I really think it pays to start simple and keep on practicing rather than trying to climb Everest on your first outing! All you need is results you can replicate across a couple of miniatures to get started, and that doesn't need eighty paints and an airbrush to have fun. :D
One of the best tutorials I've watched. I can't tell you how helpful this is for a beginner! Painting my first model and constantly find myself referring back to this video.
I've found that using the base color as a highlight after washing is great, and you can still use a lighter color of paint as even brighter edge highlight. It helps add more color depth, especially with darker colors.
I think I've learned more from this video than all those fancy pros videos with all the details and techniques, geez. I am still struggling to figure out paint consistency where it's not too thin like a wash, alas...
If you're just getting started, one thing to try is using your paint without quite so much water. If you're having it much too runny where it's not covering - or just running straight off your brush and pooling everywhere, like a wash - then use much less. Even try painting straight from the pot in some cases! The main reason to thin down your paints is to avoid visible brush strokes, but most paints these days are formulated to help avoid that, anyway. Except in very rare cases, you'll find it unlikely to be an issue, especially if you're planning to wash and then highlight with that same paint again. As time goes on you'll get the hang of thinning paints to a consistency you like to use, but that's all part of finding your own style. Start a little thicker than you need, and remember that different colours, different suppliers and even different paints from the same supplier will have wildly varying coverage before you get to thinning it. But if it helps at all? Just use less water, you'll find what you like. :)
Hey, thanks for the reply o/ Yeah, the real problem started from tips such as thinning your paint to a milky consistency which was probably worst advice in my opinion just because each paint reacts differently how much you thin it, I think? But lately I've found out that I have issues with water, even distilled one. I could not make GW paint stick to the model smoothly to achieve decent control until I started using some medium as a thinner, difference was astounding... But yeah, your tip is the one to go for, to avoid brush strokes and to make paint flow more. What I do nowadays is just draw the brush over piece of paper with text, I need to be able to see the text through paint to see if it's thinned enough. But yeah, I know what you mean, getting a hang of it. One thing I'm still not sure when layering/glazing, when you thin it a lot to make it transparent (similar to wash, I think?) would brushing off excess liquid still hold enough pigments on brush for the process? Cheers ^^
The best thing about these simple base methods is that you're then free to do pretty much anything over the top. You could come back a month later after picking up another couple of paints and highlight her - everything is modular!
Honestly, this was so easy to follow. As a new DM who just got a bunch of miniatures from my mother(who DM'd for me and my friends when I was a teen), I was honestly terrified to try painting them. I really can't wait to try this out myself now. :D
This video was what motivate me to actually start painting, ensuring I don't get scared on how to get started. I cannot stop being appreciative of that.
Awesome, I just started painting minis myself recently. I’m no expert, and for now I like to keep the job simple so I can learn at my own pace. This video definitely helped, and I’m excited to try some of the techniques tomorrow! Thanks!
Sonic, out of all your “How I Paint Things” videos, this one is by far my favorite! The minimalist technique you used to present a quality paint job on a classic D&D style adventurer brought back so many good memories. When I was a young lad pretty much the only paint I had available to me was testers enamel paints that came in a box with like 6 basic colors, a bottle of thinner and a white plastic clunky brush whose tip had about as much of a point as a kitchen broom, but somehow we made do lol. Thanks for showing people that you don’t need an entire shelf of paints, brushes, washes, etc.. to turn out a quality mini but more importantly to just have fun doing it.
Now that takes me back... I remember trying to put Humbrol enamels on 1/72 soldiers back in the day with a brush that seemed singularly ill designed for its purpose! I think there's a common misconception that to just get started painting miniatures you need one of everything, a gargantuan collection to serve as a starting point, and we know that's not the case at all. Just enjoying painting something doesn't mean you need everything to be 'right,' does it? :D
This video should be essential viewing for anyone looking to get into painting minis. It's easy to understand, the tools and paints are minimal and affordable. The techniques are simple, yet effective. With this video you can paint just about any mini or squad or army, get them looking a solid 6 out of 10 and get gaming. And by the way, 6 out of 10 is an ideal level to balance time and presentation. On my scale, an 8-9 out of 10 would be for painters who would be doing commissions etc and 10 out of 10 is for your competition winners. Just for completion: A 5/6/7 out of 10 is your solid, knowledgeable beginner, intermediate painter making nice minis. 0-4 is for young kids and beginners who have not done even 10 seconds of homework / learning prior to putting paint on the model.
Yeah, I'm two years late but... better late than never. Yeah, I said that. This is perfect! Just starting with this hobby (and already pricing airbrushes and 3d printers) for my 18yr old's D&D figurines. Thank you!
I just bought some unpainted miniatures with the intent of finally learning how to paint them a bit ago and I've struggled for a month now on what paints to get and where to even start and this is EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thanks a lot for the simple and easy tutorial on how to do one and how to get started! Now to buy the stuff I need!
As I'm fond of pointing out, you don't need to reinvent the wheel and buy eight compressors, an airbrush and a battery of brushes just to get started painting. Especially if you concentrate on the bases and block colours, you can always add more to a miniature later when you pick up more gear!
Thanks, man! Really nice and simple tutorial. And quite a nice voice for a "dungeon master"/storyteller! Those folks in your table are lucky for that and the well painted miniatures. The easyeast immersion! hahaha
Great video! I watch some of the guys paint the 40K and such and it always looks real simple, until you realize that they have clearly painted a thousand minis and are ultra steady-handed at this point. That was an excellent and simple tutorial which actually got me interested in trying again after decades of absence. Thanx!
