Are some miniatures are harder to paint than others? I want to buy one, preferably not a nude, that a new person can paint so as not to get discouraged. thank you for any recommendations for purchase. I have acrylic paint like apple barrel to paint with if that matters on the mini choice. i know it's cheap paint but all i can afford.
Any purchase recommendations for a new miniature painter?
- Thread starter painting
- Start date
BPI
New member
Games Workshop Lord Of The Rings plastics. Designed for basecoat, wash, line highlight. Comparitively cheap & lots of chance to play around. Your paints are kinda thick/grainy from what I've read so don't get a super-detailed character metal mini.
Mantic have some new plastic Ghouls to go with their skeletons (I don't like the elves) that are even cheaper, if they appeal.
Cheers, B.
Mantic have some new plastic Ghouls to go with their skeletons (I don't like the elves) that are even cheaper, if they appeal.
Cheers, B.
Wow this is a really open ended topic. It might be helpful; to lay down some guidelines for us to make suggestions around.
What are your interests Sci-Fi or Fantasy?
What's your price range?
Where are you based as purchasing over the internet may be your best option for some recommendations.
I think Reaper minis are nice for beginners. My first one was a Reaper archer.
The are relatively cheap, you don't have to fiddle around with a separate base, they have some details, but not so tiny ones that they are too frustrating and you have a real big selection to choose from.
The are relatively cheap, you don't have to fiddle around with a separate base, they have some details, but not so tiny ones that they are too frustrating and you have a real big selection to choose from.
Einion
New member
Yes - intricate detail, deeper recesses/undercuts, complex poses and smaller scale all make something physically harder to paint.painting said:
One good way is to just check the CMON store, link here, and see what you think looks simpler to paint!painting said:
That kind of paint is fine; a few years back someone posted a side-by-side comparison of a mini done with craft acrylics and dedicated hobby paints and a lot of people couldn't tell which was which. You won't get a result quite as smooth as you can with some better paints but it'll do the job.painting said:
Ideally you do need to get some primer too, since acrylics don't stick that well to most common mini materials. Spray primers are a good choice and automotive ones are used by many of us, so no need to get a hobby primer and pay through the nose for it. Price you should expect to pay is roughly US$5 or £4 for a full-size can.
Einion
Wyrmypops
New member
The best mini selection advice has to be "pick those you like". It would keep you interested and motivated to crack on with them and do the best you can. With a mini you don't care for, you ain't gonna be so keen to work on it, or care so much abou the outcome.
I'd advise a perusal of a general painting advice tutorial. It should inform you about concepts you might not have otherwise thought could be issues. Could follow that up with a stroll through the articles on this site, plenty there to explore and take ones painting into new areas.
Although, the hobby is quite tactile. It could be a good idea to take yourself off to a store with someone installed to show off the techniques. It's a human way of a learning "tell, show, do, check". They'd talk about what needs doing (tell), then (show) it's done, then you (do) it, then can both (check) out the outcome and work from there towards correction or exploring further.
I'd advise a perusal of a general painting advice tutorial. It should inform you about concepts you might not have otherwise thought could be issues. Could follow that up with a stroll through the articles on this site, plenty there to explore and take ones painting into new areas.
Although, the hobby is quite tactile. It could be a good idea to take yourself off to a store with someone installed to show off the techniques. It's a human way of a learning "tell, show, do, check". They'd talk about what needs doing (tell), then (show) it's done, then you (do) it, then can both (check) out the outcome and work from there towards correction or exploring further.
BarstoolProphet
New member
Five paints? Only five paints? What kind of magician are you? Sure, those are fine if you're painting Superman....
Einion
New member
My main palette now is just seven tubes. It's not that difficult to paint with a small palette - lots more work, yes, since you have to mix pretty much everything - but not as technically challenging as it might first appear. It's actually a good thing to try for mixing experience, even if just once or twice.
These days the potential of a small palette is not such a hard sell because most people have seen what the CMYK inks in an inkjet printer can do...
