Painting core infantry is a skill that should be mastered as soon as possible. It's best to pick a color scheme that can be finished quickly and easily. With this scheme, each color builds over the last. With practice, the models can be finished in record time.

These models were intended for a warband for Warhammer Skirmish. The warband is themed around the country of Estalia, and so were given a red and yellow color scheme -- the colors of Spain itself. Bretonnian archers can be found for super cheap, far cheaper than the $3.00 a model (2004 price) that Games Workshop wants for metal Empire Archers. The basic idea behind painting Bretonnian archers, is, of course, the same.

	Step 1 To start with, the entire model was sprayed with Skull White primer.
	Step 2 Next, the models are sprayed with Blood Angels Red. This will for the base coat for the entire model.
	Step 3 Blood Angels Red is mixed with Fiery Orange and then drybrushed over the entire model to add definition to the folds on the models clothing. The amount of Fiery Orange is increased with each successive drybrush until using almost nothing but the Fiery Orange itself.
	Step 4 Bestial Brown is applied to the bow, skin, quarrel of arrows, and leather areas of the model.
	Step 5 Bronzed Flesh is applied to the face and hands. If you lightly drybrush over the skin at first you can leave Bestial Brown in the recesses. This gives an easy additional layer of definition for the fingers, eyes and mouth. Then, go over the model with Bronzed Flesh to make sure everything is covered.
	Step 6 Vermin Brown is mixed with Bubonic Brown and applied to the leather areas of the model, leaving a small amount of Bestial Brown in the recesses for shading. The bow and buttons are then given a straight coat of Bubonic Brown to fit in with the red and yellow color scheme. You'll likely need to apply several thin coats application of Bubonic Brown to get an even finish. You can also highlight this with Bleached Bone if you wish.
	Step 7 Chaos Black is applied to the legs of the model and on the arrows.
	Step 1 Codex Grey is applied to the legs of the model and also to the feathers on the arrows.
	Step 9 Shining Gold is applied to the helmet, wristguard belt buckle, and hilt of the knife. This isn't exactly accurate, but fits in with the army's color scheme. Codex Grey is mixed with Chaos Black to highlight the feathers on the arrows, and some Skull White is applied to finish the job.

And that's it! Your archers are now ready to take to the field! You may want to paint the helmet and wristguard Chaos Black and then follow up with Boltgun Metal, but otherwise, the steps should be the same. Whether using them as Bretonnian archers for Warhammer Fantasy Battle or Estalian archers for Warhammer Skirmish like me, just be sure to pick a color scehme you can live with and finish in a decent amount of time. There's no reason to spend hours painting every pupil on rank-and-file models, especially when you know they're going to get blasted by a cannon first turn...

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A group of archers make their way through the perilous jungles of Lustria...

For more Bretonnian painting advice you may want to check out Painting Bretonnian Archers Version 1 and Version 2. These will show you more Bretonnian archers painted in different color schemes.

Good luck and may you roll many 6's!