I think there's always something to be said for just getting models on the table! Not everyone's got the time or inclination to paint a masterpiece for every goblin in their collection. Then again, it doesn't hurt if that's your goal, either! ;D
my husband has had miniatures for years and he's painted some of them and he's pretty good at it. he gave me a few to paint and showed me how. i found your video when looking for ideas on what color to paint my mini horse.
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio lol I'm well underway on the horse. it being a pack-horse it is wearing reigns, a blanket, bags, and a quiver. I've recorded a few hyperlapse vids of my progress.
Well, thank you! I think there might be one or two that go into more detail, but for the most part I think the important thing is just to see how easy it can be to get started. The hard part is taking those first steps!
Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I've just based our new campaign's minis and didn't really know where to start with painting them! Your tutorial really clearly laid out the basics and I feel a lot more confident as a result if watching it. Thanks again!
It can be really daunting to get started. There's a lot of advice out there, and while most of it's pretty good, I think we forget on occasion how our own styles can conflict with someone who just wants the very simplest stuff laid out! I'm glad to hear this helps at all. If you don't mind sharing once you're finished, I'd love to see how your stuff turns out!
Yep, I agree. I found a lot of what's out there quite daunting (rows and rows of paints in the background plus 75 brushes to choose from...) and your video laid it all out nice a clearly. I'll share something to your Facebook page if you don't mind?
I just started hobbying warhammer 40k. In total I have 19 miniatures most of witch are larger, dreadnaught, centurions, aggressors a chaplain, lieutenant and then intercessors. 25 paints, snippers, brushes, glue, painting handle, blow mould desk, a table light. I’m probally missing a few things but it’s cost me roughly $1000. It takes me roughly 10+ hours to finish a single mini up to my standard. Yes I will agree that not everyone can go out and spend 1000$ on an initial purchase, I would highly advise not to, buy a start painting box set. And games workshop will give you a free mini to paint see if you like it, if you do buy a box with more minis in it paint them, buy more. A big pile of plastic is not only expensive but intimidating. Go model by model box by box. But also you have to look at it this way. If I have 19 minis, with 1000$ invested and it takes Me say 10 hours per mini, that’s 190 hours of pure thrilling balls to the wall fun. 1000$ divided by 190 hours. Money to time ratio each mini is costing me 5$. For this kind of hobby and the gratification you get out of a completed model up to your standard. There’s few things I’ve encountered in this life that makes you as happy as putting a mini your proud of on the table to name a few pussy, weed, Ice cold water on a 40 degree day, a hot shower after 16 hours of hard labour work. Yeah it’s up there I would STRONGLY encourage anyone to get into the hobby and don’t let a bit of money hold you back. If your thinking about miniatures, when you get them I guarantee your going to fall in love with it . I’ll be baffled if anyone actually reads that 😂😅🤣
Just came across your channel, love it. I have been painting minis for 35 years and I am learning watching your tutorials. Also I have that mini from Hasslefree and agree they have some amazing character minis for rpg games. Will binge watch some more of your content. Have you ever done a video on the minis you own? Would love to see your rpg guys and what companies you like (Midlam, Heresy, Reaper etc)
Just bought a couple of D&D miniatures for the game I've just started playing. This is really helpful, especially as I have almost all of these colours anyway for my Warhammer miniatures.
Hello! It is I, the person from Twitter mentioned in the video! This is so cool! Thank you so very much, it's so nice to listen to you chat about this, and even with a citadel neutral shade-wash I can use! I was worried about what shade to use, since Citadel has as many shades as they have bases, but I'd heard a LOT of not-great things about Army Painter's dips! Right now I'm borrowing from the paints another player at my table has, so I'll have to check back in if I have any follow-up questions, but this is SO NICE and easy to follow. Especially since it sounds like it wouldn't be that hard to come back to her after a bit to do those secondary steps after the wash, and once I feel more confident in myself!
By coincidence, I actually just went and hit her with a couple of very simple highlights to pick out the edges and make the leather a much richer tone to that flatter wood area. Four additional paints in total, and about ten minutes of deciding where to put the brush! i.imgur.com/1d2Asar.jpg
I can't say anything about the Army Painter Dips, but they do make some excellent shades in dropper bottles; I just got the set from Christmas, which includes Soft Tone, Strong Tone, Dark Tone, Flesh Wash, Light Tone, Mid Brown, Military Shader, Green Tone, Blue Tone, Red Tone and Purple Tone. They're not all that different to Citadel Shades, just a touch more concentrated (so you can either use less when applying or thin them out some) and if at some point you're looking to expand on the basic but excellent palette shown here I would highly recommend them; you get all 11 of the shades in one set for usually around $27-$30, or you can buy them separately if there's ones you want and others that don't interest you.
I quite like Army Painter's Strong Tone in the dropper bottle. It's almost identical colour-wise to Agrax Earthshade, but it has a slightly different effect when applied. It's a slightly stronger stain, so it'll darken more of the miniature rather than just the recesses, though it does still make those more pronounced. It can be super handy if you're doing something like this, to be fair!
Thanks a lot! I try to make sure that anything that's useful is broadly applicable across a bunch of miniatures, but there's something unique to each video if you're in the mood to go easter egg hunting. ;D
I really enjoyed this. I think learning to paint with a minimum of colors is extremely important, and giving the emphasis to minis outside of the wargaming sphere. Plus, I love Haleth. I have this mini too :) I think the only think I would change is adding a white or off-white color. It's not that much more of an expense, and you open yourself up to highlighting, as well.
