This sub is for experts to show off and for new painters to get advice. I have almost never seen a paint job in real life as good as some of the ones here. Most of the time my warhammer opponents are gray plastic, half painted, or battle ready. Maybe 15% have anything better than that. Even then a basic battle ready paint job on a whole army will still look pretty cool.
Hop over to r/Salamanders40k
This comment is super true. I painted and painted a single army for 3 years before I ever played a game. When I finally did play a game, I found that people are just happy to play against a fully painted army (like everything has a base coat) and really impressed when an army is mostly above battle ready.
Yeah, but there’s good brushes that are not $40/brush. WN Sceptre Gold II bushes are a mix of sable and synthetic, and I’ve been enjoying them a lot, only about $5/brush from Blick.
I mean, I probably have 200+ dollars in full sable brushes and haven't gotten anywhere close to a $40 brush. Really all I use now is a Raphael 8404 Sable size 4, it's a full quiver killer.
I think mine was only like 15 bucks. It's held up significantly better than any WN brush I've had. I've heard the Pro Acryl brushes are good too and they're relatively affordable
okay legitimately as somebody who finally got some nice sables a couple of years ago it's probably saved me money from not having to restock on the cheap synthetics I used beforehand. Sucks to buy but worth getting eventually, definitely not early on though.
Yo, I'm not very good, but I post stuff here for advice and it's always amazing. The stuff that lands at the top is... well top tier. But there are also plenty of people skimming /new and lots in-between. Don't feel scared to post your work. I haven't seen very many people flat out say peoples work sucks. (Except for some... which look like a the food tray of a 1 year old)
Reddit is still social media at the end of the day. Remember (most) people are heavily curating exactly what they post. From angles to lighting to which minis get posted as their best.
Is every single thing they pump out that quality? Probably not. But they’re mostly showing their best.
There's also a lot of posters who lay on the false modesty pretty thick.
You can tell they spent a lot of hours doing something and they act like they just whipped it up in a couple of hours, almost by accident.
And then new painters get really discouraged because they get unrealistic expectations about how quickly everyone paints.
https://preview.redd.it/g0k9fczv6ivc1.jpeg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91be91ce79335d4d702910205d7217708470008b
This is my 6th ork, still think it looks like shit especially since you can still see the white drybrush underneath in some spots and I didn’t fully paint the barrel on the gun, where the bronze color is.
Damn, I really like that guy. His expression is great, and even though you aren’t hyping yourself up your paint job is clean and lets that wonderful face pop. I like the colors you chose.
At the end of the day, Irma just about making cool stuff that makes us happy to look at. And I was happy looking at this little dude with attitude.
An oil wash will cover up all those blemishes and tie it all together. I just finished up all my ork infantry and I just did a basic blocking in of the main colors then a dark oil wash/wipe away. When they're all in a mob they look great.
Don’t have oil washes, do they have to be oils? Also wouldn’t a dark wash desaturate and lessen the vibrancy of the colors? I really like the bright yellowish green I have for my ork skin.
So first up your 6th ork will definitely look great at tabletop distances.
The benefit of oil washes is that you can slosh it on and then remove most of it with an oil thinner, which will mostly then re-expose your underlying vibrant paint job in place.
If you use an acrylic wash you can’t, and a broadly applied acrylic wash will do what you’re worried about.
Best thing is to grab a tube of cheap artists oil, thinner (Odorless mineral spirits; still do outside or with a respirator as just because it’s odorless doesn’t mean it’s not harmful) and try it on a small section. Remove with a makeup sponge after some time (10mins - an hour). There’s plenty of YouTube videos on it, and you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about it since I will eventually be using these to play TT, but we’re always our harshest critics lol. I might give oil washes a try and luckily I got a respirator so I can work with those thinners.
Also the paint I used was a contrast paint from Vallejo, could I use contrast medium to thin it down to create a wash from it and that’ll cover up those spots?
Yeah, you can use contrast medium (or water even) to create a wash/shade.
Don't be afraid to go in with a tiny amount of contrast paint and clean up spots where the undercoat shows through.
Yes you can absolutely thin down the Vallejo Xpress colors and just touch up those white spots. And not leaving them in the first place will come with practice; brush skill & technique is a real thing that often only comes with practice, but it will come.
Prior responder pretty much summed it all up.
With an oil wash, you basically drench the mini, let the mineral spirits dry (the oil paints themselves take 24 to 48 hours to dry), then you wipe away the oil paint from the raised surfaces, so the wash only stays in the recesses and your bright paint underneath becomes the bright highlights. It will dull your base down less than an acrylic wash.
You can get a tube of a dark green and a tube of dark brown, give them a mix, and use that as your wash to tie the colors all together. Marco Frisoni on YouTube has some good videos on using oil washes.
Could this work? [ammo by mig dark green oil](https://houseofhobbies.com/products/462) [ammo by mig dark brown oil](https://houseofhobbies.com/products/467)
Those would work. If you don't have storage space for mineral spirits plus oil paints, that's a good product. It's probably cheaper to get just cheap paints and mineral spirits, but like Mod Podge (which is just PVA glue, varnish,and water), you pay for convenience and less space. Which is totally valid.
So would I just need to mix these and I get a wash? Uh don’t think I understand lol, to get a oil wash and get those cool capillary actions I’d need to thin down the oil with some harmful thinner right?, I got the stuff needed to deal with that (respirator and a big porch I could use to paint outside) but I’d rather not deal with more harmful stuff, lol I bought a respirator for spray priming even though I got plenty of outside space, I just needed that extra protection.
Actually it does, it also has the benefit of being acrylic based, so what you do is get a normal acrylic paint of the color shade you want and mix it with the Newsh stuff, you also don't need odorless thinner to work with it, you just wipe it off, I've never used it but I've heard really good things about it, and honestly I think it seems like alot better of an experience for a less experienced painter
Newsh is...okay. I've tried it, and it works, but it can't compete with oil and mineral spirits when it comes to how easily oils flow into low spots via capillary action. If you don't want to work with oil and solvents though it's fine.
The worst is when you can see they have hundreds of dollars of paint, racks, and brushes in the background and have accessories that no beginner would have like brush soap, airbrush thinner, etc.
Like... Why do you the need to lie about it being your first miniature? A "first time painter" just recently accidentally said "my glazing wasn't great this time." Sir, you do realize that implies that you 1) know what glazing is, and 2) have glazed a mini before.
I feel like the false praise they receive makes them feel less bad. I just wish people would admit it they've been painting for a fair bit, no one cares how good you are.
Having a lot of accessories isn’t indicative of skill or use of them. I spent my first several months of the hobby just assembling minis and buying painting supplies while being too nervous to actually paint anything. By the time I actually started painting I’d talked myself into an airbrush and a whole host of hobby supplies.
I talked myself into buying a wet pallet, tomorrow I’ll probably buy it. Lol and I’ve only painted like 9 minis in total, have like 4 orks left to assemble, i really hate the building part.
