I hope I have some tips/hints you can use:
1) in general, try to apply as little paint as possible.
2) If you want to make shadows, start out with painting the whole aread a dark color and then go over the same area, but only the tops, with the same color but in a lighter tone.
3) try using less contrasting colors if you want to male a more homogenous mini.
4) using wash is a good idea for easy shadows.
Gl.
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