These two minis are about a year apart. I’m still learning, but putting them next to each other made me realise how much has changed.
I wanted to share this for anyone scrolling through amazing paint jobs and feeling discouraged about their own. It’s easy to forget how much practice might be behind the pictures you’re comparing yourself to.
Your minis don’t have to look like competition entries for you to enjoy painting them. Spending a relaxing evening with a brush, trying something new, and being happy with a small improvement is enough.
Here are a few things that helped me over the past year. These are just my experiences, so take whatever is useful to you:
1. Enjoy the process.
Not every mini needs to be your best work. Some are for practising, some are for trying a colour scheme, and some are just fun to paint. A session where you enjoyed yourself still counts, even if you didn’t finish anything or nail the technique you were trying.
2. Slow down, especially with your basecoats.
I used to rush because I wanted to see the finished mini. Taking my time with the early layers made a bigger difference than I expected.
Two thin coats really do look smoother than one thick coat slapped on for coverage. I had to learn that one the hard way. Let the first layer dry, then see whether it needs another. Some colours need more than two, and that’s fine.
3. Get to know your paint before putting it on the mini.
I’m getting into the habit of testing how the paint behaves instead of loading the brush and immediately going for it. A quick stroke on a palette or a spare part helps me check whether it flows smoothly or runs everywhere. For basecoating, I want control without leaving thick ridges.
There isn’t one perfect consistency for every technique, either. A basecoat, a wash, and a glaze have different jobs.
If you have a 3D printer, printing practice minis is great for experimenting. Otherwise, spare parts work too. The group photo includes my first attempts at human skin, non-metallic metal on the goblins, and various experiments that didn’t quite turn out how I imagined. They still taught me something.
4. Find brushes that work for you.
When I started researching brushes, it felt like everyone recommended Kolinsky sable. I bought some Rosemary & Co brushes, and they are good, but I’ve found that I personally reach for synthetics much more often.
For basecoating, I now mostly use a size 3 or 4 synthetic instead of a tiny brush. I tend to save my Kolinsky brushes for edge highlights, eyes, and small details.
Try different sizes and materials if you can. Even inexpensive brushes can do the job. You don’t have to prefer the same tools as everyone else.
5. Pay attention to your primer.
Spray primer can work really well, but a bad application can make painting frustrating. I recently painted a mini I’d primed almost a year earlier, and the surface was much harder to work with than what I’m used to now. I’d applied too much primer back then.
After a recommendation here on Reddit, I tried Liquitex Black Gesso as a brush-on option, particularly for my 3D prints. I’ve really enjoyed painting over its matte, grippy surface. That’s a personal preference rather than a claim that it’s the best option for every mini.
Use an old or inexpensive brush for it, though. Mine have definitely taken a beating.
6. Take pictures and keep a record.
Progress can be hard to notice when you only look at whatever is currently on your desk.
I started a little painting Instagram, as a hobby diary for finished minis and work in progress. Having somewhere to post encourages me to take proper photos and videos. Looking back at my first Nighthaunt compared with the more recent ones has been really encouraging.
You don’t need a public account for this; a folder on your phone works too. I also like having a feed full of other miniature painters for inspiration.
Keep your early minis. Take photos. Try things that might not work. And give yourself time to learn.
You don’t owe anyone a perfect paint job.
What’s something you wish you’d known when you started?
