Miniature Painting
Tiny brushes, big satisfaction — paint armies, monsters, and heroes one figure at a time
Miniature painting is the hobby of painting small-scale figures — from Warhammer armies and D&D characters to historical soldiers and fantasy creatures. It's an incredibly focused, detail-oriented craft where you bring tiny sculpted models to life with acrylic paint. The community is huge, the techniques are endlessly deep, and every finished mini feels like an achievement.
How to start
- 1Get a starter paint set designed for miniatures — brands like Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter are popular
- 2Buy a single miniature to practice on — many hobby stores sell individual figures for a few dollars
- 3Learn the basics: prime, base coat, wash, drybrush — these four steps make any mini look great
- 4Use a good light source and a magnifier if needed — details matter at this scale
- 5Don't aim for perfection on your first mini — a painted mini always beats an unpainted one
What you'll need
- Miniature paint starter set (10-12 colors)Essential~$25
- Fine detail brushes (sizes 0, 1, 2)Essential~$10
- Miniature figures to paintEssential~$10
- Spray primer (black or white)Essential~$8
- Wet palette for keeping paint workableNice to have~$12
- Painting handle or holderNice to have~$8
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Paint a full D&D party and display them on a custom base
- Try speed painting — see how good you can make a mini in under 30 minutes
- Enter a painting competition at your local game store
- Try non-metallic metal technique for a painterly look
- Convert and kitbash models to create unique custom figures
Each mini is a complete, bite-sized project. The progression from bare plastic to painted figure is incredibly visible, and the wash step feels like actual magic.
Competitive miniature painters can spend over 100 hours on a single display-quality figure — some champion-level pieces sell for thousands of dollars.
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