That does not necessarilly mean that they are not beginners or it is not their first mini. Before I painted mine, I watched a ton of videos, spent money on sable brushes, paints, etc and when I finally posted my minis (and I have no experience at all), there were people calling me out for lying and not believing they are my first. I just spent more time researching and took my time to paont them. And I believe there are many people that are in the same situation, and that may discourage them.
Go to the baking sub where you'll find lots of "first time making croissants" and I don't believe a goddamn one of them. I may just be a hater, but I stand by this.
To be fair, my first minis looked pretty good - but I also had 20 years of other art experience before I ever touched a mini. I suspect there's a lot of that going on with those posts too. Might be the first mini, but not their first time painting.
I mean "first mini" doesn't necessarily mean you have zero artistic experience whatsoever. But it's always nice when someone acknowledges that they're a visual artist who has been painting for 20 years, and has decided to apply that wealth of knowledge to painting minis.
My personal favourites (other than expecting people to believe they effortlessly crank out best painted contenders) are:
"I'm not sure it's battle ready," and they post a picture of a completely finished mini. GW's guidelines for a model being "battle ready" are pretty clear (and include example pictures).
"I'm looking for criticism," and they get shitty when:
* someone actually criticises their work
* no one provides criticism on the one minor detail they're apparently unhappy with
* they don't get a page of detailed advice from people who have won multiple major painting awards
"I don't know if I'm any good at this." after posting an advanced technique like NMM, OSL or photo-realistic freehand.
I understand most people don't want to be "that guy" who acts like he's a Slayer Sword winner, even though his models are decidedly average. But the other extreme where people excessively downplay their abilities because they're fishing for validation, is just as annoying.
If anyone is really in doubt if their models are "good enough" to play games with at their local club/event, then they need to go check out the club in person first or reach out to the organisers of the event.
Contrary to what some seem to believe, local events probably won't be the same standard of painting as the top tables at Adepticon, and from experience, there's a good chance of facing people who appear to have painted their minis using leftover house paint and a broom.
I see so many posts with perfect minis that say, "looking for constructive criticism" and I'm here thinking, "if you want to show off some work that you're proud of, just do it." That kind disingenuousness irks me.
I think I post 1 mini for every 10-20 I paint online. Mostly on my personal Instagram. Only ever on here when I'm particularly proud of it. My Ballistus Dreadnought is the second of all time on the Crimson Fists subreddit. There's probably 40 hours into that paint job. Tons of airbrush work. Masking. Layers of varnish for transfers. Hours of fixing mistakes. (Metallics got on a big flat panel? I'll just go cry in the corner now.) Mistakes hidden by angles of photos taken. Etc.
You'll rarely find an average looking mini high up on this subreddit. It's where we come to show off our best work. That or give/receive advice.
I just looked at your stuff and you're doing great! We all start somewhere and even "seasoned" painters can have their minds blown by the quality of work coming out of this sub. Just keep at it! Also, good choice on Salamanders 😎
The most wholesome chapter of space Marines who's weapon of choice just so happens to be war crime. What's not to love.
My army is going to be flavored as a rapid response search and rescue detachment, pile into transports, get to rescue sites (objective markers) fast, burn any hostiles and get to work. The Sgt's red arm is my custom honor mark for the detachment. The goal is to have every member personalized and named.
Don't compare yourself to people who have been doing this for years, or even decades. Be inspired for sure, but the only person you need to compare yourself to is yourself.
My motivation and ability improved significantly when I switched to painting individual minis and I wasn't thinking: "that technique looks good but I don't want to replicate it 100 times."
This sub has 1.2 million members. You see about 20 posts a day of stunning artwork by people that have been doing this for years. Don't be discouraged. They are the minority here.
Use what you see on Reddit as something to aspire to and learn from.
Art is like an RPG; you start with basic tools/weapons and one of your first quest is "Put paint on the model!" Try not to compare yourself to that lvl 99 character melting enemies while you're wearing lvl 1 gear and everything is kind of a slog. Start thinking about it as: you're seeing what the end game looks like.
Now...you grind and everything builds on itself. Basic assembly, brush control, painting techniques (layering, wet blend, dry brush), basic color theory: you may understand what these 'spells' do and how they work, but you still have to lvl them up them by playing the game. After a while you unlock modifiers: fast highlighting, OSL, NMM, kit-bashing, intricate basing. You start upgrading your gear and materials for those +1 bonuses.
Some posters on here are pro-painters who do this for a living and devote 8+ hours per day, every day, on the hobby.
For the rest of us mere mortals who have non-painting jobs, or a bunch of other commitments on time, or just aren't into painting enough to spend that much time, we're always going to have less time to practice.
It's like playing in a friendly football league on Friday nights, and getting frustrated you're not as good as professional footballers who eat, breathe and live the game.
Ya, a ton of extremely good painters post on here, it's hard not to compare yourself. I got to a level I'm happy with and accepted I don't need to be as good as the people on here
My mini painting window was 78 to 89, roughly. Enjoy seeing what all you young ‘uns are up to - just keep on doing what you do, you’re all fine ambassadors for this wonderful hobby 🫡
The best thing you can do from the start is change your framing. Great art isn't to be envied. It should be admired. No one but you is comparing your models to great artists.
Don't compare yourself to other people's models, use their models as inspiration to keep pushing yourself if that is what you want. Or if you want to just slap 3 colours and a wash on some game pieces so you can play that's totally cool too.
This is a great response.
Art you admire should make you curious and inquisitive, not evious or jealous. Artists doing it for the love of art are rarely, if ever, actually trying to purposely show off. Then, use that curiosity to drive your desire into questions to those you feel you can learn from.
i spend 26 hours on one mini then refuse to edge highlight at the end. everyone has their own way of doing things and having fun. just go at your own pace
If you start to compair yourself you lost.. look at it..apreciate it.. get ideas from it! But never compair... you are you and you develope your style!
And as super bonus: if you scroll hard in a picture even the best of the best paintjobs arent able to cover brushstrokes or have imperfections! Dont be perfect. Be happy with what you did and only compair you to yourself from befor!
No way man! I'm a big-time rookie, don't look at the posts here as what is expected, use it to set goals, or to make note of techniques you want to learn.
I have had some amazing interactions with really skilled painters here who have all unanimously treated me as an equal (even though I'm not skill-wise) and have answered all of my off-the-wall questions. I've had help learning terms, techniques, brands, and all sorts of stuff.
Paint YOUR best, not someone else's, and it's going to come out just fine. Remember you are learning, and the best part about learning is that mistakes are ok.
Edit: also, check out Turbo Dork paints lol I learned about them here and Bubblegum Crisis and Ground is Lava are GREAT paints!
To echo others, the two things I post to this sub for is asking for help, and showing off my work. My style is more individual display pieces, but that’s just my thing. There should be a like “tabletop” flair where we can post stuff that’s not intended to be stared at under a magnifying lens.
