Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Priming is one of the most important steps in miniature painting. A primer smooths out microscopic imperfections in the surface of your model and provides a solid foundation for overlying model paint color. When applied correctly, a primer is essential for a durable paint job, preventing paint peeling and chipping. In this article, I share […]
Top 3 Mistakes To Avoid When Priming Miniatures (and Solutions!) Read More »
How do you paint marble effects on your miniatures? You can use the marbleizing technique to paint miniature bases, stylize stone effects, and even create elaborate terrain pieces. Using marble effects can add significant interest to a model. Of course, there are a few key elements you need to know for creating compelling, realistic looking
How to Paint Marble Effects on Miniatures (3 Easy Steps) Read More »
Are you looking to take great pictures of your miniatures? After you’re done painting your miniatures, you may want to take photos of them in various locations. Professional photos always tell a story or evoke an emotion. With miniature photography, you have an excellent way to document your work, tell a narrative, and share what
Take Great Pictures of Your Miniatures (Quick Tips) Read More »
Are you looking for a way to fix a foggy or cloudy varnish on miniatures? It is common for some aerosol matte varnishes to turn cloudy or frost on models, if applied under certain poor conditions. The cloudy or foggy varnish effect can be devastating, as it obscures all the hard work painting the miniature.
How to Fix Foggy Varnish on Miniatures (Simple, Easy, Fast) Read More »
Are you looking for the best miniature painting desk? The best desks for painting miniatures are comfortable, provide enough space for organizing your hobby supplies, and provide a durable working surface. I’ve painted miniatures for more than a decade across apartments, studios, and dedicated hobby rooms, so I’ve learned a lot about what works. In
Best Desks for Miniature Painting and Hobbies (10 Recommendations) Read More »
As an avid miniature painter, I’ve been looking for ways to get my kids into the hobby. But, painting miniatures can be difficult for young children. Young children still have developing fine motor skills, which take time to mature. To get my kids used to working with acrylic paints, I figured I’d try out a
Best Acrylic Paint Set for Kids (Review) Read More »
Photographing your painted miniatures is an important step in the artistic process. In fact, digital photography is a window into self-discovery. A digital image helps you understand and learn from your hobby. To become a better painter and artist, sometimes you have to find a new perspective. Capturing a photograph is the fastest and easiest
10 Reasons You Should Photograph Your Painted Miniatures Read More »
Looking for a review for Games Workshop Citadel miniature transport cases? I’ve been eyeing a new case to store and transport my ever expanding miniature collection from Warmachine/Hordes and Warhammer 40k. I’ve used all the foam transport options, e.g., Battlefoam, Sabol transports, but have now considered the Citadel line of carrying cases At first, I
Citadel Crusade Case (Army Transport): Worth It? Read More »
Did you know we all play the same secret game? No matter what you play, a board game, a tabletop miniature skirmish, or roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons, the rules make games happen. As I watch my kids play with their toys, I notice that they make rules. They have rules for have a
Just Thinking: The Secret Game We All Play Read More »
Do you paint a lot of miniatures? Many miniature painters lick their brushes. I’ve been guilty of doing this, too, but less so now after thinking it might be dangerous in the long-term. But, is licking your brush really bad for you? In this article, I try to clarify if paint brush licking is bad for
Paint Brush Licking: Is it Really Dangerous? Read More »
Over the years as a commissioned miniature painter, I’ve been asked to repaint and restore old miniatures and models. In some cases, these restoration projects included toys and dolls. At first glance, repainting toys, miniatures, and models may seem daunting. If you’re a beginner looking to repaint toys or other miniatures, then this post is
How to Repaint Toy Dolls: My Little Pony Read More »
How do some models seem to have an “extra” pop to them? Maybe you have stumbled upon minis painted with a non-metallic metal (NMM) effect. Lovely aren’t they, but what is non-metallic metal (NMM)? In this article, Chris Spotts, studio artist and owner of the “The Spotted Painter”, introduces his thoughts on how to paint
What is NMM (Non-Metallic Metal) Painting? Read More »
In miniature photography, adding an LED ring light to my studio has improved the quality of my images. For a long time, I ignored this aspect of the hobby until I realized that I wanted professional looking photos of my work. Of course, that meant learning all about how to make great looking miniature photos.
Photography Lighting Review: The Yesker LED Ring Light for Miniature Photography Read More »
How do you paint board game miniatures yellow? Yellow is one of the hardest colors to use well in miniature painting. This is because of three main reasons: First, yellow acrylic paint often doesn’t provide an artist with good surface coverage. Multiple yellow paint layers are required for a smooth base coat. Second, it is
Painting and Shading Yellow Miniatures (Cthulhu Wars) Read More »
Are you looking for a spray booth for airbrushing miniatures or scale models? The key features to look for in the best spray booth for airbrush mini painting include size, noise, ventilation-filter type and power, and optional lighting. Some spray booths are portable with the capacity for easy storage. Other booths have more permanent setups.
Top 10 Spray Booths for Airbrushing Miniatures and Models Read More »