Andrew M. Tan

Andrew M. Tan, PhD is a commissioned miniature painter, photographer, and writer with more than 15 years of hands-on hobby experience. He founded and edits Tangible Day, drawing on a PhD in neuroscience and peer-reviewed research to write about attention, learning, and the craft of making things by hand. Full bio: https://tangibleday.com/andrew-m-tan/

Zenithal Priming and Painting Miniatures – A Tutorial

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If you’re a miniature painter, odds are you’ve heard of zenithal priming. This unique method of priming minis provides a great foundation for painting, and can really help bring out the details in your figure. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of zenithal priming and show you how to get the most […]

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How Long to Wait After Primer Before Painting, and Other Important Paint Primer Questions

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Are you wondering about the best practices for using primer on your scale models and miniatures? I’ll tell you from experience that a good paint job requires a primed surface. This is true whether you’re painting plastic, pewter, or resin models. For scratch-built terrain using cardboard, or other porous surface will need you to prime

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Neatfi XL Lamp Review: A Wonderful Task Lamp for Painting Miniatures

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What is my favorite lamp for painting miniatures? As a commission painter who has painted a lot of models over the years, I’ve found that good light is the key to better miniature paint jobs. A bright, diffuse light with daylight spectrum bulbs or LEDs can make painting miniatures much more comfortable. You’ll have less

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Coffee and Creativity: How Caffeine Can Help Your Artistic Side

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When it comes to coffee and creativity, there’s a longstanding relationship. Countless artists, writers, and musicians have sworn by the drink’s ability to boost their productivity and creativity. And while there’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that coffee makes you more creative, there is some research that suggests caffeine can improve your focus

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Three Creative Uses for Varnishes in Miniature Painting and Scale Modeling

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A clear coat of varnish is essential to protecting your painted models and miniatures, but did you know that you can use varnishes in other ways too? I’ll show you three unique ways to apply varnishes on your miniatures that you may not have considered, but which will undoubtedly come in handy. Recommended Gloss and

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Why Expensive Hobby Tools Suck (and Why We Need Them)

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Ever balk at the idea of buying expensive hobby instruments? Premium quality paint brushes, costly airbrushes, and top-of-the-line acrylic paints all come with a hefty price tag that can make your wallet whimper. So why would any normal person want to spend so much money on what is essentially a bunch of plastic, dead animal

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3D Printed Terrain for Warhammer and Tabletop Games

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Are you looking for 3D printed terrain for your favorite tabletop miniature game? Whether you’re into Warhammer 40k, Dungeons & Dragons (DND), or other game that uses miniatures and models, 3D printing your own terrain can be a great way to get exactly what you want for your game board or battlefield. There are a

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The 50/50 Rule for Painting Miniatures, Efficiently

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The 50/50 rule is a basic guideline for becoming a more effective and productive miniature painter. It states that you should spend 50% of your time on the miniature itself, doing the job as best as you can. The other 50% of your time you spend should be in enjoying the process, being as creative

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