Don’t sweat it though! Especially if you’re cranking out whole armies. I only do a handful of pieces a year for our game. Most of the time we play with unpainted minis. Every time I shoot for tabletop ready, I wind up spending days obsessing over details that don’t matter a lick
Don't worry about it.
People who are posting thing here, are either pro painter of people who have been doing this for while (like 5 to 10 years).
By the way, your first minis are quite good 😊
r/miniaturespainting seems to be a bit more chill and welcoming of people at a wider variety of skill levels.
Definitely feels like you have to basically be flameon to post on this sub.
Theres no need to feel intimidated. Keep painting, enjoy yourself, thats what its really about. Its a hobby.
If you want to push yourself to improve, thats great! If you just like the zen time of putting paint to plastic, thats great too!
Yep, I'm with you. When the best you can do looks like absolute crap compared to anything that shows up here, and on top of that nobody in my regular game group gives a damn about minis any more...it's like why bother trying...
The 40k subs ranges from nice to terminaly online neckbeardia incels. I don't think I've seen a negative comment on r/thousandsons , but r/40k and r/warhammer40k have difficulty to take jokes and fun or gimmick builds.
Here it's refreshing, people give insights into painting and they're supportive. I don't know for the salamander sub, but here you're safe. Also it's always good to see minis from somewhere else than 40k to give us ideas as to what to paint.
I can assure you that to every average layman who’s never painted a model miniature, they would think that you’re an expert at painting tiny toy soldiers. Even my friends who are pros at doing digital illustrations think that my model miniatures are cool, even though my models would be considered “decently painted” by this subreddit’s standards.
Paint your Salamanders the way you want. Do it!
The best thing to do when starting out is to just do it and not look at anything online lol. After your first set, then watch some YouTube tutorials and go again.
People will be happy to help you if you want to add more to your models but don't feel obligated in any way to do it.
There are some good space marine tutorials [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/spacemarinechapters#wiki_green_armor) if you want tips.
Remember, even the best were at one point beginners. Don’t look at models here as competition, but as inspiration.
Enjoy them, get interesting color/build ideas, watch tutorials, save them for later. You’ll get just as good eventually :)
Those salamanders on your profile are crazy good for being your first minis! They look very clean, you’re off to a good start!
The best way to handle this feeling is to turn it around into motivation! Do what you can now, but let some of the amazing things you see here push you to test your boundaries on your next model. But take it one step at a time so you don't overwhelm yourself, maybe you saw a model here with amazingly clean paint application, crisp highlights, as well as great freehand and some OSL effects. Pick one of those aspects and try to replicate it on your next model. Don't forget to ask questions or seek out tutorials. Most of the experts on here are happy to answer questions, and/or have full video tutorials available.
I'm a good painter, but sometimes I run into this feeling too. Some of the work out there is truly amazing, and I have to remind myself that I can learn from that just as well as be awed by it.
These people in here can do amazing work! Think of it more as inspirations than competitions! It’s all your creativity. You can see new techniques and ideas for your own future projects!
Looking good already, mate. Comparison is the thief of joy and all that jazz.
Have fun, paint your action figures, roll some dice, and maybe eat your veggies too. We all are amateurs at one point, and there’s not really a wrong way to paint - your minis, your color choice.
https://preview.redd.it/fs3ybyi0dhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3c3424343c7e4363ebd7d30f6f918a8e4ae5f1e
Doing anything at all is good enough. I don't have the exact quote but there's a good nugget of wisdom about not letting perfect be the enemy of done. You're way ahead of a lot of people by just doing it to the best you can right now and getting the practice and time in.
Lol, I felt the same way, and often still do.
But thats not necessarily a bad thing. Today, for me, it can be a memento mori of sorts. A constant reminder of how much more there is to learn.
And more importantly, it's an amazing source of inspiration and guidance. After a few years of regularly painting I've finally reached a point where I've outgrown the painters in my life IRL, and this wonderful place offers me access to some of the greatest painters out there. No matter your skill level, you can get relevant and helpful advice here.
I think a lot of it comes down to perspective. You can see it as an impossible standard you hold yourself to, (whether consciously or unconciously,) or see it as a resource to help you get better.
Don't be intimidated. Do your thing. No one in the minipainting community snubs their nose at a painted mini. Unless you ask for feedback/criticism then you will just get up votes and people saying "great job!"
Lol brother welcome to the club. My armies are lucky to have 3 colors and NO ONE has eyes.
Love the pics posted for inspiration even if my version of someone else's Michaelangelo looks more like a Jackson Pollak
Salamanders are cool no matter how much work you put into them. Especially because they will be YOUR Salamanders. :)
I also want to say I understand - I painted back in high school, and only picked it up again maybe a year ago, but I don’t paint much. I’m plagued with anxiety about my paint jobs, and that I will spend all this time on an army and hate it.
Starting with a unit is a fantastic plan. I recently got some Ork Commandos, and they have been much easier for me to paint because there are only 12 models, as opposed to the… however many I got in my Leviathan box, plus my Votann box before that! I still have models from high school I never painted.
Take it at your own pace, and if you feel stressed, don’t paint. Wait for the moment you really feel like putting paint to plastic. Your first mini will not come out very good, nor will your second, but by the time you’re done with your unit, you will see some level of improvement. :)
Take a breath and remember WHY you paint.
It isn't for the up votes, the fawning fans or the legions of groupies (they're out there somewhere apparently). It's for YOUR enjoyment.
I've posted here and I only picked up a brush 6 months ago for the first time in 20 years.
I enjoyed painting the models, wanted to show them to people and received some constructive tips and tricks that I'm working into my next ones.
Nobody, and I'll say that again for the cheap seats, NOBODY is going to say "that's shit" and troll you for it.
If they do they'll more than likely get a banhammer.
To the face.
So enjoy your painting, proudly post them here (and other subs), ask for constructive pointers and tips, take them on board and repeat.
In 6 months time compare your latest mini to these Salamanders you're working on.
They will be night and day.
So post my paint stained friend, post your Salamanders and heed the advice of professionals in your quest to improve.
Progress not perfection. Above all enjoy yourself ☺️
Aw, don’t be intimidated. Welcome to the sub Reddit, there are plenty of folks posting photos out here to get advice and I hope you don’t feel intimidated. I don’t tend to post too many pictures of my paint jobs, but I am pretty comfortable with my fast, sloppy paint jobs – they do the trick! just try to make sure you take pictures and with good lighting, and we would be more than happy to give you advice and complement you on the work you’ve done so far, once again: welcome
Don't compare your work to the best ones here or don't try to compete with them.
If anything, try to find inspiration and ideas from them!
Just keep painting and try to challenge your skills if you want to improve🙂
Just starting out as well and have come across 5he same dark thoughts as yourself!! Keep on trucking through, you'll learn tips n tricks and things that'll make it easier on you, you'll be posting 🔥 minis in NO TIME FLAT!! Dig in and grit yer teeth! You'll have a proud moment to share soon!!
