interested in commissioning their own Kingdom Death collection, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our Level 4 high-quality standard brings these haunting characters to life with professional results that honour the exceptional sculptural quality of the Kingdom Death range.
