Painting Inari: Vermilion Robes, Jade Accents and Foxfire Glow

Inari is a 120mm-scale display figure from Anexeo’s Mini Forge, posed above a shrine scene with torii gates, a stone lantern, flowing robes and a small flame held aloft. The sculpt gives painters several distinct surfaces to explore: broad cloth panels, fine hair, lacquer-like accessories, aged metal and weathered stone.

Original product render from the live Maximum Minis listing. The physical model is supplied unpainted, normally in grey resin.

A Vermilion, Jade and Foxfire Palette

Begin with a deep burgundy-brown shadow over the robes, then build vermilion through several thin layers. Keep the deepest folds cool and dark, while reserving brighter orange-red highlights for upward-facing edges. Warm ivory inner fabric gives the red room to breathe; shade it with muted tan rather than black so it stays soft.

Use jade green sparingly on cords, tassels and small ornaments. A dark green base, a mid-tone glaze and a final pale mint edge will create definition without competing with the main robes. Pick out bells, fasteners and jewellery in antique bronze: dark brown metal, warm brass highlights, then a restrained turquoise glaze in selected recesses.

Painting the Foxfire

The raised flame is the natural focal point. Work from a near-white centre into pale turquoise and then deeper blue-green at the outer edges. This reverses the usual highlight pattern and makes the flame read as luminous. Add only a thin turquoise glaze to the nearby hand, sleeve and hair; reflected light should support the sculpt rather than repaint the whole figure.

Digitally coloured example for painting inspiration. The supplied model is unpainted resin.

Hair, Skin and Small Details

For the hair, start with black-brown and layer blue-grey highlights along the raised strands. Keep the face calmer than the costume: a warm neutral skin tone, soft rose at the cheeks and lips, and clean but restrained eye definition. The fan can echo the vermilion robes while using ivory ribs and small bronze details to break up the surface.

Weathering the Shrine Base

Paint the stone lantern and paving in neutral grey, then vary individual stones with thin brown, green and blue-grey glazes. Drybrush lightly across the sharp texture and place moss selectively in damp recesses. Muted red torii gates connect the base to the robes, but weather them with dark chips and dusty lower edges so they remain part of the environment.

A final satin varnish on lacquered accessories and metallic details will contrast with matte cloth and stone. Keep the foxfire glossier than the surrounding surfaces to reinforce its supernatural finish.

Creative Lore: The Keeper of Three Gates

Creative lore: Inari stands above three forgotten gates where travellers once left rice, bells and written wishes. The shrine has fallen silent, but a blue-white foxfire still answers those who arrive with honest purpose. The flame reveals no single future; it shows the cost of every road left untaken.

Display and Narrative Ideas

As a display piece, Inari works well with a dark timber plinth or a simple black base that frames the shrine without adding visual clutter. For a light narrative or campaign hook, the shrine can mark a boundary between ordinary country roads and a spirit realm. Visitors may need to restore the lantern, return a stolen bell or choose which of the three gates to open.

Bring Inari to Your Painting Desk

Inari is available from Maximum Minis as a 120mm-scale, unpainted resin display model, printed on demand with supports removed before dispatch. Explore the full live listing here:

https://www.maximumminis.com/product-page/inari