Human Flesh (AK17057) is a warm, natural midtone flesh colour in the QUICK GEN range, created for painters who prefer to build skin gradually with subtle layers. The colour in the sample shows a balanced mix of soft brown, beige and a gentle rosy undertone, making it an excellent choice for faces, hands and exposed skin on historical, fantasy and sci-fi miniatures alike.

According to the coverage chart, Human Flesh is classified as a low coverage paint. Rather than covering everything in one opaque pass, it is designed to be slightly translucent. This behaviour is ideal for painters who enjoy layering and glazing techniques, because you can slowly build saturation and light while still allowing the undertone to influence the final result. The matte finish keeps sculpted features sharp, making it easier to read facial structure and small details while you work.

Features & benefits

• Warm, natural midtone flesh colour.
• Low coverage for controlled, translucent layers.
• Matte finish that preserves sculpt detail.
• Perfect for glazing, layering and subtle blends.
• Ideal for faces, hands and other exposed skin.
• Works for both tabletop armies and display pieces.

Technical details

• Volume: 18ml.
• Coverage: Low.
• Water-based acrylic with a matte finish.
• Ready for brush use; thin easily for airbrush and glazes.
• Fast drying and smooth to handle, even on small surfaces.

Applications & painting approaches

Human Flesh shines when you use it as a layering and glazing colour over slightly darker basecoats. Start with a deeper brown or red-brown as your shadow, then apply several thin layers of Human Flesh on raised areas such as cheekbones, nose, forehead and knuckles. Each pass subtly lightens the surface while still revealing the depth of the base colour. Because the paint is low coverage, the transitions between shadow and light become soft and natural without much additional blending.

On gaming pieces, this allows you to add believable skin tones quickly while still enjoying a painterly look. On larger figures, busts or centrepiece models, the transparency makes it easy to introduce tonal variation—cooler shadows around the jaw, warmer tones on the cheeks or nose, or slightly darker areas under the eyes. Small touches of Human Flesh as a glaze can also be used to unify earlier highlight and shadow steps, tying everything together.

• Layer over darker browns for midtone skin on infantry.
• Glaze cheeks, nose and ears to add warmth and life.
• Use multiple thin coats for subtle, realistic transitions.
• Blend into lighter flesh highlights for final accents.
• Adjust hue by mixing with reds, browns or light beiges.

Included in the US Uniforms Set

Human Flesh is part of the US Uniforms Set, where it plays a key role as the main layering colour for skin. Paired with military greens, leathers and neutral equipment tones, it helps faces and hands stand out without looking overly saturated or cartoonish. Painters often rely on this colour when working on squads or full armies,