Salutations from a complete novice. What’s your recommendations to get started?
Note: A FLGS in town actually has a mini-painting workstation that you can use for $5/session, or as part of their monthly subscription for playing TTRPGs onsite. Since I play PF2E there several times a week I have that subscription. So I have a place to paint that’s already kitted out with just about anything you could need for mini-painting. (I think they charge extra if you want to add stuff like grass, sand, etc. to the mini, but the primer, paints, sealers, etc. are all included.)
I have two awesome minis arriving soon that are unpainted, so I’m looking for online sites/videos that start from “I know nothing” and work up from there.
Thanks in advance for any and all guidance you can provide!
I’ve got a few tips
Be thorough with your primer, it will make the world of difference in how well your paint sticks to the model
A little bit of paint goes a long ways
Clean the brushes promptly when done, especially if you use a brush for dry brushing
And most importantly: nobody’s first paint job looks like a Rembrandt painting, don’t be too hard on yourself on your first minis.
Go to the Warhammer store if you’re brand new and have no one to introduce you to basic concepts. the Warhammer employees will give you a mini, and sit there and teach you how to paint it, from start to finish. They will provide the paint the brush the water pot, and the mini, all for free.
If you don’t buy anything from them, that’s fine, just thank them and walk out with your mini.
This is how I got started last year, and it opened the door to a wider world. Youtube videos and amazing painters who use interesting techniques have taken up my 2023 time as well. Gravitate towards painters who do not paint warhammer exclusively, they tend to have good opinions, and give great guidance outside of what Games Workshop would have you believe.
If you get stuck in a rut, don’t feel down, just take a break, and think about something else.
Yay, another fellow Pf2e painter. Welcome!
Since you already got that subscription thing I’d just practice there and see what works for you. People tend to have different preferences in techniques, paints, materials, brushes, tools etc.
my two favourite beginner painting guides (as I get asked this regularly) currently are
https://piped.video/watch?v=S7-At4qVC84 https://piped.video/watch?v=v-BlVYFxfRA
Thin your paints.
If the LGS station offers a wet palette make sure to use it or have someone explain it to you if it feels confusing.
Nowadays we have tons of fairly specialised chemistry at our hands, often designed specially for miniatures. If you have this option ask around about contrast paints and their analogs from other companies as they sometimes make painting much easier.
Most of the time it is possible to strip paint from a miniature if you’re unhappy with a result. It usually means cleaning the entire mini, but keep in mind that a “reset button” exists and ab unsatisfactorily painted mini is not wasted.
If you want to try to paint a detailed face either start painting with face or even better don’t attach head if the mini is not pre-assembled. Makes it easier to clean up and manouver around.
Heya…this sub crossed my feed at an interesting time. do you have a recommendation on a set of paint of whats available on walmart or hobby lobby? where I live I like to buy in store if possible
Here is a video that compares cheap craft paint from Walmart to miniature paint.
I’m relatively new, and I’ve gotten a lot better over the course of a couple months.
My top tips:
- The journey is the destination.
It’s trite, but true. You aren’t painting for anyone else. Paint a model then move on, improvement is slow and perfection is unattainable.
- No matter how “bad” you think your paint job is it looks better than a bare mini.
If you doubt me, just slap some paints on a mini and put it on a table with a handful of unpainted minis. You’ll see how much better the painted one looks and how many more details you can see.
- Don’t worry about mistakes.
No one will see that tiny bit of blue on wrong spot. Realistically you’ll only really see the top and back of the mini.
- Highlight one more time than you think you need.
When you get to the point of “should I push this orange more yellow” or “is pure white too much here”? The answer is always one more highlight.
- Try new things.
You’ll see different painting techniques, try them, worst case you don’t like it, in which case look at tips 1-3
- Equipment you want
A #1, #0 and #00 brush. You can do fine with just a #1, the other two are bonuses.
Brush soap. It saves your brushes.
A wet pallet.
Paint, but specially a cheap artists white and black in addition to any mini paints. If you want to go crazy a mixing white is good too.
That’s it. Remember it’s fun and looks way cooler than an grey blob on the table. You’ll get better with practice.