By Manul Chandilla
The Tau (or T’au) Empire has always stood apart in the Warhammer 40k universe. Rather than relying on ancient traditions or the corruption of Chaos, their armies are built around advanced technology, disciplined firepower, and the philosophy of the Greater Good. From sleek battlesuits and hovering vehicles to highly detailed Fire Warriors and Kroot allies, every Tau miniature presents its own unique painting opportunities. Over the years, we've had the chance to work on a wide variety of Tau painting commissions, each reflecting a different vision while staying true to the distinctive style that makes the faction so recognizable.
At PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service, every Warhammer 40k painting commission begins with understanding what the client wants from their army. Some collectors prefer the classic Tau sept color schemes seen throughout the lore, while others commission custom armies with unique camouflage, alternate color palettes, or themed bases. In this article, we'll take a look at the different Tau miniatures we've painted over the years, exploring the approaches, techniques, and creative choices that have gone into bringing these iconic Warhammer 40k armies to life.
A Custom Army: Our Largest Tau Commission to Date
The sheer size of the order is giant!
One of the most memorable Tau painting commissions we've worked on at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service was also the largest Tau army we've ever painted in a single project. Consisting of an impressive 336 miniatures, this Warhammer 40k painting commission gave us the opportunity to work across nearly every aspect of the Tau Empire range. From infantry squads and battlesuits to drones and larger centerpiece models, the collection showcased the diversity that makes a Tau army such a rewarding project for any miniature painting service.
Rather than following one of the established sept color schemes from the Warhammer 40k lore, the client approached us with a custom concept inspired by a collection of Tau miniatures they had seen online. The goal wasn't to recreate another army exactly, but to capture the same overall aesthetic while adapting it to suit their own collection. As with many of our custom Warhammer 40k painting commissions, we worked closely with the client to understand the look they were hoping to achieve before applying it consistently across the entire force.
Painting an army of this scale requires more than simply repeating the same process hundreds of times. With 336 miniatures on the painting table, maintaining consistency across every Fire Warrior, Battlesuit, Drone, and vehicle became just as important as the quality of each individual model. Careful color matching, consistent highlighting, and unified basing ensured that every unit looked like it belonged to the same fighting force while still allowing the larger models and commanders to stand out as natural focal points within the army.
Large-scale Warhammer 40k miniature painting projects like this are always rewarding because they allow the complete vision of an army to come together. Seeing hundreds of finished Tau miniatures assembled side by side highlighted the clean lines, advanced technology, and disciplined appearance that define the faction. It remains one of the largest miniature painting commissions we've completed for the Tau Empire, and a project that demonstrated just how striking a fully realized custom Tau army can look on the tabletop.
If you’d like to see more, check the gallery below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/28er5Uqm8dMjo5Ra6
Vior'la Sept: Speed, Precision, and Firepower
Among the many Tau (or T’au) painting commissions we've completed over the years at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service, one smaller project stood out for its clean execution and faithful interpretation of one of the faction's best-known septs. This Warhammer 40k painting commission featured a Vior'la Sept force consisting of an XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team, several squads of Fire Warriors, and an Ethereal leading the contingent. Although modest in size, the collection represented the core elements of a classic Tau army and provided an opportunity to explore the striking white and red color scheme that has become synonymous with the Vior'la Sept.
Painting Vior'la Sept miniatures requires careful attention to smooth, clean finishes. White is one of the most challenging colors to paint well, particularly across the broad armor panels that define Tau infantry and battlesuits. Throughout this miniature painting commission, we focused on achieving crisp highlights, subtle shading, and clean panel separation while ensuring the bold red markings complemented the armor rather than overpowering it. The result was a force that reflected the disciplined, high-tech appearance that makes Tau armies so distinctive on the Warhammer 40k tabletop.
