I’ve been painting up one of these new Void Dragon models, sculpted by Darren Latham. It’s such a beautiful model! I’ve simplified it from the original sculpt, so no tail, less lightning and I modified the head a little. I wanted a different effect for the NMM so I went for SENMM and am pretty happy with how it turned out. For those who don’t know, SENMM just means Sky Earth Non Metallic Metal. You may remember that old White Dwarf magazines used a similar look on their title text.

Beginners Guide to SENMM

Sky-Earth Non-Metallic Metal (SENMM) is a painting technique designed to mimic the reflective properties of metal surfaces without using metallic paints. This method employs strategic use of light and dark colours to create an illusion of reflectivity, akin to how a shiny metal object reflects its surroundings. The “sky-earth” aspect refers to the practice of painting reflections of the sky and the earth onto the model, simulating the way reflective metal would interact with its environment in real life.

To achieve this effect, the process involves applying a base layer of dark colour (usually black) as a primer to prepare the surface. Then, using a palette of carefully chosen, desaturated colours, painters add highlights and shadows to mimic the reflection of the sky (with blues and greys) on the upper parts of the model, and the earth (with browns and greens) on the lower parts. The key to this technique is understanding how light naturally interacts with metal surfaces and replicating those light and dark areas on your model through blending and careful placement of colours.

The success of Sky-Earth NMM relies heavily on the painter’s ability to create smooth gradients, sharp contrasts between the lightest lights and darkest darks, and a coherent light source that logically dictates where the highlights and shadows should be placed. It’s a challenging technique that requires patience and practice, especially for beginners, but mastering it can significantly elevate the level of realism in your miniature painting projects.

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