Questions from a beginner - Where to start?

[Blackbird71]

I'm looking to try my hand at painting miniatures, primarily for tabletop game use. I've got about a dozen white metal minis, half of which I don't really care about and plan on using as practice before working on more important pieces, and I have plenty of plastic minis from several board games which I may also get around to painting at some point. I've been doing a lot of research, reading all sorts of tutorials on various techniques, recommended tools and materials, etc. The problem is that it's all a bit overwhelming to take in at once, and I'm not really sure where to start. Of all the tutorials intended for "beginners" that I have found, none of them really cover how to approach your very first painting project. There are so many methods and techniques to learn that I can't possibly work on them all at once, and I'd like to know what sorts of things I should focus on while painting my first few minis, and then what skills I should learn first before trying others. If anyone can offer some tips on this, or point me towards a tutorial that does the same, I'd really appreciate it!

 

Also, since I'm not sure how well I'll take to the hobby, I'd like to start out with as little of an investment as possible. For just starting out, can I get by with cheaper brushes, or is the difference in performance enough that it would be worth it to invest in quality tools? For me, if an expensive brush will be much easier to use, significantly reduce frustration and make the overall experience more enjoyable, then it would be worth it as I would be more likely to want to keep painting. However, if the quality of brush will only make a minimal difference in these areas, and is more of a matter of longevity, then I may be better off with a cheaper brush until I've decided how deep I want to get into this.

 

On a similar note, what about paints? I'd like to have a variety of colors available to me, but at about $3 a bottle, the cost adds up quick. What colors would be absolute necessities for getting started? I was thinking of just going with the three primary colors, white, black, brown, a flesh tone, and maybe some sort of a silver for metals. Can I get by in the beginning just blending colors from these, or are there any others I should include? As another idea, are there any brands of paint good enough to use that offer a variety of colors in smaller "sample size" sets, sort of like the ones included in the Reaper "Learn to Paint" kits? I'd consider getting some of these kits, except I'd feel like I'm paying extra for the minis, brushes, and full size paints when all I'd be interested in for now is the smaller paints.

 

I'm also trying to plan ahead for when I get more involved, and am trying to decide how to choose paints going forward. To me, it makes sense to largely stick with one brand, as it seems that it would make blending easier and give the best color options. I really like the way that Reaper does the triad system, as well as the convenience of the dropper bottles. Unfortunately, there isn't a store anywhere near me that carries these paints, at least not more than a handful of bottles. However, there is a hobby store five minutes from my house that carries several other brands of paints for models and miniatures. Personally, I'd prefer the convenience of being able to pop into the store on a whim and find a color or two that I need rather than having to order online and wait for shipping. Being the Reaper forums, this may be the wrong place to ask this, but are the Reaper paints superior enough quality to be worth the wait, or would I be better off building a collection of paints from those available at my local source? Either way, I still get my minis here!

 

Anyway, I apologize for dropping a barrage of questions for my first post here, but all of my research and preparation just seems to leave me with more questions, and this seemed like a good place to ask. Thanks in advance for any advice that people can offer!

[Corlock Striker]

Well, I'm not that accomplished a painter, so I can't offer you too many tips. I've recently purchased a nice Windsor and Newton brush for myself. When you get down into the smaller brush sizes, I'm not sure that the cheaper brushes offer you much of a discount, seeing as mine was a little over $4 (US). As to paints, I personally use Vallejo Model Colors, they come in a dropper bottle as well, though they don't have the triad system per se, they come pretty close to it, in that similar colors are close enough together and far enough apart that you can use them for shading and highlighting, it just takes a little more work to figure out which exact color you're supposed to use for what with Vallejo. As to what you should focus on in your first few minis, don't worry too much about the techniques, just try to get the paint to go where you want it to go. Try your hand at shading, but more important to learn is brush control, that's really the first battle.

[Dr.Bedlam]

If I were in a position where I wanted to try my hand at it, but wasn't sure I wanted it to be the all consuming madness that it has become in my life, I'd duck on down to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and get me a shiny new acrylic paint set and some fine brushes, and dive in.

 

Alternatively, I'd spend about the same amount of money and order/buy one of Reaper's beginner paint sets; the brushes are excellent, and they come with miniatures, AND detailed instructions on how to paint those specific miniatures in order to make them look like the awesome pictures on the package.

 

Either way, you're out, what, $25? And you've got a new mini or two, and you have begun to figure out if this particular hobby is or is not suitable for you.

[Mercius]

Dr. Bedlam gave good advice.