Not a bad tip! I'd tried to avoid using any mixes but ended up doing it for her hair, anyway; in retrospect, a little white mixed into that green would have made a big difference. Hasslefree do some cracking miniatures to get started with, for sure. :D
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio very cool! such a steady hand you have sir! i am going to be recieving a painted legions of nagash army i got great deal on it so im going to need to learn to play age of sigmar now! haha wish me luck! also i need to finish building my imperial guard about 60 infntry done about 10 haha im so slow! pray for me!
I suggest either getting a wet palate or making one with plastic Tupperware, paper towels and parchment paper, also something to hold the mini so you don't have to like a old pill bottle and poster tack of some sort and closing your pots after you put some paint on the pallet. That will keep your paints from drying faster. But great tutorial.
I miss some of those classics! If it helps at all, Vallejo's Metallic Black might be a close match. It's supposedly an airbrush paint, but it works perfectly well coming off a brush. :D
D&D may not have soap, but any arcane Spellcaster with Prestidigitation can clean up the entire party in just a few minutes every morning. Not as luxurious as taking a long hot bath, but keeps you and your equipment just as clean. :D As for the painting, very nice basic tutorial!
My other half is forever singing the praises of Prestidigitation as well. It slices, it dices, it makes fries with ease... is there anything that spell can't do? ;)
Really Cool! I've never played D&D or any table top games like it but I would like to learn how, especially since after I've read the various monster manuals, the creatures are really neat! My favorites are the Dragonborn, I bought a couple of (unpainted) figurines on Amazon & wanted to learn how to paint them. I'm nervous though because I don't really have steady hands but I'll still give it a try.
I think the thing to bear in mind is always that you're painting for yourself, first and foremost. You'll find ways to steady your hands - or even take advantage of a little bit of a twitch, if you're anything like me! Enjoying the hobby for its own sake is the start, and honestly after that the results will be all the more satisfying no matter if they're 'perfect' or not.
Can't beat simple! I really wanted to make sure that something relatively good looking was possible for someone's very first miniatures without busting out the cash for a dozen or more paints - they add up pretty quick!
I just went out a purchased everything you have in the video :) although in Australia it seems they don't sell those miniatures so I grabbed a few Reaper and other random ones. Thanks again.
Love these "beginners" videos (even though I've been painting minis for years). They are filled with helpful tips and I always seem to find something in them I can learn from! Do I hear a ball bearing when you shake your paint pots? If so what size or weight are you using and where do you get them? I had another painter recommend using common beads but I found them too light to work well... Thanks again.
I'm trying to keep nudging at the idea there's no 'correct' method of painting. A lot of newcomers seem daunted by the breadth of advice pointing to specific results, so each of these videos has a pretty different outcome, I think - some are messier than others on purpose! You're quite right about the bearings, too! They're a 2mm stainless steel ball bearing. I picked mine up in a little jar from AK Interactive which just happened to be sitting in my local hobby store, but I'm sure anything rust resistant would be fine.
Great video, I do a similar paint job for my dnd minis, or board game tokens. I think it really helps people get into the game. You can't beat a painted mini no matter how basic :)
Fantastic tutorial, presented extremely well, easy to follow, keeps it simple. I'm taking up mini painting after a 20 year break, and relearning a lot! Quick question: what about varnishes afterwards? Thanks!
Personally, I'm a big fan of either Vallejo's Matt Varnish when you can apply with a brush and a little water, or if you're into spray varnishes I like Munitorum Spray from Games Workshop. I hear a lot of good things about Testor's Dullcote too, if you can find that locally!
Great video sir! I have two questions: 1. Can we take the paint directly from the bottle or do we need to spread it on some sheet like you do? 2. What do you do with your brush when you want to change from one color to the other? Wash it with water and dry it?
It always pays to have just a little water in your brush and to thin out your paints slightly on a palette of some description to help it flow from the brush, and to make sure it doesn't dry thick and cludgy on the miniature. You can use anything with a smooth surface that won't absorb water as a palette - old plates and saucers are pretty good! Changing from one paint to another, yes, definitely rinse it out in some water, but you don't need the brush to be totally dry to start with the next colour, because you'll want that bit of moisture in there anyway. :)
I think we can get caught up on so many accessories, paints and the like that it becomes daunting for people to just get started and enjoy themselves. Someone made the suggestion to paint something 'as simply as possible,' so this seemed like an opportunity to show you don't need one of everything to get into a new hobby!
Was this project done before people started using a wet pallet? A wet pallet it seems wood save on using more paint to acheive the same color for a touch up, thanks.
I’m definitely switching the paint I use. Agrax has such a nicer finish than the bones paint I use, and trust me it’s not like I’m not painting well enough for it to look nice because I’ve been painting for two years, it’s just that Agrax has a such a wide variety and their washes and glosses are so useful. So if you are reading this fellow viewer I suggest purchasing Agrax paint instead of a painters kit that comes with some paint and miniatures because they will never be as good as paint you research and find yourself.
Lol makes you wonder who the perv is over there at that place. Or why this guy would recommend them. Kids are probably watching this too and going there now.
Have you done a vid specifically comparing the different steps of painting? Some basecoat, shade, drybrush others undercoat shade base coat highlight, and yet some people do other variations..
Great tutorial! A couple of questions. Are you priming the mini? I backed Blacklist Gamings Fantasy series and they are grey plastic. Would I need to prime them and would this paint work?
