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/

The Art of Overcoming Procrastination Through List-Making

1 Comment / Editorials, Lessons & Tips, Neuroscience and Art, Writing Tools
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I’ve learned to overcome procrastination a long time ago. While everyone is different, psychologically, I think there are some common issues that anyone can tackle if they want to overcome procrastination. Whether it comes to hobbies, e.g., painting miniatures, or work and adult life responsibilities, the single hurdle to overcoming procrastination learning that it is […]

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Building Battles: LEGO’s Role in Miniature Hobbies and Wargaming

3 Comments / Hobby Articles
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In the captivating world of hobbies, there exists a nexus where creativity, storytelling, and nostalgia converge—a place where miniature painting, LEGO, and wargaming intersect. In this article, guest writer Amaar Chowdhury recounts personal recollections on how miniature painting, LEGO, and wargaming have interwoven themselves. KEY POINTS: Read on to discover how LEGO’s transition from children’s

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How to Blend Paint on Miniatures (Simple Tips for Layering Color)

1 Comment / Lessons & Tips, Painting Techniques, Step by Step
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Miniature painting, an art that demands precision, patience, and a sharp eye for detail, can be significantly enhanced by mastering the skill of achieving seamless blends on surfaces like cloaks. This technique has the potential to make your miniatures truly stand out. “Layering opaque color” to create smooth transitions between two colors is a basic

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Speed Painting Board Game Miniatures: A Step-by-Step Guide

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If you’re new to painting board game miniatures and want to get started with speed painting, this post can guide you. Speed painting requires a different approach than traditional miniature painting. Board game miniatures are an excellent starting point for learning how to paint more quickly and effectively. In this article, I’ll show you fast,

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Thick or Thin? Choosing the Best Super Glue for Miniatures

Leave a Comment / Hobby Articles, Paint and Media, Scale Modeling
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Assembling miniatures and model kits is a skill many take for granted, myself included. It seems simple from the surface, just put pieces together and you’re done, right? Well, not exactly. One of the most important parts of constructing miniatures is choosing the right adhesive to hold everything together. Super glue or cyanoacrylate is especially

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Lume Cube Mobile Creator Kit 2.0 (Review): Are You Creating Smartphone Content?

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Over the years, I’ve become interested in sharing more of my work in the miniature hobby space. I’ve tried all sorts of filming and photography systems, I always end up relying on my iPhone to do some of the heavy lifting. It’s just that convenient and powerful as a community sharing tool. And to this

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Best Matte Varnish for Miniatures? Testors Dullcote Review

7 Comments / Paint and Media, Reviews
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Testors Dullcote is one of my favorite matte varnishes for protecting my painted miniatures. I’ve used Dullcote for years as a commission miniature painter and modeling hobbyist. As a spray-on aerosol varnish, Dullcote produces reliable results, creating a protective finish that enhances color vibrancy and improves surface contrast. In this article, I review Testors Dullcote,

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A Morning Walk Through The Landscapes of Human Resilience

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Every weekday morning, my walk from the parking lot to my lab takes me past the entrance of a military hospital. On the surface, it’s an ordinary stroll, but the people I pass every day are far from ordinary. They are injured veterans, men and women whose scars—visible or invisible—tell stories of battlefields stretching from

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3 Popular Uses for Dry Brushing Miniatures (Tips)

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Dry brushing is an essential miniature painting technique because it has so many uses in the hobby. It’s also one of the easiest methods to learn, which makes it popular among both novice and experienced painters. Whether you’re painting minis for tabletop wargames or roleplaying games, e.g., DND, or board game miniatures, dry brushing is

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How to Shade Panel Lines and Recesses with Watercolor (Fast and Simple)

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Are you looking for a fast and easy way to paint the armor panel lines on your miniatures? The thin, narrow panel lines you find on miniatures like Gunpla, Warhammer 40k armored units, or military scale model vehicles, aren’t easy to paint. For best results, the panel lines should be painted with a dark paint,

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3 Reasons You Need a Hair Dryer for Miniature Painting

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Did you know that a hair dryer is the most under-appreciated tool in the miniature painting hobby? The dry, hot air from a hair dryer will accelerate paint dry time, increasing productivity, and will improve the quality of your final layers of paint and varnish. As miniature painters, we all need good brushes, glue, and great

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