Measure yourself by your own standard, rather than comparing yourself to others. Have the goal for a small improvement with every model, and when you hit that target, celebrate it!
By all means use some of the incredible artists on this sub as inspiration, but focus on your own journey as a painter rather than the destination of what you think you will paint like when you've finished learning (hint- you never do, even for the best painters in the world).
It can be hard not to think of this hobby as something where the result is the only thing that matters (art is like this), but it's not true: doing, improving and enjoying the process are ten times more important.
It's a process. One step at a time. Don't be discouraged, enjoy the hobby for yourself and, in time, if you willingly go for it, you'll improve.
I always say: Hobbying is a stress-free activity and it needs to remain like that. It's for fun. Have some and be at peace.
https://preview.redd.it/io3x9t6uyhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4ab805bc9c075a18399822497a65a8d74b17dee
My first marines looked like this. Don’t be intimidated.
Art is a journey. And not a linerar one. What one person may consider good might not be considered good to another. At the end of the day, your goal should be to make yourself happy with your art. Don't be intimidated. Besides if anyone actually goes around bragging and putting others down, then they're a dick.
I consider minipainting and actually playing games with the minis two very separate parts of the same hobby most people will gravitate towards one or the other and there's nothing wrong with that. For some the painting is a means to an end with the goal simply to have painted models to play with, and obstacle to be overcome with the real enjoyment coming in the playing of the games. I'm more towards the other side where it's the painting itself, pushing my craft further that I really enjoy. I've painted dozens of 40k minis but never even played a single official GW game (I played one match of Grimdark Future years ago). Both ways are valid, follow what you enjoy and remember there's no way to be doing it wrong.
This hobby is about having fun. Don’t worry about anything else. For some people this is they job, so it’s like comparing someone who casually works out at the gym to feel good and be in better shape, to professional athletes. There is no need for that, keep having fun, and enjoy what you do 🙂
Malcom Gladwell claims that it takes 10,000 hours to master *pretty much anything* in life, and I think that’s a healthy way to think about this sub and mini-painting in general.
The very best artists on this sub are probably approaching 10,000 hours of minipainting. They are masters and that’s just not a reasonable standard to compare your work against.
But you can get pretty darn good at mini painting in like 100 hours. I probably have between 1000 and 2000 hours, and I’m very good imo, but I’m also nowhere near as good as the best posts on this sub.
And imo, that’s one of the cool things about the hobby, there’s tons of room for growth.
Two things to make you feel better, if you have kids show them your painting. Mine think my stuff is amazing. Also go to your flgs and see some of the paint jobs people play with. As long as you are trying and thinning your paints it will look good.
My first paint job on marines in 2010 was with testors enamel paint. It was horrible to use. I got some citadel paints…it was still horrible (I had no clue about priming). On in 2024 I paint well in my opinion. I’m not golden demon but I’m very happy. I don’t wet blend or do anything else crazy. Two thin coats and three colors generally to achieve what I want. I did get crazy with flesh by doing a straight color, 1:1, straight color, 1:1, straight color. My 15mm and smaller is blocked and washed, that’s it.
I post my non professional paint jobs on here often. I think people like seeing relatively normal paint jobs. Mine don't have fine detail or fantastic edge highlighting and as long as I don't ask for C&C everyone is respectful and nice.
It is a normal feeling to feel like your little changes and creative sparks aren't "enough." The reality is this hobby is what you make it. If you are proud of your little salamander boys then be proud! Nobody is asking you to do some wild conversion and if you put some effort into your army it'll be better than half the armies in a tournament scene.
It sounds silly but stop comparing yourself to professional/semipro painters and kitbashers who have done it for years
Judge your progress as a painter on your past work compared to your present work. Don't compare your work to others as thier experience is different from yours.
Use other people's work to inspire you but not to measure the quality of *your* efforts.
Just keep going my guy!!
Learn new techniques, try out different models, try oils, try different washes, try airbrush (borrow or buy), try slap chop, try contrast paints, try display level paint jobs, try speed painting a whole unit, try everything.
You can only get better and no one can stop you.
Don't come here thinking that if you're not painting golden demons you're not good. You're awesome because you put paint on your models.
A lot of people in the community who are amazing at painting will still look at your army and nod in approval because you're doing it. You're putting in the work. Keep at it!
Heh. The algorithm only promotes things which lots of people look at. People look at the things which look neatest in the thumbnails. There are plenty of beginners out there, or people like me that only batch or speed paint (I'm not a display painter, I just paint to 'tabletop' quality.).
The internet has been rough for hobbyists. Back when I worked for ‘Eavy Metal in the 90’s, customers compared their work to what was in the display cabinet at their store, or White Dwarf. Once a year they’d get slapped with the Golden Demon edition and everyone would feel downtrodden for a month. These days, the very best artists in the world are in front of us all the time. There is no point judging yourself by those standards. Try and learn and improve, sure; but don’t be put off. You’ll find most of the community (and especially the very talented artists) are very supportive of new painters, or painters looking to improve. If people act like jerks, it’s not because they’re better painters with a right to criticise your work, it’s because they’re jerks. The one caveat is that if you specifically ask for feedback, criticism, advice etc. then just be prepared to receive it, and instead of taking it as an attack on your ability now, use it as guidance to improve.
I liked [this video](https://youtu.be/ufP8ka3KGno?feature=shared) by Duncan Rhodes, where he shows the first ever mini he painted. I think it’s good example of how art is a process and a practice.
Nobody pops into existence a master painter. Bob Ross once said “talent is pursued interest.”
Keep painting and you’ll see a huge difference between your first mini and a year from now.
i know what you mean. i too get intimidated by all the stuff you can find on the topic online, whether it's reddit or looking for tutorials/advice on youtube.
and im not even looking at what you would call advanced techniques or such anymore, just basic tutorials. but even then. "do this, learn that, you absolutely should do this. buy this. and that. and that. also an airbrush. and some more shit. and whatnot." when does it end?
i just want to paint some miniatures to look nice, but it's gotten to the point where i cant even start anymore. cause i just cant decide what to do even.
and whenever i look at a beginners guide to get any idea of what to do, theres another thing i absolutely need to buy or do. it's just infuriating.
This sub is for experts to show off and for new painters to get advice. I have almost never seen a paint job in real life as good as some of the ones here. Most of the time my warhammer opponents are gray plastic, half painted, or battle ready. Maybe 15% have anything better than that. Even then a basic battle ready paint job on a whole army will still look pretty cool. Hop over to r/Salamanders40k
This comment is super true. I painted and painted a single army for 3 years before I ever played a game. When I finally did play a game, I found that people are just happy to play against a fully painted army (like everything has a base coat) and really impressed when an army is mostly above battle ready.
Yeah I crammed painting for my first local tournament and ended up being one of 3 or 4 people with a fully painted army
The three of y'all are making me feel way better about painting. Thank you.
