Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Welcome to a library of fantastic articles related to the painting of miniatures and models. If you’re a tabletop gamer, a miniature hobbyist, or artist of any genre, there is something to learn here. These painting articles are written by professional miniature painters.
The airbrush sat on my desk for two weeks before I figured out what I was doing wrong. This guide covers everything I learned the hard way — airbrush types, air pressure, paint viscosity, feed systems, and maintenance — so you don’t have to.
Complete Airbrush Guide for Painting Miniatures and Models Read More »
Painting miniatures can be an enjoyable hobby for many people. What many of these miniature painters don’t know is that painting miniatures could also be causing them eye strain and discomfort. What are some of the ways to reduce or eliminate eye strain and the associated pain while painting miniatures? This article will discuss how
How to Reduce Eye Strain While Painting Miniatures (Solutions) Read More »
I’ve painted with and gifted these miniature paint sets. Here are my picks for beginners, from Reaper’s Learn to Paint kit to Vallejo’s basic colors.
10 Best Miniature Paint Sets for Beginners (2026) Read More »
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
A Reference Guide for Acrylic Miniature Painting (Basecoats, Layers, and Glazes) Read More »
Do you need to prime your miniatures and models before painting them? This is a common questions for new painters. There are three reasons why you should prime your models before applying any hobby paint. Priming helps paint stick to the miniature’s surface, protecting the durability of the paint. A good primer also smooths out
Do You Prime Your Miniatures? Here’s 3 Reasons Why You Should Read More »
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
Matte Versus Gloss Varnishes for Miniatures and Models (Overview and Best Uses) Read More »
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
Layering and Glazing for Non-Metallic Metal (NMM) Blending Read More »
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
How to Wet Blend Miniatures & Models (Pro Tips, Photos) Read More »
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
How to Thin Acrylic Paint for an Airbrush (Tips and Guide) Read More »
Spraying primer evenly without clogging your airbrush comes down to thinning ratio, air pressure, and technique. I walk through the five-step process I use, plus how to pick between Vallejo, Stynylrez, and Createx primers.
How to Prime Miniatures with an Airbrush (Tips and Guide) Read More »
6 Miniature Priming Hacks and Tips You Want to Know – Priming Tips and Tricks for Miniature Painting – Alternative Priming Methods for Miniatures and Models – Useful ways to Prime Miniatures – Filler and primer can
6 Great Miniature Priming Hacks (Useful Tips) Read More »
A practical guide to avoiding thick primer, brush streaks, and rough spray texture before your miniature paint job begins.
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 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 »
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 »