 

If you are looking at tabletop painting mainly, the triad system will give you a quick base with which to develop a basic shadow, midtone, highlight technique. I tend to use the triads as a starting point for what my end goal will be and flesh out from there. I started a year ago with crappy hobby brushes and a Games Workshop basic paint set with all the primary colors and loved the hobby. I am now moving toward display painting and have a large collection of Reaper Master Series Paint, Expensive brushes, and more pewter than anyone has a right to have. Test the waters first, if you enjoy things then branch out on more expensive options.

[Shortbeard]

Well if I were to start all over again a few of the mistakes I wish I would have avoided are the following.

 

Find a good paint designed for miniatures. I've tried several and have bought the entire collection of reaper master series paints as they are that much better than what I started with.

 

A decent brush makes a world of difference. I'm not saying you need to jump in with Windsor and Newton but a good Kolinsky Sable brush will reduce frustration.

 

Have an established painting place you can leave setup. Constantly having to take your painting down from the kitchen table or where ever will seriously hamper your enjoyment.

 

Lastly, make sure you have good light. This will make probably the biggest difference in enjoyment. Not necessarily skill but enjoyment. Some of these little figures have very interesting very, very small details. Good light makes all the difference in seeing and therefore painting them.

 

To start just have fun. Paint whatever colors you wish and just try and get smooth application and a neat appearance. Worry about all the other techniques after.

 

Good luck and welcome to the madness.

[Ghool]

How about an article on exactly what you're looking for?

 

Getting Started in Miniature Painting.

Cheers!

[Blackbird71]

Wow, so many helpful responses so quickly! Thanks for all the input!

 

One question for Dr. Bedlam, or anyone else with experience with the Reaper beginner sets: are the brushes in these sets worth using? I'd just be afraid that in sets like these, the brushes would be cheap things that don't work very well.

[Dr.Bedlam]

I've been pleased with the Reaper brushes; I continue to buy Reaper brushes, simply because so few other outfits make 'em SMALL enough, durnit. The Reaper sets I recommend because the brushes are of good quality, you get enough paint to do some minis, you get the minis, and you get some fairly detailed instructions on what to DO with the mini.

 

Furthermore, Reaper makes several different sets that focus on different aspects of minis painting -- armor and fur, flesh, and so on. Jeez, it sounds like Reaper's paying me to say all this, doesn't it? Perhaps they should.

 

But in all honesty, you can spend $75 getting set up, or you can spend about a third of that with a Reaper beginner's set... and if you don't really know if you want to dive into this headfirst for the long run, I'd take the cheap way out. Now, if you were firmly determined to paint that whole Ultramarines army, PLUS the Genestealer force they'll fight, and ready to spend forever and a zillion bucks, my advice would be somewhat different.

 

As it is, knowing what I know now, and thinking "Whut if I were a noob and I didn't know if this was what I wanted to fill some nights with, in between fiery wrestling in the dark with a series of gorgeous women and my NASCAR racing career?", I'd say drop the $25 and get a Reaper starter set. By the time you run out of paint, you will know if you are a miniatures painter or not. Or at least have a better idea without having wasted too much money.

 

I say this having tried the Games Workshop sets, and found Reaper's to be of superior quality. But that's me.

[Inarah]

The brushes in the kits are the same ones they sell in the web store and I think they are pretty good. At any rate they are not cheap crappy craft brushes like you get in some kits you may have had in the past. I bought a set of 3 just about a year ago and have been very happy with it, and am only now looking to replace them.

 

Your list of colors sounds fine to start with. You can mix color if you want, or expand your range if you like the hobby.

 

As for brand of paint, while I like Reaper very much and recommend it if you can't easily get it in your area I say go with whatever minis paint your shop sells. In fact, you might want to try one or two bottles of each brand and compare them if you can. They are all more or less the same and can be mixed and blended, but there are some subtle differences that can affect your choice when it comes to expanding into a full set of paints. A lot of us paint with more than one brand, too.

[Mercius]

Games Workshop sells decent Kolinsky brushes...they aren't W&N but not too shabby, I still use them from time to time.

[Ferox]

Dr. Bedlam's advice is spot-on.

 

If you find that you enjoy mini painting after working through a learn-to-paint kit, I'd suggest that you next pick up a good Kolinsky sable brush -- Raphael 8404 or Winsor & Newton Series 7. #1-sized brushes run less than bucks from Dick Blick, and my experience is that a good brush is far better than even a pretty decent brush. Plenty of people I respect disagree with me on this point, though, and there's no reason you can't get good results with a second-tier brush.