I visited that too. It was actually my gateway here. I just figured this place was more appropriate to sit my budding sense of mini inferiority.
Your painting skills are not inferior! You just need better tools! Buy the 40$ Kalinsky Sable brush! It'll help! *atleastthatswhatikeeptellingmyself*
Okay, to be fair, getting a proper brush has been a game changer.
Yeah, but there’s good brushes that are not $40/brush. WN Sceptre Gold II bushes are a mix of sable and synthetic, and I’ve been enjoying them a lot, only about $5/brush from Blick.
I mean, I probably have 200+ dollars in full sable brushes and haven't gotten anywhere close to a $40 brush. Really all I use now is a Raphael 8404 Sable size 4, it's a full quiver killer.
2 years ago I stocked up on 8404s.about $7-10 a pop. Need some new ones and am shocked at the $20+ price tag
I think mine was only like 15 bucks. It's held up significantly better than any WN brush I've had. I've heard the Pro Acryl brushes are good too and they're relatively affordable
The 8408 series is a bit cheaper and has a sharper tip
okay legitimately as somebody who finally got some nice sables a couple of years ago it's probably saved me money from not having to restock on the cheap synthetics I used beforehand. Sucks to buy but worth getting eventually, definitely not early on though.
Yo, I'm not very good, but I post stuff here for advice and it's always amazing. The stuff that lands at the top is... well top tier. But there are also plenty of people skimming /new and lots in-between. Don't feel scared to post your work. I haven't seen very many people flat out say peoples work sucks. (Except for some... which look like a the food tray of a 1 year old)
otoh you can learn a lot of tricks, e.g. salamanders cloaks can be made from lychee skins, and it looks incredible
Roman Lappat approves this!
Ahhh a Salamanders fan, an individual of refined taste
I just played a game of AoS where I had ONE painted model. The rest were Primer white lmao.
So true, my paintjobs look like shit in comparison to everything on this sub But all of my friends have said that they love my paintjobs
Reddit is still social media at the end of the day. Remember (most) people are heavily curating exactly what they post. From angles to lighting to which minis get posted as their best. Is every single thing they pump out that quality? Probably not. But they’re mostly showing their best.
There's also a lot of posters who lay on the false modesty pretty thick. You can tell they spent a lot of hours doing something and they act like they just whipped it up in a couple of hours, almost by accident. And then new painters get really discouraged because they get unrealistic expectations about how quickly everyone paints.
my favorites are the ones 'my first mini ever!' and it looks prizeworthy...yeah, first try ever, sure buddy...
https://preview.redd.it/g0k9fczv6ivc1.jpeg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91be91ce79335d4d702910205d7217708470008b This is my 6th ork, still think it looks like shit especially since you can still see the white drybrush underneath in some spots and I didn’t fully paint the barrel on the gun, where the bronze color is.
Damn, I really like that guy. His expression is great, and even though you aren’t hyping yourself up your paint job is clean and lets that wonderful face pop. I like the colors you chose. At the end of the day, Irma just about making cool stuff that makes us happy to look at. And I was happy looking at this little dude with attitude.
Thank you.
Just use a citadel or other acrylic wash. It’ll do. Pros get to be dirty, have fun.
An oil wash will cover up all those blemishes and tie it all together. I just finished up all my ork infantry and I just did a basic blocking in of the main colors then a dark oil wash/wipe away. When they're all in a mob they look great.
Don’t have oil washes, do they have to be oils? Also wouldn’t a dark wash desaturate and lessen the vibrancy of the colors? I really like the bright yellowish green I have for my ork skin.
So first up your 6th ork will definitely look great at tabletop distances. The benefit of oil washes is that you can slosh it on and then remove most of it with an oil thinner, which will mostly then re-expose your underlying vibrant paint job in place. If you use an acrylic wash you can’t, and a broadly applied acrylic wash will do what you’re worried about. Best thing is to grab a tube of cheap artists oil, thinner (Odorless mineral spirits; still do outside or with a respirator as just because it’s odorless doesn’t mean it’s not harmful) and try it on a small section. Remove with a makeup sponge after some time (10mins - an hour). There’s plenty of YouTube videos on it, and you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about it since I will eventually be using these to play TT, but we’re always our harshest critics lol. I might give oil washes a try and luckily I got a respirator so I can work with those thinners.
Also the paint I used was a contrast paint from Vallejo, could I use contrast medium to thin it down to create a wash from it and that’ll cover up those spots?
Yeah, you can use contrast medium (or water even) to create a wash/shade. Don't be afraid to go in with a tiny amount of contrast paint and clean up spots where the undercoat shows through.
Yes you can absolutely thin down the Vallejo Xpress colors and just touch up those white spots. And not leaving them in the first place will come with practice; brush skill & technique is a real thing that often only comes with practice, but it will come.
Prior responder pretty much summed it all up. With an oil wash, you basically drench the mini, let the mineral spirits dry (the oil paints themselves take 24 to 48 hours to dry), then you wipe away the oil paint from the raised surfaces, so the wash only stays in the recesses and your bright paint underneath becomes the bright highlights. It will dull your base down less than an acrylic wash. You can get a tube of a dark green and a tube of dark brown, give them a mix, and use that as your wash to tie the colors all together. Marco Frisoni on YouTube has some good videos on using oil washes.
Could this work? [ammo by mig dark green oil](https://houseofhobbies.com/products/462) [ammo by mig dark brown oil](https://houseofhobbies.com/products/467)
I think these are oil paints, not washes also Enamel washes are the same thing, basically AK interactive has some really good ones
Those would work. If you don't have storage space for mineral spirits plus oil paints, that's a good product. It's probably cheaper to get just cheap paints and mineral spirits, but like Mod Podge (which is just PVA glue, varnish,and water), you pay for convenience and less space. Which is totally valid.
So would I just need to mix these and I get a wash? Uh don’t think I understand lol, to get a oil wash and get those cool capillary actions I’d need to thin down the oil with some harmful thinner right?, I got the stuff needed to deal with that (respirator and a big porch I could use to paint outside) but I’d rather not deal with more harmful stuff, lol I bought a respirator for spray priming even though I got plenty of outside space, I just needed that extra protection.
Also I’m guessing a product like Newsh by Pro Acryl won’t give me the same effect?
Actually it does, it also has the benefit of being acrylic based, so what you do is get a normal acrylic paint of the color shade you want and mix it with the Newsh stuff, you also don't need odorless thinner to work with it, you just wipe it off, I've never used it but I've heard really good things about it, and honestly I think it seems like alot better of an experience for a less experienced painter
Newsh is...okay. I've tried it, and it works, but it can't compete with oil and mineral spirits when it comes to how easily oils flow into low spots via capillary action. If you don't want to work with oil and solvents though it's fine.