The XV8 Crisis Battlesuits naturally became the centerpieces of the commission. Their larger armor plates and advanced weapon systems provide plenty of opportunities to showcase careful blending and edge highlighting, while still maintaining the clean, manufactured appearance expected of Tau technology. Alongside them, the Fire Warriors established the visual identity of the army, with every miniature painted consistently to create a cohesive fighting force. Maintaining that level of uniformity across an entire unit is an important part of any Warhammer 40k miniature painting project, especially for an army built around discipline and coordinated tactics.
Leading the force was an Ethereal, a model that provided a welcome contrast to the otherwise heavily armored collection. Flowing robes, ceremonial details, and organic textures allowed us to introduce more variation into the project while remaining faithful to the established Vior'la palette. Characters like the Ethereal often become natural focal points within a Tau army, and careful attention was given to ensuring the model stood apart without breaking the visual consistency of the rest of the force.
Projects like this demonstrate that a Warhammer 40k painting commission doesn't need to be enormous to make an impact. Whether we're painting a handful of elite Battlesuits or a complete Tau army, our goal remains the same: to create cohesive, tabletop-ready miniatures that stay true to the client's vision while capturing the sleek aesthetic and advanced technology that define the Tau Empire.
If you’d like to see more, check the gallery below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EicT6pLZrv1NKsup8
A Miami Dolphins-Inspired Custom Tau Army
One of the more distinctive Tau (or T’au) painting commissions we've completed over the years at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service was a custom force inspired by the colors of the Miami Dolphins. Consisting of 23 miniatures, this Warhammer 40k painting commission moved away from the traditional Tau sept color schemes in favor of a vibrant combination of teal, orange, white, and subtle metallic accents. While the inspiration came from an NFL team, the finished army still retained the clean, futuristic aesthetic that defines the Tau Empire, resulting in a collection that was unique.
Custom Warhammer 40k painting projects like this are always enjoyable because they encourage us to think beyond the established lore while respecting the design language of the miniatures themselves. The broad armor panels found on Tau models provide an excellent canvas for experimenting with alternative color schemes, allowing bold colors to work without overwhelming the intricate details. Throughout the project, we focused on balancing the bright palette with careful shading and crisp edge highlights, ensuring that every miniature remained visually striking while still looking cohesive on the tabletop.
Although this was a relatively small commission of 23 miniatures, consistency remained a priority throughout the painting process. Every model shared the same carefully matched colors and markings, creating the appearance of a unified fighting force despite the unconventional inspiration behind the scheme. Whether viewed individually or as a complete detachment, the miniatures reflected the disciplined appearance expected of a Tau army while showcasing the client's own personality and interests through the custom color palette.
Projects such as this highlight one of the strengths of Tau miniature painting. Their sleek armor, advanced battlesuits, and streamlined vehicles lend themselves particularly well to custom Warhammer 40k painting commissions, making them an excellent choice for collectors looking to create something truly personal. Whether based on established septs, original concepts, or even real-world inspirations like the Miami Dolphins, every custom Tau army offers a chance to produce a force that stands apart while remaining instantly recognizable within the Warhammer 40k universe.
If you’d like to see more, check the gallery below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hgBZVeCFxMghFPLA8
Tash'var Sept: A Veteran Frontier Force
Among the various Tau (or T’au) painting commissions we've completed at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service over the years, we've also had the opportunity to paint a force in the colours of the Tash'var Sept. While collectors often gravitate towards the more familiar Vior'la or Tau Sept schemes, Tash'var offers a distinctive appearance that immediately stands out on the tabletop. This Warhammer 40k painting commission gave us the chance to faithfully recreate the Sept's signature colours while maintaining the clean, futuristic aesthetic that defines the Tau Empire.
One of the defining aspects of Tash'var miniature painting is achieving a balanced finish across the army. The sept's colour palette combines bold armour colours with carefully chosen secondary tones, creating an appearance that is both striking and practical. Throughout this Warhammer 40k miniature painting project, we at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service focused on producing smooth armour panels, crisp edge highlights, and clean panel lining, ensuring that every model reflected the advanced engineering and disciplined military doctrine that Tau armies are known for.
