Painting Techniques

Are you looking to improve your miniature painting? Do you want to increase your arsenal of painting techniques? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, these articles will show you some new (and unique) ways to approach your painting projects.

One of the great things about painting miniatures is that there are endless possibilities when it comes to techniques. You can go as simple or as complex as you like, and there’s always something new to learn. Explore some different miniature painting techniques, or learn how to spin something you already know how to do.

Experimenting with different approaches can help you find new and better ways to achieve the results you want. It can also be a lot of fun! So don’t be afraid to get creative, and try something new today.

A Reference Guide for Acrylic Miniature Painting (Basecoats, Layers, and Glazes)

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Acrylic paints are a popular choice in miniature painting because they are environmentally friendly, nontoxic and easier to use than other types of paint. When dry, hobby acrylics remain flexible so it won’t crack when handled or painted over. Model hobby acrylic paints are available in a range of colors, including metallics. acrylic mediums to

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Matte Versus Gloss Varnishes for Miniatures and Models (Overview and Best Uses)

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Featured image comparing a matte-varnished miniature to a glossy-varnished miniature, illustrating the difference in surface finish

What’s the difference between a matte and gloss varnish for miniatures? Simply put, a gloss varnish creates a reflective, shiny finish on your models. And, a matte varnish produces a non-reflective, dull or flat finish coat on your painted miniatures. But, there are more differences you should know in what varnish type to use, including

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Layering and Glazing for Non-Metallic Metal (NMM) Blending

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Are you looking for a way to smooth out your paint layers on miniatures? Miniature painting often requires that a painter blend multiple colors together to create transitions on a model’s surface. Although there are many color blending techniques, a tried and true approach is to combine paint “layering” with “glazing” to create smooth blends

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How to Wet Blend Miniatures & Models (Pro Tips, Photos)

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Okay, so you want to wet blend. I hear this is the best way to achieve the smoothest paint blends on miniatures and other acrylic painting surfaces, e.g., canvas or rocks. If you’re looking for an example of how to wet blend, then read on below! In this article, you will see the following: What

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How to Thin Acrylic Paint for an Airbrush (Tips and Guide)

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How do you thin acrylic paints to airbrush miniatures? As a best practice, you should thin your model paints to the proper viscosity for your airbrush. The proper viscosity for airbrushing depends on the air pressure, the resolution, and the airbrush nozzle size. For simplicity, of course, you could buy “airbrush-ready model paints”. But, these

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How to Paint Marble Effects on Miniatures (3 Easy Steps)

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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

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How to Repaint Toy Dolls: My Little Pony

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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

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Painting and Shading Yellow Miniatures (Cthulhu Wars)

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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

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Painting Complexity with Simplicity: A Miniature Painting Philosophy

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Every miniature paint job is way to discover a bit about yourself. In art, the opposition to progress is your resistance to explore outside your comfort zone. This is true for athletes and erudites looking for the next metaphorical hill to climb. Of course, all this soul-searching and boundary pushing leads to a chaotic mess

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How to Paint a Tabletop Miniature for RPGs (10 Easy Steps)

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Do you play Dungeons & Dragons or other roleplaying games (RPG)? Many tabletop RPGs use miniatures to represent narrative scenarios, e.g., exploration and combat. Painting RPG miniatures adds a key element of immersion to RPG tabletop games. A fully painted 3D miniature scene with a player’s character takes the entire campaign into a new World.

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7 Reasons Your Paint Brushes Fail (and How to Avoid It)

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Don’t you hate it when your paint brushes fail you? Painting miniatures often requires precision and reliable brush control. A paint brush with stray hairs, splayed filaments, and twisted bristles is useless for painting details. There are many reasons why a paint brush will start to fail and fall apart. Poor maintenance, bad habits, and

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