Are you new to the hobby of painting figures, miniatures, and models? If so, you should know some key things before you get started with the entire process of painting the figures.
The top nine things you should know about painting figures successfully and attractively are covered in this essay.
Table of Contents
Tip # 01 – Buy Only The Essentials
Before they even begin painting, many novice miniature painters have a tendency to purchase a lot of materials, including various colors, brushes, and models. Beginners should avoid using this strategy because it will be expensive and may result in the purchase of painting supplies that are unnecessary.
It is highly recommended that you start with a limited color palette and a few quality brushes to practice your skills. You can always buy more things as you get used to painting figures, but you should first focus on practicing the basics of miniature painting.
Tip # 02 – Use Quality Acrylic Paints
When you are starting miniature painting either as a hobby or even as a business, you are likely to have limited money. However, you should not compromise on the quality of the paint you buy for painting figures because it will adversely impact the end result of the figure.
Therefore, you should always use good quality acrylic paint as a beginner to ensure you are painting the miniature accurately. Hobby acrylic paint, specifically, is meant for beginners so they can paint as per their requirements. They have a thinner consistency to easily paint even small details on figures.
Tip # 03 – Use a Basic Color Palette
Beginners are recommended to keep their palette of colors as minimum as possible because using a variety right from the start will only confuse you. Start with a suitable bundle that contains the essential colors you need to start painting figures.
It will help you gain confidence in painting models and miniatures while also learning the basics of what colors to use and what not to. As you gain more experience in painting figures, you can add more colors to your collection and practice to perfect your technique of painting the miniatures.
Keep in mind that if you are starting with painting a large army collection, such as Warhammer 40k, you can start with more variety of colors. But still, it is recommended to keep things as simple as possible so you don’t get overwhelmed by the entire process.
Tip # 04 – Limit Your Selection of Brushes
Similar to the types of paint, you should also limit the type and amount of brushes you start painting the figures. In fact, only one good-quality brush is also enough to fulfill your basic requirements and help you get started.
Even some experienced miniature painters tend to stick to one or two brushes because it helps them in mastering the specific types of brushes and paints the figures quickly. Therefore, you should also start with a single paintbrush. Choose the largest size that you can handle and make sure it’s of the highest possible quality to get the desired results.
The Army Painter Wargamer Regiment paintbrush is a highly popular brush for painting figures. It is useful for both beginners and experienced miniature painters. Another important tip to consider is you should only buy new brushes when you feel like that you have outgrown the current brushes.
Tip # 05 – Buy A Good Quality Work Surface
A high-quality surface that is flat and smooth enough to keep the figures steady should still be purchased, even though it is not necessary to spend a lot of money on one. A non-porous surface is also necessary to stop paint from soaking through and causing a mess.
Once you get used to painting figures and decide to continue, you should invest in a better paint station because it is a dedicated space in which you will be spending a considerable amount of time here, so it should be of good quality and also appeal to you to ensure you can paint figures in a creative environment.
Tip # 06 – Don’t Put Too Much Water In Paint
A common mistake many miniature painters make is that they tend to put too much water in the paint and over-thin it. It can be disastrous for your entire figure as the paint might drip in unwanted areas and adversely affect the entire appearance of your figure. Moreover, if the paint is too thin, you won’t be able to control it in highlighting, and the total design will be affected.
Conclusion
Ultimately, practice is the key to painting figures perfectly. You should always start slow with a limited amount of brushes and paints to ensure you are not overwhelmed by the process. Once you follow the tips discussed above, you will be in a very good position to paint your miniature or model accurately.