Einion
Joek
New member
When I came back to the hobby a couple of years ago, I started with a couple of figures that I originally first painted up years and years ago when I first started.
The first was an Ork. I love painting them, mainly because whilst humanoid they're just that little bit bigger than your elf or human and thus a touch easier to slap on the paint and get a satisfactory result. They're also great because they always give you a nice taste of everything - skin, clothing, weaponry - it's all there.
Second - A bog standard skeleton. They can be as easy or as difficult to paint as you want. I properly learnt the ancient art of dry-brushing on them and it completely boosted my confidence for years to come after I worked that little gem out. I still say that dry-brushing is one of the most positive things you can do as a beginner to the hobby - mainly because you can instantly see results, and it gives you great grounding in working out where highlights should go.
I'd probably also add in a Space Marine for good measure. I love painting 'em, and the nice flat surfaces are great to advance your skills with blending etc. And the dreaded pains of freehand
The first was an Ork. I love painting them, mainly because whilst humanoid they're just that little bit bigger than your elf or human and thus a touch easier to slap on the paint and get a satisfactory result. They're also great because they always give you a nice taste of everything - skin, clothing, weaponry - it's all there.
Second - A bog standard skeleton. They can be as easy or as difficult to paint as you want. I properly learnt the ancient art of dry-brushing on them and it completely boosted my confidence for years to come after I worked that little gem out. I still say that dry-brushing is one of the most positive things you can do as a beginner to the hobby - mainly because you can instantly see results, and it gives you great grounding in working out where highlights should go.
I'd probably also add in a Space Marine for good measure. I love painting 'em, and the nice flat surfaces are great to advance your skills with blending etc. And the dreaded pains of freehand
mickc22
Granddad!
buy a min that appeals to you, nothing worse than painting something you don't like
buy at least one good quality Kolinsky sable brush, a #1 is a good all rounder to start, and a cheap synthetic for mixing with
Use the paints you have, but don't expect too much from them, buy the better model paints when you have the money, GW, Vallejo, Foundry etc.
buy at least one good quality Kolinsky sable brush, a #1 is a good all rounder to start, and a cheap synthetic for mixing with
Use the paints you have, but don't expect too much from them, buy the better model paints when you have the money, GW, Vallejo, Foundry etc.
freakinacage
Well-known member
i live by that rule. never looked back.....
and as for the paints, i would stump up for some nicer stuff, i find it much more relaxing if you aren't having painting problems, no point in buying something cheap that you will prolly want to move away from as you'll have to pay twice that way
I ended up buying this, today, for $5. It looks hard to paint but I'll try:
http://www.reapermini.com/PowerPalette/14146_Fulumbar_Ironhammer_f.jpg
Thanks for all the recommendations.
http://www.reapermini.com/PowerPalette/14146_Fulumbar_Ironhammer_f.jpg
Thanks for all the recommendations.
freakinacage
Well-known member
not a bad choice despite it being a dwarf!! a range of texture etc on it. post a wip so we can see how you go
BPI
New member
A Dwarf, nice one, takes me back to my early painting days I was nervous clicking that link though, worried you might have chosen a 13 piece resin kit that would be a nightmare to prep! Nothing worse than coming to hate a mini before you've even got paint on to it.
When it arrives get a WIP thread going, or even a little in advance. If you get stuck whilst painting & post a question you'll be lucky to get a reply fast enough to satisfy & if you're like me you'll just plough on! Know what you're going to try in advance & you'll be well prepped for a satisfying painting session
Cheers, B.
I was nervous clicking that link though, worried you might have chosen a 13 piece resin kit that would be a nightmare to prep! Nothing worse than coming to hate a mini before you've even got paint on to it.When it arrives get a WIP thread going, or even a little in advance. If you get stuck whilst painting & post a question you'll be lucky to get a reply fast enough to satisfy & if you're like me you'll just plough on! Know what you're going to try in advance & you'll be well prepped for a satisfying painting session
Cheers, B.