Hero Forge I believe are resin, where Hand of Glory I'm not too sure. They look as though they'd be resin, too? Whatever the case, it's always best to use some kind of undercoat - you'll sometimes hear it called a primer. Acrylic paints don't stick terribly well to resin, plastic or metal by themselves, so the primer is there to give your paint a surface it can adhere to. If you can find one in a colour that's useful to you, all the better!
That's Agrax Earthshade - liquid talent! Saves a bunch of time compared to painting in shading on your miniature, and the slight colour shift it'll give you lets you make use of the base colours again to get a different result over the top.
Would you recommend using a clear coat finish to keep the paint from coming off? I'm paranoid with paint coming off of my minis, so I usually spray 1-3 thin coats of an acrylic finish.
Could you tell me the names of those paints? I really like them and I'm getting my first set of miniatures in a few days and would like to use these colors to paint them.
Leadbelcher, Mournfang Brown, Waaagh Flesh, Cadian Fleshtone, Abaddon Black, and Agrax Earthshade are all Citadel paints. You can use either Army Painter Uniform Grey to basecoat, or Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.
@@benjamincarlson5044 Does not matter for the most part, layer paints don't cover as well as a base paint, but you can just paint more thin layers until you're happy with the colour.
You might try www.crooked-dice.co.uk or hfminis.co.uk I know Crooked Dice doesn't do specific paladins, but they've got some neat head sprues if you're willing to get creative with some clippers and a little super glue!
If you've got one, go nuts! Vallejo's range of primers are pretty good through an airbrush, but I don't use mine particularly often so I can't really offer much more than that. Hit Google for some other options! :D
Theoretically you can use whatever you'd like, there isn't a 'right' paint to use, but it's less about what might be frowned on and more to do with how certain paints are designed to work. You could, for example, use poster paints and any old acrylics you find in the craft store to paint your miniatures, but you might find it more difficult to get a result you like the look of, and not all of those paints will stay on the miniature for long! Paints designed for purpose are always going to be the better choice, whether it's Citadel paints, Vallejo, Army Painter or whatever else you like the look of.
For this I used Army Painter's Uniform Grey. You can use any mid-tone grey you like, but I like to use AP's spray grey for being a little bit lighter than others.
Finally a tutorial I feel like I could actually achieve! Thank you!
I really think it pays to start simple and keep on practicing rather than trying to climb Everest on your first outing! All you need is results you can replicate across a couple of miniatures to get started, and that doesn't need eighty paints and an airbrush to have fun. :D
"Players don't want to spend money on soap" My players bought 200 bars of the stuff last session. They wont tell me what its for.
...I'd be very curious to know what they had in mind if you ever do find out.
What happened with the soap? 😂
My table found out the druid can grow lavender and lemon balm that works well enough after scrubbing with sand
What did they end up using it for?
I lmfao reading it! Share the outcome story with us!!!
One of the best tutorials I've watched. I can't tell you how helpful this is for a beginner! Painting my first model and constantly find myself referring back to this video.
I've found that using the base color as a highlight after washing is great, and you can still use a lighter color of paint as even brighter edge highlight. It helps add more color depth, especially with darker colors.
I think I've learned more from this video than all those fancy pros videos with all the details and techniques, geez. I am still struggling to figure out paint consistency where it's not too thin like a wash, alas...
If you're just getting started, one thing to try is using your paint without quite so much water. If you're having it much too runny where it's not covering - or just running straight off your brush and pooling everywhere, like a wash - then use much less. Even try painting straight from the pot in some cases! The main reason to thin down your paints is to avoid visible brush strokes, but most paints these days are formulated to help avoid that, anyway. Except in very rare cases, you'll find it unlikely to be an issue, especially if you're planning to wash and then highlight with that same paint again.
As time goes on you'll get the hang of thinning paints to a consistency you like to use, but that's all part of finding your own style. Start a little thicker than you need, and remember that different colours, different suppliers and even different paints from the same supplier will have wildly varying coverage before you get to thinning it. But if it helps at all? Just use less water, you'll find what you like. :)
Hey, thanks for the reply o/
Yeah, the real problem started from tips such as thinning your paint to a milky consistency which was probably worst advice in my opinion just because each paint reacts differently how much you thin it, I think?
But lately I've found out that I have issues with water, even distilled one. I could not make GW paint stick to the model smoothly to achieve decent control until I started using some medium as a thinner, difference was astounding...
But yeah, your tip is the one to go for, to avoid brush strokes and to make paint flow more. What I do nowadays is just draw the brush over piece of paper with text, I need to be able to see the text through paint to see if it's thinned enough. But yeah, I know what you mean, getting a hang of it.
One thing I'm still not sure when layering/glazing, when you thin it a lot to make it transparent (similar to wash, I think?) would brushing off excess liquid still hold enough pigments on brush for the process?
Cheers ^^
This is the hardest thing for some reason.. Frustrating!
The figure looks great and the technique is so simple and easy to do. Thanks for sharing this. I always look forward to your tutorials.
The best thing about these simple base methods is that you're then free to do pretty much anything over the top. You could come back a month later after picking up another couple of paints and highlight her - everything is modular!
Honestly, this was so easy to follow. As a new DM who just got a bunch of miniatures from my mother(who DM'd for me and my friends when I was a teen), I was honestly terrified to try painting them. I really can't wait to try this out myself now. :D
Glad to help!
This video was what motivate me to actually start painting, ensuring I don't get scared on how to get started. I cannot stop being appreciative of that.
You sir, have the heart of a teacher! Very encouraging.
Awesome, I just started painting minis myself recently. I’m no expert, and for now I like to keep the job simple so I can learn at my own pace. This video definitely helped, and I’m excited to try some of the techniques tomorrow! Thanks!
