Painting miniatures for beginners: the basics on one page
I read an introductory guide from the 3DJake Svizzera blog, published in August 2026, and it struck me as a good starting point for anyone who has never picked up a miniature brush. The authors honestly admit they are not professional miniature painters, which makes the advice more concrete.
It starts with primer: a raw miniature should not be painted directly. Primer, usually sold in a spray can, comes in black, white, or grey. Black gives a darker, higher-contrast look, white makes colors brighter, and grey is a compromise that suits beginners. Before that, the guide recommends cleaning the miniature with lukewarm water and a little dish soap, because residue from mold release or dust can stop paint from adhering.
For colors, specific miniature acrylics are enough. They flow into the engraved lines and create shadows. The most common mistakes are using paint undiluted and in layers that are too thick: it is better to add a little water and apply several thin coats. You need two brushes, a larger one for broad surfaces and a fine one for details. Synthetic brushes are cheap and fine at first, while natural-hair brushes suit people with more experience. After use, they should be washed in lukewarm water and left to dry lying flat.
The guide describes six techniques: base coating in several thin passes, washing (a very diluted dark color that settles into the recesses, the easiest to start with), dry brushing to highlight raised details such as fur or stone, layering with progressively lighter shades, highlighting, and edge highlighting along the edges with a fine, almost dry brush. According to the article, a simple miniature with a base coat, wash, and dry brushing takes one or two hours, while layering and highlighting take much longer.
I especially like the closing message: no expensive equipment is needed, just a primer, a few base colors, and one or two brushes. For a first attempt, it is best to choose a simple model with well-defined surfaces. The text is published on a site that sells materials, so there are some promotions too, but the advice holds for anyone.
Source: 3DJake Svizzera
It starts with primer: a raw miniature should not be painted directly. Primer, usually sold in a spray can, comes in black, white, or grey. Black gives a darker, higher-contrast look, white makes colors brighter, and grey is a compromise that suits beginners. Before that, the guide recommends cleaning the miniature with lukewarm water and a little dish soap, because residue from mold release or dust can stop paint from adhering.
For colors, specific miniature acrylics are enough. They flow into the engraved lines and create shadows. The most common mistakes are using paint undiluted and in layers that are too thick: it is better to add a little water and apply several thin coats. You need two brushes, a larger one for broad surfaces and a fine one for details. Synthetic brushes are cheap and fine at first, while natural-hair brushes suit people with more experience. After use, they should be washed in lukewarm water and left to dry lying flat.
The guide describes six techniques: base coating in several thin passes, washing (a very diluted dark color that settles into the recesses, the easiest to start with), dry brushing to highlight raised details such as fur or stone, layering with progressively lighter shades, highlighting, and edge highlighting along the edges with a fine, almost dry brush. According to the article, a simple miniature with a base coat, wash, and dry brushing takes one or two hours, while layering and highlighting take much longer.
I especially like the closing message: no expensive equipment is needed, just a primer, a few base colors, and one or two brushes. For a first attempt, it is best to choose a simple model with well-defined surfaces. The text is published on a site that sells materials, so there are some promotions too, but the advice holds for anyone.
Source: 3DJake Svizzera
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