Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Ever have a lazy mini painting day? I wrestled with the lack of motivation to paint a group of Blood Angel space marines during a bad snowstorm. Forced indoors, there wasn’t much to do, except watch TV and maybe catch up on some other responsibilities, e.g., work and chores. But, as I walked past my […]
Bloody Motivation in Miniature Painting Read More »
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
7 Reasons Your Paint Brushes Fail (and How to Avoid It) Read More »
A paint brush is a weapon. You wield a brush to slay “your subject”, and perhaps, often yourself (figuratively). Did you know that the act of creation is often a means of destruction, too. “To light a candle is to cast a shadow,” wrote Ursula K. Le Guin, famed fictional author and creator of the
5 Must-Know Brush Features for Painting Miniatures and Models Read More »
A wet palette is a device that keeps your acrylic model paint “wet” for a near-indefinite amount of time. Just add water to the sponge material in a wet palette, and your paints won’t dry out, ever. A potential limitation with using a wet palette over a long period of time is mold and bacterial
How to Make a Wet Palette for Miniature Painting (Tutorial) Read More »
You’ve been painting your new Warhammer 40k army for weeks in preparation for an upcoming convention or a new rules edition. Thankfully, you’re now at the point where you can stop and feel accomplished. But, what do you do to avoid thinking about your project, or burning out from delving too deep into the hobby?
5 Destressor Tips for a Miniature Painter’s “Day Off” Read More »
Are you looking for a cheap alternative to Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes for painting miniatures and models? For the mini painter, the Winsor & Newton Series 7 line of paint brushes are the gold standard. However, the Series 7 line of kolinsky sable paint brushes are expensive, often more than $20-30, per brush.
Best Alternative to Winsor & Newton Series 7 Brushes for Painting Miniatures? Read More »
What’s better for painting miniatures, airbrushing or regular brushwork? The best answer for this question is that it depends on what you’re trying to do with your miniature painting project. Airbrushing is a powerful tool and adds other more technical options for miniature painters. For best results, regular brushing will always be useful for finishing
Airbrushing Vs. Regular Brushing for Miniatures and Models Read More »
I’ve painted miniatures for a long time. Along the way I’ve gathered up a collection of miniature painting tips that have helped me. Many of the tips and tricks I’ve learned are from providing a miniature painting service. Through the years, I’ve learned how-to be a more effective painter. Of course, I’m always looking for
50 Miniature Painting Tips: What I Learned as a Commissioned Painter Read More »
This article is a descriptive overview of the differences between tabletop quality and display level miniature painting standards. What do the terms “tabletop standard”, “display level”, or collector quality” mean in regards to miniature painting? This seems to be a recurring question in the miniature painting community. And, it is an especially relevant topic for
Tabletop Standard vs. Display Level Painting [Criteria] Read More »
In this miniature hobby-world, there are three kinds of people: MORE: PAINT CONVERSION CHART (DOWNLOAD) If you’re in category #3, and hate painting miniatures, I might have a hard time convincing you otherwise (a topic for another article). But, for those of you who are #1 and #2 people, love to paint miniatures and are
40 Miniature Painting Tutorials Online (YouTube Links) Read More »
Miniature painting, a niche yet captivating hobby, requires precision, patience, and the right set of tools. Among these, a simple yet often overlooked accessory is the paint water cup. While any cup or mug can serve the basic purpose, specialized tools like the Citadel Water Pot offer unique benefits. In this article, I show you
Using the Citadel Water Pot (Overview) Read More »
Do you lick your brushes to keep a fine point? Many painters lick their brushes for this purpose. Other miniature painters work saliva into the bristles with their fingers, which can help maintain brush shape. Well, given how exposed our brushes may become toward saliva during the course of painting (see the reasons miniature painters lick
Saliva May Be Good for Miniature Paint Brushes Read More »
Okay, so you have a lamp….but you’re still not sure if you have good light. Chances are your bulbs aren’t meant for your needs.
Best Daylight Bulbs for Artists (Tips and Guide) Read More »
Are you looking to paint your Warmachine Hordes models faster? Painting miniatures faster requires some dedication and a bit of planning. You also have to reduce the amount of detail you expect to paint on a model. In this article, I show you how I quickly speed painted this Menoth Warmachine miniature so I can
Menoth Crusader Warjack: Quick n’ Dirty Paint Job Read More »
When it comes to painting miniatures, color theory is one of those things that a lot of people seem to think is necessary. However, in reality, you don’t need it. Sure, it can be helpful in some ways, but it’s not absolutely essential. In this article, I write as a working artist who doesn’t rely
Why You Don’t Need Color Theory (Editorial) Read More »