Thanks for the video: just paint, then shade and then paint to highlight, that's it. And the comment on the soap... hilarious! XD
Sonic, out of all your “How I Paint Things” videos, this one is by far my favorite! The minimalist technique you used to present a quality paint job on a classic D&D style adventurer brought back so many good memories. When I was a young lad pretty much the only paint I had available to me was testers enamel paints that came in a box with like 6 basic colors, a bottle of thinner and a white plastic clunky brush whose tip had about as much of a point as a kitchen broom, but somehow we made do lol. Thanks for showing people that you don’t need an entire shelf of paints, brushes, washes, etc.. to turn out a quality mini but more importantly to just have fun doing it.
Now that takes me back... I remember trying to put Humbrol enamels on 1/72 soldiers back in the day with a brush that seemed singularly ill designed for its purpose! I think there's a common misconception that to just get started painting miniatures you need one of everything, a gargantuan collection to serve as a starting point, and we know that's not the case at all. Just enjoying painting something doesn't mean you need everything to be 'right,' does it? :D
Brilliant tutorial!
Great tutorial! Thanks for making the video!
Thank you for being quick, detailed and to the point. Learned a lot
This video should be essential viewing for anyone looking to get into painting minis. It's easy to understand, the tools and paints are minimal and affordable. The techniques are simple, yet effective.
With this video you can paint just about any mini or squad or army, get them looking a solid 6 out of 10 and get gaming. And by the way, 6 out of 10 is an ideal level to balance time and presentation. On my scale, an 8-9 out of 10 would be for painters who would be doing commissions etc and 10 out of 10 is for your competition winners.
Just for completion:
A 5/6/7 out of 10 is your solid, knowledgeable beginner, intermediate painter making nice minis.
0-4 is for young kids and beginners who have not done even 10 seconds of homework / learning prior to putting paint on the model.
Yeah, I'm two years late but... better late than never. Yeah, I said that. This is perfect! Just starting with this hobby (and already pricing airbrushes and 3d printers) for my 18yr old's D&D figurines. Thank you!
I just bought some unpainted miniatures with the intent of finally learning how to paint them a bit ago and I've struggled for a month now on what paints to get and where to even start and this is EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thanks a lot for the simple and easy tutorial on how to do one and how to get started!
Now to buy the stuff I need!
As I'm fond of pointing out, you don't need to reinvent the wheel and buy eight compressors, an airbrush and a battery of brushes just to get started painting. Especially if you concentrate on the bases and block colours, you can always add more to a miniature later when you pick up more gear!
Very helpful beginner tutorial.
Thanks, man! Really nice and simple tutorial.
And quite a nice voice for a "dungeon master"/storyteller! Those folks in your table are lucky for that and the well painted miniatures. The easyeast immersion! hahaha
Great video! I watch some of the guys paint the 40K and such and it always looks real simple, until you realize that they have clearly painted a thousand minis and are ultra steady-handed at this point. That was an excellent and simple tutorial which actually got me interested in trying again after decades of absence. Thanx!
I think there's always something to be said for just getting models on the table! Not everyone's got the time or inclination to paint a masterpiece for every goblin in their collection. Then again, it doesn't hurt if that's your goal, either! ;D
my husband has had miniatures for years and he's painted some of them and he's pretty good at it. he gave me a few to paint and showed me how. i found your video when looking for ideas on what color to paint my mini horse.
I'm no good when it comes to painting horses, myself - I always pick miniatures and armies that aren't mounted so I can avoid it wherever possible!
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio lol
I'm well underway on the horse. it being a pack-horse it is wearing reigns, a blanket, bags, and a quiver. I've recorded a few hyperlapse vids of my progress.
Thank you so much for this tutorial! It was straightforward and easy to understand. I'm motivated to practice now!
Brilliant old Skool style painting!
Thanks a lot! I think we tend to put a lot of effort into trying to reinvent the wheel, which can be a little daunting for someone getting started.
Best beginner mini painting tutorial on youtube.
Well, thank you! I think there might be one or two that go into more detail, but for the most part I think the important thing is just to see how easy it can be to get started. The hard part is taking those first steps!
this was exactly what i needed to see and hear, so endlessly helpful!! thanks!!
What a fantastic channel you have.
Well done Sir.
Thank you kindly!
Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I've just based our new campaign's minis and didn't really know where to start with painting them! Your tutorial really clearly laid out the basics and I feel a lot more confident as a result if watching it. Thanks again!
It can be really daunting to get started. There's a lot of advice out there, and while most of it's pretty good, I think we forget on occasion how our own styles can conflict with someone who just wants the very simplest stuff laid out! I'm glad to hear this helps at all. If you don't mind sharing once you're finished, I'd love to see how your stuff turns out!
Yep, I agree. I found a lot of what's out there quite daunting (rows and rows of paints in the background plus 75 brushes to choose from...) and your video laid it all out nice a clearly. I'll share something to your Facebook page if you don't mind?