As with many Tau armies, consistency played an important role throughout the commission. Every miniature was painted to match the established Tash'var scheme, allowing the collection to look cohesive whether displayed in a cabinet or deployed across the tabletop. Uniform markings, carefully matched colours, and consistent basing all contributed to the impression of a well-organised expeditionary force. These details are often subtle, but they make a significant difference when viewing a complete Warhammer 40k army as a whole.
Working on established sept colour schemes presents a different challenge from creating entirely custom armies for us at PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service. Collectors often choose these schemes because they appreciate the background and identity associated with a particular Sept, making accuracy just as important as the quality of the finish itself. Projects like this Tash'var force remind us that classic colour schemes continue to have a strong appeal within the Warhammer 40k community. Whether painting a canon-inspired Tau army or a completely original concept, our miniature painting service always aims to deliver a force that remains faithful to the client's vision while showcasing the clean, advanced design that makes Tau miniature painting so rewarding.
If you’d like to see more, check the gallery below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/14SkCJBRtvHknVp47
A Royal Tau Sept with a Story to Tell
One of the most imaginative Tau (or T’au) painting commissions we've had the opportunity to work on in PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service came with a rich piece of worldbuilding behind it. Rather than simply requesting a custom colour scheme, the client envisioned an entire Tau Sept whose culture had been shaped by its homeworld. According to their concept, this Sept originated on a planet constantly battered by raging sandstorms filled with fine gold particles. Over countless generations, their armour had become naturally sandblasted, giving it a distinctive worn appearance while retaining the regal colours that symbolised the status and pride of the Sept.
To bring this vision to life, the army was centred around a rich gold armour scheme inspired by Vallejo Game Color Polished Gold, complemented by deep purple panels based on Vallejo Game Color Royal Purple. Although these colours served as the inspiration, we mixed our paints internally to match the exact hues the client was looking for. Additional accent colours were carefully incorporated throughout the collection, helping to break up the armour while preserving the overall balance between the warm metallics and vibrant purple. The combination created a striking Tau army that felt both noble and believable within the Warhammer 40k universe.
Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this Warhammer 40k painting commission was finding the right balance between elegance and realism. Gold armour naturally conveys prestige, but the client's background story called for that prestige to be tempered by the harsh conditions of the Sept's homeworld. We introduced subtle weathering and gentle signs of abrasion across the armour to suggest years of exposure to sand-laden storms without obscuring the brilliance of the metallic finish. This approach allowed the miniatures to retain their royal identity while telling the environmental story behind the army.
Custom Warhammer 40k painting commissions are often at their best when the colour scheme is supported by a compelling narrative, and this project was an excellent example of that. Every miniature contributed to the identity of the force, with the polished gold, royal purple, and carefully applied weathering working together to create a cohesive collection. It was a rewarding project to complete, demonstrating how thoughtful miniature painting can reinforce the lore that collectors create for their own Tau armies while producing a force that stands out both on display and across the tabletop.
If you’d like to see more, check the gallery below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/S139x62VuiiWGeJB6
Throughout the years, painting Tau armies has given us the opportunity to work on an incredible variety of projects, from faithful recreations of iconic Septs to completely original colour schemes inspired by everything from sports teams to anime and richly developed homebrew lore. Every Warhammer 40k painting commission presents a new creative challenge, and every Tau army reflects the unique vision of its owner. At PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service, we strive to preserve that individuality while delivering cohesive, tabletop-ready armies that remain true to the clean, advanced aesthetic that has made the Tau Empire one of the most distinctive factions in Warhammer 40k.
Whether you're looking for a lore-accurate Sept, a fully custom Tau army, or a showcase-quality centrepiece force, PaintedFigs Miniature Painting Service has extensive experience bringing these futuristic warriors to life. From Fire Warriors and XV8 Crisis Battlesuits to Ethereals, Commanders, and massive army commissions, we've enjoyed exploring the many possibilities that Tau miniature painting has to offer. As we continue taking on new Warhammer 40k painting commissions, we look forward to helping collectors create armies that are every bit as unique as the stories they tell, while delivering high-quality miniature painting services that look just as impressive in a display cabinet as they do on the battlefield.