Painting Articles

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.

Badger Airbrushes: Best Beginner to Advanced Models for Painting Miniatures?

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Badger airbrushes are made in the USA. They make a ton of models, with new updates and iterations coming out all the time. As they are known for their hefty build-quality, balanced ergonomic grip, and low-cost maintenance, I love working with Badger airbrushes as a freelance miniature painter. Of course, the question you may ask […]

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Reaper VEX Airbrush Review for Painting Miniatures (Yay or Nay?)

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Are you wondering whether the Reaper Vex airbrush is right for you? If you paint miniatures for tabletop games, e.g., TTRPGs, DND, Warhammer, an airbrush is a powerful tool. Of course, there are many airbrushes to choose from. The Vex airbrush is a professional-grade airbrush, designed for the serious hobbyist or pro painter looking for

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How to Dry Brush Miniatures and Models (Tips, Photos)

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Okay, so you want to dry brush miniatures? Dry brush painting is one of the simplest and most under-rated ways to paint miniatures. When painting miniatures, many people head straight for the more advanced techniques. But, why? Dry brushing is not only simple, but many professional painters rely on it to complete their work. In

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How to Thin Hobby Paints for Miniatures (10 Useful Ways)

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How do you thin your paint when working on miniatures and models? Most hobby acrylics—Citadel, The Army Painter, Vallejo, and others—perform better when they flow smoothly and don’t bury the tiny details. Thinning helps you control the paint on your brush, spread it evenly, and build clean layers on any surface. Each thinning method has

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How to Paint a Cracked Base in 5 Minutes (Tutorial)

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The cracked earth effect is a great way to add some depth to your miniatures. It can be used for all sorts of ideas, from lava effects, ice and dried desert scenes. The base of a model adds key scenery and context for your painted models, which completes the overall look of a great paint

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Masterson Sta-Wet Palette for Miniature Painting (Review)

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Are you looking for review of the Masterson Sta Wet Palette? The Masterson Sta Wet Palette is the popular starter wet palette for many hobbyists because it is budget friendly, works reliably, and available at almost any local store. In this article, I share my experience as a miniature painter using the Masterson Sta Wet

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5 Professional Miniature Priming Tips for Best Results

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As a seasoned miniature painter, I’ve learned that the journey to a stunning, eye-catching miniature starts long before the first color touches its surface. It begins with priming, an essential step that sets the stage for your painting masterpiece. In this article, I share my personal insights, tips, and best practices for using different types

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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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Zenithal Dry Brushing to “SlapChop” Paint Miniatures

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Want to paint your miniature army fast without sacrificing quality? Speed painting miniatures is something I’ve used in competition, as well as in some commission miniature paint jobs I’ve done. When you want to reach tabletop quality miniature paint jobs, getting your models battle-ready for example, then the slap chop approach using a zenithal underpainting

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How to Paint Plastic Miniatures Step by Step (Beginner Guide)

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So, you’ve got a plastic miniature to paint. Now what? Painting plastic miniatures is a simple process. But, I know that the sight of an unpainted model’s surface triggers a kind of fear in some people. I’m here to show you how I paint any plastic miniature without worrying about messing it up. Once you

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