I just started hobbying warhammer 40k. In total I have 19 miniatures most of witch are larger, dreadnaught, centurions, aggressors a chaplain, lieutenant and then intercessors. 25 paints, snippers, brushes, glue, painting handle, blow mould desk, a table light. I’m probally missing a few things but it’s cost me roughly $1000. It takes me roughly 10+ hours to finish a single mini up to my standard. Yes I will agree that not everyone can go out and spend 1000$ on an initial purchase, I would highly advise not to, buy a start painting box set. And games workshop will give you a free mini to paint see if you like it, if you do buy a box with more minis in it paint them, buy more. A big pile of plastic is not only expensive but intimidating. Go model by model box by box. But also you have to look at it this way. If I have 19 minis, with 1000$ invested and it takes
Me say 10 hours per mini, that’s 190 hours of pure thrilling balls to the wall fun. 1000$ divided by 190 hours. Money to time ratio each mini is costing me 5$. For this kind of hobby and the gratification you get out of a completed model up to your standard. There’s few things I’ve encountered in this life that makes you as happy as putting a mini your proud of on the table to name a few pussy, weed, Ice cold water on a 40 degree day, a hot shower after 16 hours of hard labour work. Yeah it’s up there I would STRONGLY encourage anyone to get into the hobby and don’t let a bit of money hold you back. If your thinking about miniatures, when you get them I guarantee your going to fall in love with it . I’ll be baffled if anyone actually reads that 😂😅🤣
Such a great video! So easy to follow thanks so much, cant wait to paint my barbarian
Just came across your channel, love it. I have been painting minis for 35 years and I am learning watching your tutorials. Also I have that mini from Hasslefree and agree they have some amazing character minis for rpg games. Will binge watch some more of your content. Have you ever done a video on the minis you own? Would love to see your rpg guys and what companies you like (Midlam, Heresy, Reaper etc)
Just bought a couple of D&D miniatures for the game I've just started playing. This is really helpful, especially as I have almost all of these colours anyway for my Warhammer miniatures.
Hello! It is I, the person from Twitter mentioned in the video! This is so cool! Thank you so very much, it's so nice to listen to you chat about this, and even with a citadel neutral shade-wash I can use! I was worried about what shade to use, since Citadel has as many shades as they have bases, but I'd heard a LOT of not-great things about Army Painter's dips! Right now I'm borrowing from the paints another player at my table has, so I'll have to check back in if I have any follow-up questions, but this is SO NICE and easy to follow. Especially since it sounds like it wouldn't be that hard to come back to her after a bit to do those secondary steps after the wash, and once I feel more confident in myself!
By coincidence, I actually just went and hit her with a couple of very simple highlights to pick out the edges and make the leather a much richer tone to that flatter wood area. Four additional paints in total, and about ten minutes of deciding where to put the brush! i.imgur.com/1d2Asar.jpg
I can't say anything about the Army Painter Dips, but they do make some excellent shades in dropper bottles; I just got the set from Christmas, which includes Soft Tone, Strong Tone, Dark Tone, Flesh Wash, Light Tone, Mid Brown, Military Shader, Green Tone, Blue Tone, Red Tone and Purple Tone. They're not all that different to Citadel Shades, just a touch more concentrated (so you can either use less when applying or thin them out some) and if at some point you're looking to expand on the basic but excellent palette shown here I would highly recommend them; you get all 11 of the shades in one set for usually around $27-$30, or you can buy them separately if there's ones you want and others that don't interest you.
I quite like Army Painter's Strong Tone in the dropper bottle. It's almost identical colour-wise to Agrax Earthshade, but it has a slightly different effect when applied. It's a slightly stronger stain, so it'll darken more of the miniature rather than just the recesses, though it does still make those more pronounced. It can be super handy if you're doing something like this, to be fair!
You made this look SO easy! Great video.
just found your vids on youtube, just want to say awesome job on them...i have now watched 5 or so and have found them all helpful in so many ways
Thanks a lot! I try to make sure that anything that's useful is broadly applicable across a bunch of miniatures, but there's something unique to each video if you're in the mood to go easter egg hunting. ;D
Thanks man, my first ever mini is comming next week, cant wait to start painting.
Nice one! I hope you enjoy getting started. Drop a comment here if you need anything specific answered!
You make this look really easy, and that's not a bad thing! Thanks!
I really enjoyed this. I think learning to paint with a minimum of colors is extremely important, and giving the emphasis to minis outside of the wargaming sphere. Plus, I love Haleth. I have this mini too :) I think the only think I would change is adding a white or off-white color. It's not that much more of an expense, and you open yourself up to highlighting, as well.
Not a bad tip! I'd tried to avoid using any mixes but ended up doing it for her hair, anyway; in retrospect, a little white mixed into that green would have made a big difference. Hasslefree do some cracking miniatures to get started with, for sure. :D
Top notch tutorial! Was feeling worried about starting, but I'm pulling out paints and brushes tonight! Thanks much!
There's nothing harder than getting started, sometimes. Once you've done that bit, the rest is just practice!
Great share mate, nice job
Oh damn Haleth! She's one of my favorite Silmarillion characters. Very cool
Amazing, thank you. You made this look easy and achievable!
wow thats amazing work! nice job! woohoo!
Thank you! Not bad for just a handful of paints, right?
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio very cool! such a steady hand you have sir! i am going to be recieving a painted legions of nagash army i got great deal on it so im going to need to learn to play age of sigmar now! haha
wish me luck! also i need to finish building my imperial guard about 60 infntry done about 10 haha im so slow! pray for me!
Great video!
Superb video, thanks!
I suggest either getting a wet palate or making one with plastic Tupperware, paper towels and parchment paper, also something to hold the mini so you don't have to like a old pill bottle and poster tack of some sort and closing your pots after you put some paint on the pallet. That will keep your paints from drying faster. But great tutorial.
Are you saying agro shade for that last pot of paint? I love the way it gave it that grimy look! I'm going to try to paint my first mini soon.
