Hobby Articles

Dive into a full spectrum of creative hobby articles, including tabletop miniature games, visual art and crafts, literature, photography, and much more.

The Power of “No”: Are You a Distracted Hobbyist?

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Distractions are everywhere. You’re trying to get work done, but your mind keeps wandering off to think about that new gossipy thing you heard about your co-worker, or that reality show you can’t miss tonight. Even when we’re trying to focus on a task, it’s hard to resist the pull of a distraction. When it […]

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How to Prepare Miniatures for Paint (Quick Start Guide)

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So you want to get started painting your new model kit. People who want to start painting miniatures but don’t know where to start might be wondering how to prepare miniatures for paint. It can seem daunting, but with a few simple steps you can have your miniature ready for priming and painting in no

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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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13 Miniature Painting Tips for Beginners

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Are you ready for an adventure!? Miniature painting can be a fun and rewarding activity for both beginners and experienced artists alike. Of course, if you’re just starting out with the hobby, then it’s natural to have some questions about the best way to go about it. To help you get started, we’ve put together

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