Rust is a dark rust red – the colour of old corrosion that has lost its orange glow. It is the dark tone of a rust ladder and, surprisingly, a good shade for dark skin, which is why it appears in Ionic's own flesh tone sets.
| Range | Smart Colors |
| Colour family | Brown |
| Type | water-based acrylic paint |
| Finish | matt |
| Packaging | 20 ml jar with one-handed lid and steel agitator ball |
| Manufacturer code | IONIC-0156 |
| EAN | 8432074901563 |
| Manufacturer | Ionic Smart Colors (MIG Jimenez) |
| Country of origin | Spain |
Build shadows with Black Brown and Burnt Umber, transitions and highlights with Desert Yellow and Golden Sand.
How do I build a rust ladder?
From dark upwards: Black Brown or Burnt Umber as the base, Rust as the mid tone, Light Rust and Golden Sand as the luminous patches. Rust needs all three steps or it reads as dirt.
Is it really used on skin?
Yes – it is part of Ionic's own Essential Skin Tones set, where it serves as the warm shade under dark complexions. On a figure it works better than the name suggests.
How do I thin this paint?
With water or an Ionic thinner. The formula is self-hydrating, so it stays workable on the palette far longer than ordinary acrylics – a drop is enough for brush work, and roughly 1 : 1 for airbrush.
Is the finish really matt?
Yes, it dries matt with no shiny patches. If the figure is going on the gaming table, seal it with a matt varnish at the end.
The full range is in the Ionic Smart Colors category.