Agrax Earthshade - but Agro Shade sounds like it'd be fun too! :D
Goya Sand - I use it too - for my paintings... and for doing various mud effects on scale models :))
Looks really good
Thanks! :D The simplest place to start is just starting, I guess!
My fave paint back in the 80s was Citadel Chainmail, runny black paint with flecks of silver metal in it.
I miss some of those classics! If it helps at all, Vallejo's Metallic Black might be a close match. It's supposedly an airbrush paint, but it works perfectly well coming off a brush. :D
I would love to see some more vids like this on fantasy minis. Great vid buddy!
Great job, thank you!
Hope it helps! :D
D&D may not have soap, but any arcane Spellcaster with Prestidigitation can clean up the entire party in just a few minutes every morning. Not as luxurious as taking a long hot bath, but keeps you and your equipment just as clean. :D As for the painting, very nice basic tutorial!
My other half is forever singing the praises of Prestidigitation as well. It slices, it dices, it makes fries with ease... is there anything that spell can't do? ;)
OMG! After all these years I never ever thought of using magic to "clean and refresh" my adventuring party! What a concept!
Excellent mate nice tutorial ,how some people give you the thumbs down is beyond me.
Everyone's their own expert, I guess. ;D
Really Cool! I've never played D&D or any table top games like it but I would like to learn how, especially since after I've read the various monster manuals, the creatures are really neat! My favorites are the Dragonborn, I bought a couple of (unpainted) figurines on Amazon & wanted to learn how to paint them. I'm nervous though because I don't really have steady hands but I'll still give it a try.
I think the thing to bear in mind is always that you're painting for yourself, first and foremost. You'll find ways to steady your hands - or even take advantage of a little bit of a twitch, if you're anything like me! Enjoying the hobby for its own sake is the start, and honestly after that the results will be all the more satisfying no matter if they're 'perfect' or not.
Thanks dude it looks sooo niiiiiceeee and its so simplee
Can't beat simple! I really wanted to make sure that something relatively good looking was possible for someone's very first miniatures without busting out the cash for a dozen or more paints - they add up pretty quick!
Brilliant - thanks for that tutorial. Ill be using this to paint my first d and d miniatures :)
I just went out a purchased everything you have in the video :) although in Australia it seems they don't sell those miniatures so I grabbed a few Reaper and other random ones. Thanks again.
Very nice, thanks for posting this. Have a nice day!
Awesome!
painting starts at 04:15
Thank you! I tend to let my perfectionism get in the way of finishing projects :0
i love your videos !
Love these "beginners" videos (even though I've been painting minis for years). They are filled with helpful tips and I always seem to find something in them I can learn from! Do I hear a ball bearing when you shake your paint pots? If so what size or weight are you using and where do you get them? I had another painter recommend using common beads but I found them too light to work well... Thanks again.
I'm trying to keep nudging at the idea there's no 'correct' method of painting. A lot of newcomers seem daunted by the breadth of advice pointing to specific results, so each of these videos has a pretty different outcome, I think - some are messier than others on purpose! You're quite right about the bearings, too! They're a 2mm stainless steel ball bearing. I picked mine up in a little jar from AK Interactive which just happened to be sitting in my local hobby store, but I'm sure anything rust resistant would be fine.
Before clicking I knew agrax was gonna be here. 😂👍 Another great tutorial video once more.
Great video, I do a similar paint job for my dnd minis, or board game tokens. I think it really helps people get into the game. You can't beat a painted mini no matter how basic :)
Totally agree! Plus painted miniatures always roll better, that's just science. ;D
Fantastic tutorial, presented extremely well, easy to follow, keeps it simple. I'm taking up mini painting after a 20 year break, and relearning a lot! Quick question: what about varnishes afterwards? Thanks!
Personally, I'm a big fan of either Vallejo's Matt Varnish when you can apply with a brush and a little water, or if you're into spray varnishes I like Munitorum Spray from Games Workshop. I hear a lot of good things about Testor's Dullcote too, if you can find that locally!
I got lucky and found Testors Dullcote, Glosscote, and Enamel Thinner all at my local Hobby Lobby. They've been great so far! Thanks for the reply!
Great video sir! I have two questions: 1. Can we take the paint directly from the bottle or do we need to spread it on some sheet like you do? 2. What do you do with your brush when you want to change from one color to the other? Wash it with water and dry it?
It always pays to have just a little water in your brush and to thin out your paints slightly on a palette of some description to help it flow from the brush, and to make sure it doesn't dry thick and cludgy on the miniature. You can use anything with a smooth surface that won't absorb water as a palette - old plates and saucers are pretty good! Changing from one paint to another, yes, definitely rinse it out in some water, but you don't need the brush to be totally dry to start with the next colour, because you'll want that bit of moisture in there anyway. :)
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio thank you very much for your quick and detailed explanation 😊🙏 have a nice day!
Great video. Really shows what's achievable with a limited palette and some patience. Very helpful for people.
I think we can get caught up on so many accessories, paints and the like that it becomes daunting for people to just get started and enjoy themselves. Someone made the suggestion to paint something 'as simply as possible,' so this seemed like an opportunity to show you don't need one of everything to get into a new hobby!
at 8:39 what is this product for make shades?
Best tut on youtube. thanks heaps
Buy some white paint to mix with base coats when highlighting
Amazing
Was this project done before people started using a wet pallet? A wet pallet it seems wood save on using more paint to acheive the same color for a touch up, thanks.
easy guide to step up your dnd game!
