Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Inspiration is an unconscious burst of creativity. As a miniature painter or other artist, inspiration fuels our desire to make our visions come alive. It is an empowering intellectual and emotional energy. Without inspiration, there is zero internal motivation and all of our efforts are cold-hearted and dull. How do you find and nurture inspiration […]
Miniature Painting Inspiration (Tips for Motivation) Read More »
Are you looking to base your model with realistic looking dirt, desert, or earth? The easiest way to base your models is to use sand and glue. With a bit of ink, an eye for color and contrast, you can finish a lot of models with great looking bases. Basing your miniatures with sand is
Basing Miniatures with Sand (Quick Method) 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 »
Do you have a lot of paint tubes lying around? Oil and acrylic paint tubes lying in a drawer or in a pile make it hard to find the colors you need. It’s also messy. If you’re looking for ideas for storing and organizing your acrylic or oil paint tubes, here are a few ideas.
Acrylic and Oil Paint Tube Storage Ideas (Recommendations) Read More »
How do you take better miniature photos? Taking great pictures of your miniatures is an important skill as miniature painter and scale modeler. You don’t need expensive equipment or even a dedicated camera to capture professional quality photos of your painted miniatures. In this article, I share my experience in tabletop miniature photography and show
How to Take Better Pictures of Miniatures (Tips and Guide) 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 »
One of the best ways to prime your miniatures and models is with an airbrush. Spraying a primer helps you apply even and smooth coats that make painting more enjoyable. Learning how to prime your miniatures with an airbrush will save you precious time and money. Applying primer with an airbrush can even improve the
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 »
Priming is one of the most important steps in miniature painting. A primer smooths out microscopic imperfections in the surface of your model and provides a solid foundation for overlying model paint color. When applied correctly, a primer is essential for a durable paint job, preventing paint peeling and chipping. In this article, I share
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 to take great pictures of your miniatures? After you’re done painting your miniatures, you may want to take photos of them in various locations. Professional photos always tell a story or evoke an emotion. With miniature photography, you have an excellent way to document your work, tell a narrative, and share what
Take Great Pictures of Your Miniatures (Quick Tips) 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 »
Photographing your painted miniatures is an important step in the artistic process. In fact, digital photography is a window into self-discovery. A digital image helps you understand and learn from your hobby. To become a better painter and artist, sometimes you have to find a new perspective. Capturing a photograph is the fastest and easiest
10 Reasons You Should Photograph Your Painted Miniatures Read More »
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
How to Repaint Toy Dolls: My Little Pony Read More »
How do some models seem to have an “extra” pop to them? Maybe you have stumbled upon minis painted with a non-metallic metal (NMM) effect. Lovely aren’t they, but what is non-metallic metal (NMM)? In this article, Chris Spotts, studio artist and owner of the “The Spotted Painter”, introduces his thoughts on how to paint
What is NMM (Non-Metallic Metal) Painting? Read More »