 

As for paints: if your local store carries Vallejo or Privateer I'd be inclined to stick to those for convenience. I use a few Vallejo Model Colour paints with my Reapers and they seem to play nicely together, so you can supplement your LTPK paints with Vallejos and not worry. (I wouldn't be too worried about mixing any gaming acrylics.) For army-sized projects, I've taken to mixing the colours I want for a test figure, then picking up a bottle that's as close as possible to that colour for the rest of the troops -- it's more convenient than mixing for every figure, but I don't end up with a bunch of paints I never use.

[Chains]

When I first started, I wasn't really all that interested in painting minis at the time. What got me clued in, was stepping into my local hobby store that had some folks showing how to paint figs. Whether it's Reaper or GW or whoever. Find a store that will instruct you on the basic. They usually will supply paints and brushes. Just buy or bring your own fig and have at it. Ask questions and watch what the other people are doing. That's how I got started. As you work through your first paint job you'll get the feel of what works best for you. Don't be afraid to experiment. So what if it doesn't come out right the first time or even the second or third. It's all about practice and getting the feel of the art. You've already done your homework. Which is more than most will do.

 

I wouldn't go out my way to buy the best or most expensive equipment ie brushes and paints. See if you barrow a friends or like I said check out a painting class at your local hobby store. That's my 2 cents on the subject anyway...

[vutpakdi]

A good or good enough brush will help make painting more enjoyable and productive. Good enough = a synthetic-sable blend from Michaels or Hobby Lobby with a good point, probably a #1. Good enough also equals the GW brushes which are made by Winsor & Newton, but aren't of the same quality as the Series 7. A good brush would be a Raphael 8404/8408 or Da Vinci Maestro. I'm not fond of the Series 7 just because I've had bad luck with the quality control on them.

 

You will want a synthetic to help with mixing, drybrushing (if you choose), and poking into recesses.

 

As far as paint goes, a lot depends on what you are painting, your style, and your own preferences. While some paints are more suited to some styles and subjects than others, a good painter can do a good job with any paint geared for minis. Doing a good job with a craft paint from Michaels or Hobby Lobby is harder, but doable. I suggest trying a few paints from what you can get locally that suit your first minis *OR* buying one of the Learn to Paint Kits. You'll end up mixing and matching paints anyway down the road as you learn what you like. I really like the MSPs, but that doesn't mean that I only have MSPs.

 

If your local shop has a paint club, show up with paint brush and primed mini in hand, and they should be able to help you get started.

 

Ron

[Serenity]

If you've never painted before, seeing someone do it is very helpful. Learning from someone else (e.g. at a hobby shop or a gaming convention) is probably the easiest way to go, but if that isn't possible, there are lots of videos out there you could watch to see how it's done. There are free ones on youtube, and ones you can buy such as Hot Lead - How to Paint a Better Miniature, and a large collection of videos at Miniature Mentor. I mention Hot Lead because I've watched it. It is excellent for a beginner and will take you up through intermediate/advanced techniques.

 

As for paint choice, I'll echo the idea of trying different brands to find out what you like. You could easily get started with artist's acrylics (Liquitex or Golden for instance) or craft paints if you wanted. It just takes more effort to paint minis with them since they are not designed to work on minis. Personally, I think Reaper's MSPs are generally the finest paint you'll find and suggest you try some of them at least. It doesn't take many paints if you don't mind mixing. Just look at how few paints the 2D artists use.

 

Start with synthetic brushes if you like, but if you find you like painting, get a better one ASAP. I think most painters are amazed how much better they can control thinned paint with a good Kolinsky brush. Since Kolinsky brushes last much longer when taken care of, they will pay for themselves if you do any serious amount of painting.

 

Another hint is to use a wet palette that can be sealed shut. This is especially useful if you are mixing most of your colors since the palette will keep your paint mixes alive from one session to the next, perhaps several sessions.

[Doug Sundseth]

A really good brush really is that much better than a decent or poor brush. It makes painting both easier and more pleasurable. I would recommend a #1 Winsor & Newton, Rafael, or da Vinci Kolinsky Sable. They have good points, will last a very long time with decent care, and are large enough to hold enough fluid to make smooth painting easier. (FWIW, I don't consider a synthetic blend brush "good enough". Obviously opinions vary.)

 

OTOH, the difference between good paint and adequate paint is much less significant. I use Reaper Master Series paint for most of the painting I do, but if I were primarily interested in economy, I might start with a wider selection of craft paints rather than a narrow selection of premium paint. If you do that, realize that coverage might be an issue and you'll have a harder time getting really smooth coats.

 

I'll second the recommendation for a good light, suggest that you consider magnification unless you're near-sighted (in which case you can paint with your glasses off), and recommend a good well or wet palette (I use and strongly prefer wet palettes, but they're a bit of an acquired taste).