Great job. I need to paint my Dragonborn fighters. Any opinions on colors or a video on it? Thnx
I’m definitely switching the paint I use. Agrax has such a nicer finish than the bones paint I use, and trust me it’s not like I’m not painting well enough for it to look nice because I’ve been painting for two years, it’s just that Agrax has a such a wide variety and their washes and glosses are so useful. So if you are reading this fellow viewer I suggest purchasing Agrax paint instead of a painters kit that comes with some paint and miniatures because they will never be as good as paint you research and find yourself.
so useful thanks
The amount of nude miniatures on that website is hilarious
Lol makes you wonder who the perv is over there at that place. Or why this guy would recommend them. Kids are probably watching this too and going there now.
Well, if you run a family business, catering to your young adult audience helps to put food on the table...
I always figured those models are so you can sculpt your own gear on top.
It's a European mini company. They aren't nearly as prudish as the US....nudity isn't as big of a deal to them as it is here.
@@TheHarknessMonster The US is like the land of porn though
Have you done a vid specifically comparing the different steps of painting? Some basecoat, shade, drybrush others undercoat shade base coat highlight, and yet some people do other variations..
Great tutorial! A couple of questions. Are you priming the mini? I backed Blacklist Gamings Fantasy series and they are grey plastic. Would I need to prime them and would this paint work?
Thank you great advice "just get started"
You can read as many guides or watch tutorials by the dozen, but nothing's going to beat the experience of a brush in your hand and trying it out.
Thank you, great video
Should I put an undercoat before painting? I don't know what material my minitures are made from, hand of glory, and hero forge
Hero Forge I believe are resin, where Hand of Glory I'm not too sure. They look as though they'd be resin, too? Whatever the case, it's always best to use some kind of undercoat - you'll sometimes hear it called a primer. Acrylic paints don't stick terribly well to resin, plastic or metal by themselves, so the primer is there to give your paint a surface it can adhere to. If you can find one in a colour that's useful to you, all the better!
I don’t know u but you’re super sympathetic and thx for the tips :) 👍
Great video and a I really appreciate the store suggestion, they had great figures!
Hi, really nice video! What kind of shade did you use? Didn’t quite catch it and it looked great, thanks :)
Agrax Earthshade in this case, though you could try Nuln Oil if you wanted to go even darker!
Sonic Sledgehammer Studio Thanks! I just picked up a bottle and very pleased so far :)
What was the, 'grimy' effect paint that you covered all the colours in? Thanks - I'd love to see you paint more D and D miniatures.
That's Agrax Earthshade - liquid talent! Saves a bunch of time compared to painting in shading on your miniature, and the slight colour shift it'll give you lets you make use of the base colours again to get a different result over the top.
Would you recommend using a clear coat finish to keep the paint from coming off? I'm paranoid with paint coming off of my minis, so I usually spray 1-3 thin coats of an acrylic finish.
3:08
Human fighter in blue you say, do you mean, Puffin Forest
Peridot Facet 2F5L Cut 5XG do you know a place where you can post your painted miniatures
Hostage Grenade social media.
Nice wee video, I've subbed to
Could you tell me the names of those paints? I really like them and I'm getting my first set of miniatures in a few days and would like to use these colors to paint them.
Leadbelcher, Mournfang Brown, Waaagh Flesh, Cadian Fleshtone, Abaddon Black, and Agrax Earthshade are all Citadel paints. You can use either Army Painter Uniform Grey to basecoat, or Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.
Does it matter whether or not the colors we want to paint with say "layer" or "base"?
@@benjamincarlson5044 Does not matter for the most part, layer paints don't cover as well as a base paint, but you can just paint more thin layers until you're happy with the colour.
Do u know where I can find female minis with afros? I have a paladin that I can't find any minis for
You might try www.crooked-dice.co.uk or hfminis.co.uk
I know Crooked Dice doesn't do specific paladins, but they've got some neat head sprues if you're willing to get creative with some clippers and a little super glue!
Hero forge maybe?
Hi, what was the paint you used for the dark wash coat? I'm new to this, not sure what to get.
Agrax Earthshade. Magic in a bottle!
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio Thanks, I just ordered a Citadel shade set.
What if you already own an airbrush and want to do a primer layer? What types of paints do I need if I want to airbrush some of the details?
If you've got one, go nuts! Vallejo's range of primers are pretty good through an airbrush, but I don't use mine particularly often so I can't really offer much more than that. Hit Google for some other options! :D
I didn't quite catch what that wash was called. Can someone tell me, please?
Haruki agrax earthshade, it is a citadel shade
Agrax Earthshade at 8:16
@@kninja50 @Arron Chand Thanks! For some reason, I was hearing "agressor shade." Lol
Loving the New Zulund accent!
Do you have to use those paints or can you use any liquid paint to paint your own minis or is that frowned on.
Theoretically you can use whatever you'd like, there isn't a 'right' paint to use, but it's less about what might be frowned on and more to do with how certain paints are designed to work. You could, for example, use poster paints and any old acrylics you find in the craft store to paint your miniatures, but you might find it more difficult to get a result you like the look of, and not all of those paints will stay on the miniature for long! Paints designed for purpose are always going to be the better choice, whether it's Citadel paints, Vallejo, Army Painter or whatever else you like the look of.
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio okay thanks for the answer.
8:16 I thought it's harder, apperantly there is a brush that just instantly makes the whole figure 3 times better...🤣
just painted my first character, didnt turn out that well but better than expected after this video
what do you use to prim the figure ?
For this I used Army Painter's Uniform Grey. You can use any mid-tone grey you like, but I like to use AP's spray grey for being a little bit lighter than others.
Hi, mate! You still in Germany?