So I’ve been interested in miniature painting for years now but thought that the only way to partake of the hobby was via Warhammer. And let’s just say I found that extremely daunting (i.e. ran screaming in the opposite direction), so much so I stayed away from it entirely. However, a few months ago I was doom scrolling through YouTube and passed a video about painting minis and it wasn’t about Warhammer? What was this topsy turvy world?! Cue me falling into the hobby wormhole. Which leads to my first piece of advice.
Research Research Research
Do this any way you’re able to, be it websites or videos. I’m a visual person so videos were the route I took. But seriously, you can never have too much knowledge and if you’re finding the process daunting, having people show you it step by step can get rid of some of the nerves. There’s a wide variety of channels and websites so you’re bound to find one you gel with! Research will help you feel more confident when it comes to the actual doing of the hobby.
Don’t Buy Everything All At Once!
I know, I know, it’s tempting but it could be detrimental. Once I decided I was actually going to start trying it I wanted to throw all my money at supplies so I could have all the shiny things the people online had. But I’m here to take your hand, look deeply into your eyes and say ‘For the love of god chill.’ I had to take a step back and forced myself to question why I wanted everything. Do I need 50+ paints? Do I really need an airbrush? Should I buy dozens of minis? If you’ve asked yourself these questions then let me answer: no. You do not need all of this equipment. (Trust me your bank account will thank you).
If you’re a beginner like me then having all these things you don’t know how to use or never get to will just be overwhelming and might stop you from getting to the actual painting. In my opinion, it’s better to buy the basics, the minimum you need for mini painting. In my experience (how I started) a core set of paints, a beginner set of brushes, primer (I use a brush on primer and it does the job but here’s a spray alterative!), and a couple of minis are all you really need to start. The more you get into the hobby the more equipment you can buy, just take it easy on yourself at the start!
Don’t Be Afraid To Take An Easy Option
Now I’m going to be up front and centre with you, I have yet to use a mini that you have to assemble. There, I said it. This is because I am a beginner and still wary about introducing super glue to my routine, especially as I’ve been known to accidentally glue myself to things when using it. (We read and we don’t judge). Through this I’ve discovered that there is absolutely nothing wrong with pre-made minis, especially for those starting out. We just want to start, not to have to spend what seems like an age gluing a figure together only to realise we snipped off its arm at the beginning! Pre-assembled minis give us the chance to get straight into the painting, and with time you will likely decide to try gluing things together, but for now don’t be afraid of an easy option. Another excellent choice are painting sets. Instead of trying to figure out what paints you need, which you should use, the ones that are the best value, just buy a kit! There will usually be a theme and the colours will be based around that, which frankly gives the painter a more focused position to start in.
Don’t Compare Yourself To Painters Online
I see you, stop it, stop it! This may sound antithetical to my advice to research but that’s for knowledge and inspiration not direct comparisons. You’re watching these people because of their skill level and expertise, they’ve probably been doing this for a very long time so be kind to yourself. You’re just starting out and it’s going to take time to build up your skills. There will be plenty of time for you to gain expertise, but that will be through trial and error.
Buy A Small But Varied Amount Of Brushes
There are so many different brushes out there that it can be overwhelming. But, in my opinion, you only really need three brushes to start with; a dry brush, a tiny detail brush, and a slightly bigger rounded base brush. You can also get a bigger base brush depending on the size of your mini. When I started I kept second guessing my brush choice, worried I might be using the wrong one or something like that. But then I realised if a brush works it works and if it doesn’t it doesn’t. What one person turns to another may be baffled by and at the end of the day it’s the painter that chooses the brush, so go hog wild!
Random Tip
I see this pop up everywhere and I think it’s genius. If you have an empty vitamin container, or something around that size, repurpose it! Stick some blue tack on the lid, stick your mini to that and ta-dah! You have a mini holder. No more smudging the paint with your fingers and in turn getting covered in paint. Perfection.
Invest In Good Cleaning Materials
I’m not even going to describe what my hands looked like the first time I painted my minis (it looked like I’d destroyed Bendy and the Ink Machine) or the horror I felt when I accidentally sprayed ink all over my clothes (to be fair that was user error). Most people will tell you how to clean your brushes and take care of them and I will too, but first a helpful hint for clothes! If you get to the stain fast enough the Vanish spray will be almost guaranteed to make sure it doesn’t leave a mark. Tried and tested!
Now to the rest. There are all sorts of brush soaps and such that you can purchase online so I would invest in a well rated one and try it for a while. If you’re not happy with the result or the soap isn’t in your budget you could find a hack, plenty of people have ideas on how to clean brushes. And in the view of full honesty (re: we read and we don’t judge) I use a baby shampoo to clean my brushes and it works but if it stops I’ll be buying speciality soap for their care as I will have learned my lesson.
So that’s it! A few tips for getting into painting miniatures from a fellow newbie. There will probably be much paint spilling and chaos in our futures, but hey, it’ll be worth it.