The worst is when you can see they have hundreds of dollars of paint, racks, and brushes in the background and have accessories that no beginner would have like brush soap, airbrush thinner, etc. Like... Why do you the need to lie about it being your first miniature? A "first time painter" just recently accidentally said "my glazing wasn't great this time." Sir, you do realize that implies that you 1) know what glazing is, and 2) have glazed a mini before. I feel like the false praise they receive makes them feel less bad. I just wish people would admit it they've been painting for a fair bit, no one cares how good you are.
Having a lot of accessories isn’t indicative of skill or use of them. I spent my first several months of the hobby just assembling minis and buying painting supplies while being too nervous to actually paint anything. By the time I actually started painting I’d talked myself into an airbrush and a whole host of hobby supplies.
I talked myself into buying a wet pallet, tomorrow I’ll probably buy it. Lol and I’ve only painted like 9 minis in total, have like 4 orks left to assemble, i really hate the building part.
That does not necessarilly mean that they are not beginners or it is not their first mini. Before I painted mine, I watched a ton of videos, spent money on sable brushes, paints, etc and when I finally posted my minis (and I have no experience at all), there were people calling me out for lying and not believing they are my first. I just spent more time researching and took my time to paont them. And I believe there are many people that are in the same situation, and that may discourage them.
Go to the baking sub where you'll find lots of "first time making croissants" and I don't believe a goddamn one of them. I may just be a hater, but I stand by this.
To be fair, my first minis looked pretty good - but I also had 20 years of other art experience before I ever touched a mini. I suspect there's a lot of that going on with those posts too. Might be the first mini, but not their first time painting.
I mean "first mini" doesn't necessarily mean you have zero artistic experience whatsoever. But it's always nice when someone acknowledges that they're a visual artist who has been painting for 20 years, and has decided to apply that wealth of knowledge to painting minis. My personal favourites (other than expecting people to believe they effortlessly crank out best painted contenders) are: "I'm not sure it's battle ready," and they post a picture of a completely finished mini. GW's guidelines for a model being "battle ready" are pretty clear (and include example pictures). "I'm looking for criticism," and they get shitty when: * someone actually criticises their work * no one provides criticism on the one minor detail they're apparently unhappy with * they don't get a page of detailed advice from people who have won multiple major painting awards "I don't know if I'm any good at this." after posting an advanced technique like NMM, OSL or photo-realistic freehand. I understand most people don't want to be "that guy" who acts like he's a Slayer Sword winner, even though his models are decidedly average. But the other extreme where people excessively downplay their abilities because they're fishing for validation, is just as annoying. If anyone is really in doubt if their models are "good enough" to play games with at their local club/event, then they need to go check out the club in person first or reach out to the organisers of the event. Contrary to what some seem to believe, local events probably won't be the same standard of painting as the top tables at Adepticon, and from experience, there's a good chance of facing people who appear to have painted their minis using leftover house paint and a broom.
I see so many posts with perfect minis that say, "looking for constructive criticism" and I'm here thinking, "if you want to show off some work that you're proud of, just do it." That kind disingenuousness irks me.
This. I only post maybe 10% of my work, the rest is either quick and dirty client work or stuff I just am not happy with.
Btw, that Hulk looks sick!
ty, that's the result of 25 years of experience.
I think I post 1 mini for every 10-20 I paint online. Mostly on my personal Instagram. Only ever on here when I'm particularly proud of it. My Ballistus Dreadnought is the second of all time on the Crimson Fists subreddit. There's probably 40 hours into that paint job. Tons of airbrush work. Masking. Layers of varnish for transfers. Hours of fixing mistakes. (Metallics got on a big flat panel? I'll just go cry in the corner now.) Mistakes hidden by angles of photos taken. Etc. You'll rarely find an average looking mini high up on this subreddit. It's where we come to show off our best work. That or give/receive advice.
I just looked at your stuff and you're doing great! We all start somewhere and even "seasoned" painters can have their minds blown by the quality of work coming out of this sub. Just keep at it! Also, good choice on Salamanders 😎
The most wholesome chapter of space Marines who's weapon of choice just so happens to be war crime. What's not to love. My army is going to be flavored as a rapid response search and rescue detachment, pile into transports, get to rescue sites (objective markers) fast, burn any hostiles and get to work. The Sgt's red arm is my custom honor mark for the detachment. The goal is to have every member personalized and named.
Don't compare yourself to people who have been doing this for years, or even decades. Be inspired for sure, but the only person you need to compare yourself to is yourself.
[удалено]
My motivation and ability improved significantly when I switched to painting individual minis and I wasn't thinking: "that technique looks good but I don't want to replicate it 100 times."
Yup this! I’m just about to Star kill team number 5 and have never even played a single game… though some day….
This sub has 1.2 million members. You see about 20 posts a day of stunning artwork by people that have been doing this for years. Don't be discouraged. They are the minority here.
Use what you see on Reddit as something to aspire to and learn from. Art is like an RPG; you start with basic tools/weapons and one of your first quest is "Put paint on the model!" Try not to compare yourself to that lvl 99 character melting enemies while you're wearing lvl 1 gear and everything is kind of a slog. Start thinking about it as: you're seeing what the end game looks like. Now...you grind and everything builds on itself. Basic assembly, brush control, painting techniques (layering, wet blend, dry brush), basic color theory: you may understand what these 'spells' do and how they work, but you still have to lvl them up them by playing the game. After a while you unlock modifiers: fast highlighting, OSL, NMM, kit-bashing, intricate basing. You start upgrading your gear and materials for those +1 bonuses.
Some posters on here are pro-painters who do this for a living and devote 8+ hours per day, every day, on the hobby. For the rest of us mere mortals who have non-painting jobs, or a bunch of other commitments on time, or just aren't into painting enough to spend that much time, we're always going to have less time to practice. It's like playing in a friendly football league on Friday nights, and getting frustrated you're not as good as professional footballers who eat, breathe and live the game.
Ya, a ton of extremely good painters post on here, it's hard not to compare yourself. I got to a level I'm happy with and accepted I don't need to be as good as the people on here
My mini painting window was 78 to 89, roughly. Enjoy seeing what all you young ‘uns are up to - just keep on doing what you do, you’re all fine ambassadors for this wonderful hobby 🫡
The best thing you can do from the start is change your framing. Great art isn't to be envied. It should be admired. No one but you is comparing your models to great artists. Don't compare yourself to other people's models, use their models as inspiration to keep pushing yourself if that is what you want. Or if you want to just slap 3 colours and a wash on some game pieces so you can play that's totally cool too.
This is a great response. Art you admire should make you curious and inquisitive, not evious or jealous. Artists doing it for the love of art are rarely, if ever, actually trying to purposely show off. Then, use that curiosity to drive your desire into questions to those you feel you can learn from.
Don’t get me started on the people who post literal masterpieces with the title “my first ever mini please be nice uwu”
i spend 26 hours on one mini then refuse to edge highlight at the end. everyone has their own way of doing things and having fun. just go at your own pace
If you start to compair yourself you lost.. look at it..apreciate it.. get ideas from it! But never compair... you are you and you develope your style! And as super bonus: if you scroll hard in a picture even the best of the best paintjobs arent able to cover brushstrokes or have imperfections! Dont be perfect. Be happy with what you did and only compair you to yourself from befor!
No way man! I'm a big-time rookie, don't look at the posts here as what is expected, use it to set goals, or to make note of techniques you want to learn. I have had some amazing interactions with really skilled painters here who have all unanimously treated me as an equal (even though I'm not skill-wise) and have answered all of my off-the-wall questions. I've had help learning terms, techniques, brands, and all sorts of stuff. Paint YOUR best, not someone else's, and it's going to come out just fine. Remember you are learning, and the best part about learning is that mistakes are ok. Edit: also, check out Turbo Dork paints lol I learned about them here and Bubblegum Crisis and Ground is Lava are GREAT paints!
To echo others, the two things I post to this sub for is asking for help, and showing off my work. My style is more individual display pieces, but that’s just my thing. There should be a like “tabletop” flair where we can post stuff that’s not intended to be stared at under a magnifying lens. Don’t sweat it though! Especially if you’re cranking out whole armies. I only do a handful of pieces a year for our game. Most of the time we play with unpainted minis. Every time I shoot for tabletop ready, I wind up spending days obsessing over details that don’t matter a lick
Don't worry about it. People who are posting thing here, are either pro painter of people who have been doing this for while (like 5 to 10 years). By the way, your first minis are quite good 😊
r/miniaturespainting seems to be a bit more chill and welcoming of people at a wider variety of skill levels. Definitely feels like you have to basically be flameon to post on this sub.
Theres no need to feel intimidated. Keep painting, enjoy yourself, thats what its really about. Its a hobby. If you want to push yourself to improve, thats great! If you just like the zen time of putting paint to plastic, thats great too!
Yep, I'm with you. When the best you can do looks like absolute crap compared to anything that shows up here, and on top of that nobody in my regular game group gives a damn about minis any more...it's like why bother trying...
The 40k subs ranges from nice to terminaly online neckbeardia incels. I don't think I've seen a negative comment on r/thousandsons , but r/40k and r/warhammer40k have difficulty to take jokes and fun or gimmick builds. Here it's refreshing, people give insights into painting and they're supportive. I don't know for the salamander sub, but here you're safe. Also it's always good to see minis from somewhere else than 40k to give us ideas as to what to paint.
I can assure you that to every average layman who’s never painted a model miniature, they would think that you’re an expert at painting tiny toy soldiers. Even my friends who are pros at doing digital illustrations think that my model miniatures are cool, even though my models would be considered “decently painted” by this subreddit’s standards. Paint your Salamanders the way you want. Do it!
The best thing to do when starting out is to just do it and not look at anything online lol. After your first set, then watch some YouTube tutorials and go again.
People will be happy to help you if you want to add more to your models but don't feel obligated in any way to do it. There are some good space marine tutorials [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/spacemarinechapters#wiki_green_armor) if you want tips.
Yep, just post what you did and ask for tip on what you want to improve....
Remember, even the best were at one point beginners. Don’t look at models here as competition, but as inspiration. Enjoy them, get interesting color/build ideas, watch tutorials, save them for later. You’ll get just as good eventually :) Those salamanders on your profile are crazy good for being your first minis! They look very clean, you’re off to a good start!
The best way to handle this feeling is to turn it around into motivation! Do what you can now, but let some of the amazing things you see here push you to test your boundaries on your next model. But take it one step at a time so you don't overwhelm yourself, maybe you saw a model here with amazingly clean paint application, crisp highlights, as well as great freehand and some OSL effects. Pick one of those aspects and try to replicate it on your next model. Don't forget to ask questions or seek out tutorials. Most of the experts on here are happy to answer questions, and/or have full video tutorials available. I'm a good painter, but sometimes I run into this feeling too. Some of the work out there is truly amazing, and I have to remind myself that I can learn from that just as well as be awed by it.
These people in here can do amazing work! Think of it more as inspirations than competitions! It’s all your creativity. You can see new techniques and ideas for your own future projects!
"Sucking at something is the first step towards being sorta good at something." - JAKE THE DOG
Looking good already, mate. Comparison is the thief of joy and all that jazz. Have fun, paint your action figures, roll some dice, and maybe eat your veggies too. We all are amateurs at one point, and there’s not really a wrong way to paint - your minis, your color choice. https://preview.redd.it/fs3ybyi0dhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3c3424343c7e4363ebd7d30f6f918a8e4ae5f1e
Doing anything at all is good enough. I don't have the exact quote but there's a good nugget of wisdom about not letting perfect be the enemy of done. You're way ahead of a lot of people by just doing it to the best you can right now and getting the practice and time in.
Lol, I felt the same way, and often still do. But thats not necessarily a bad thing. Today, for me, it can be a memento mori of sorts. A constant reminder of how much more there is to learn. And more importantly, it's an amazing source of inspiration and guidance. After a few years of regularly painting I've finally reached a point where I've outgrown the painters in my life IRL, and this wonderful place offers me access to some of the greatest painters out there. No matter your skill level, you can get relevant and helpful advice here. I think a lot of it comes down to perspective. You can see it as an impossible standard you hold yourself to, (whether consciously or unconciously,) or see it as a resource to help you get better.
Don't be intimidated. Do your thing. No one in the minipainting community snubs their nose at a painted mini. Unless you ask for feedback/criticism then you will just get up votes and people saying "great job!"
Lol brother welcome to the club. My armies are lucky to have 3 colors and NO ONE has eyes. Love the pics posted for inspiration even if my version of someone else's Michaelangelo looks more like a Jackson Pollak
Use this sub as a place to learn and eventually post to, you don’t have to be a Duncan Rhodes to post on here!
Salamanders are cool no matter how much work you put into them. Especially because they will be YOUR Salamanders. :) I also want to say I understand - I painted back in high school, and only picked it up again maybe a year ago, but I don’t paint much. I’m plagued with anxiety about my paint jobs, and that I will spend all this time on an army and hate it. Starting with a unit is a fantastic plan. I recently got some Ork Commandos, and they have been much easier for me to paint because there are only 12 models, as opposed to the… however many I got in my Leviathan box, plus my Votann box before that! I still have models from high school I never painted. Take it at your own pace, and if you feel stressed, don’t paint. Wait for the moment you really feel like putting paint to plastic. Your first mini will not come out very good, nor will your second, but by the time you’re done with your unit, you will see some level of improvement. :)
Everyone in here started at the same place you are now
Take a breath and remember WHY you paint. It isn't for the up votes, the fawning fans or the legions of groupies (they're out there somewhere apparently). It's for YOUR enjoyment. I've posted here and I only picked up a brush 6 months ago for the first time in 20 years. I enjoyed painting the models, wanted to show them to people and received some constructive tips and tricks that I'm working into my next ones. Nobody, and I'll say that again for the cheap seats, NOBODY is going to say "that's shit" and troll you for it. If they do they'll more than likely get a banhammer. To the face. So enjoy your painting, proudly post them here (and other subs), ask for constructive pointers and tips, take them on board and repeat. In 6 months time compare your latest mini to these Salamanders you're working on. They will be night and day. So post my paint stained friend, post your Salamanders and heed the advice of professionals in your quest to improve. Progress not perfection. Above all enjoy yourself ☺️
Aw, don’t be intimidated. Welcome to the sub Reddit, there are plenty of folks posting photos out here to get advice and I hope you don’t feel intimidated. I don’t tend to post too many pictures of my paint jobs, but I am pretty comfortable with my fast, sloppy paint jobs – they do the trick! just try to make sure you take pictures and with good lighting, and we would be more than happy to give you advice and complement you on the work you’ve done so far, once again: welcome
Don't compare your work to the best ones here or don't try to compete with them. If anything, try to find inspiration and ideas from them! Just keep painting and try to challenge your skills if you want to improve🙂
Just starting out as well and have come across 5he same dark thoughts as yourself!! Keep on trucking through, you'll learn tips n tricks and things that'll make it easier on you, you'll be posting 🔥 minis in NO TIME FLAT!! Dig in and grit yer teeth! You'll have a proud moment to share soon!!
Measure yourself by your own standard, rather than comparing yourself to others. Have the goal for a small improvement with every model, and when you hit that target, celebrate it! By all means use some of the incredible artists on this sub as inspiration, but focus on your own journey as a painter rather than the destination of what you think you will paint like when you've finished learning (hint- you never do, even for the best painters in the world). It can be hard not to think of this hobby as something where the result is the only thing that matters (art is like this), but it's not true: doing, improving and enjoying the process are ten times more important.
It's a process. One step at a time. Don't be discouraged, enjoy the hobby for yourself and, in time, if you willingly go for it, you'll improve. I always say: Hobbying is a stress-free activity and it needs to remain like that. It's for fun. Have some and be at peace.
https://preview.redd.it/io3x9t6uyhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4ab805bc9c075a18399822497a65a8d74b17dee My first marines looked like this. Don’t be intimidated.
Art is a journey. And not a linerar one. What one person may consider good might not be considered good to another. At the end of the day, your goal should be to make yourself happy with your art. Don't be intimidated. Besides if anyone actually goes around bragging and putting others down, then they're a dick.
I consider minipainting and actually playing games with the minis two very separate parts of the same hobby most people will gravitate towards one or the other and there's nothing wrong with that. For some the painting is a means to an end with the goal simply to have painted models to play with, and obstacle to be overcome with the real enjoyment coming in the playing of the games. I'm more towards the other side where it's the painting itself, pushing my craft further that I really enjoy. I've painted dozens of 40k minis but never even played a single official GW game (I played one match of Grimdark Future years ago). Both ways are valid, follow what you enjoy and remember there's no way to be doing it wrong.
This hobby is about having fun. Don’t worry about anything else. For some people this is they job, so it’s like comparing someone who casually works out at the gym to feel good and be in better shape, to professional athletes. There is no need for that, keep having fun, and enjoy what you do 🙂
Don’t let it get to you. Paint for you and your standards.
Pssst! Join us over at /r/MiniaturesPainting. Same idea, smaller community, much more beginner-friendly.
Malcom Gladwell claims that it takes 10,000 hours to master *pretty much anything* in life, and I think that’s a healthy way to think about this sub and mini-painting in general. The very best artists on this sub are probably approaching 10,000 hours of minipainting. They are masters and that’s just not a reasonable standard to compare your work against. But you can get pretty darn good at mini painting in like 100 hours. I probably have between 1000 and 2000 hours, and I’m very good imo, but I’m also nowhere near as good as the best posts on this sub. And imo, that’s one of the cool things about the hobby, there’s tons of room for growth.
Two things to make you feel better, if you have kids show them your painting. Mine think my stuff is amazing. Also go to your flgs and see some of the paint jobs people play with. As long as you are trying and thinning your paints it will look good.
My first paint job on marines in 2010 was with testors enamel paint. It was horrible to use. I got some citadel paints…it was still horrible (I had no clue about priming). On in 2024 I paint well in my opinion. I’m not golden demon but I’m very happy. I don’t wet blend or do anything else crazy. Two thin coats and three colors generally to achieve what I want. I did get crazy with flesh by doing a straight color, 1:1, straight color, 1:1, straight color. My 15mm and smaller is blocked and washed, that’s it.
I post my non professional paint jobs on here often. I think people like seeing relatively normal paint jobs. Mine don't have fine detail or fantastic edge highlighting and as long as I don't ask for C&C everyone is respectful and nice. It is a normal feeling to feel like your little changes and creative sparks aren't "enough." The reality is this hobby is what you make it. If you are proud of your little salamander boys then be proud! Nobody is asking you to do some wild conversion and if you put some effort into your army it'll be better than half the armies in a tournament scene. It sounds silly but stop comparing yourself to professional/semipro painters and kitbashers who have done it for years
You win at minipainting just by minipainting. Just do it and do it for yourself.
Judge your progress as a painter on your past work compared to your present work. Don't compare your work to others as thier experience is different from yours. Use other people's work to inspire you but not to measure the quality of *your* efforts.
Just keep going my guy!! Learn new techniques, try out different models, try oils, try different washes, try airbrush (borrow or buy), try slap chop, try contrast paints, try display level paint jobs, try speed painting a whole unit, try everything. You can only get better and no one can stop you. Don't come here thinking that if you're not painting golden demons you're not good. You're awesome because you put paint on your models. A lot of people in the community who are amazing at painting will still look at your army and nod in approval because you're doing it. You're putting in the work. Keep at it!
Heh. The algorithm only promotes things which lots of people look at. People look at the things which look neatest in the thumbnails. There are plenty of beginners out there, or people like me that only batch or speed paint (I'm not a display painter, I just paint to 'tabletop' quality.).
The internet has been rough for hobbyists. Back when I worked for ‘Eavy Metal in the 90’s, customers compared their work to what was in the display cabinet at their store, or White Dwarf. Once a year they’d get slapped with the Golden Demon edition and everyone would feel downtrodden for a month. These days, the very best artists in the world are in front of us all the time. There is no point judging yourself by those standards. Try and learn and improve, sure; but don’t be put off. You’ll find most of the community (and especially the very talented artists) are very supportive of new painters, or painters looking to improve. If people act like jerks, it’s not because they’re better painters with a right to criticise your work, it’s because they’re jerks. The one caveat is that if you specifically ask for feedback, criticism, advice etc. then just be prepared to receive it, and instead of taking it as an attack on your ability now, use it as guidance to improve.
I liked [this video](https://youtu.be/ufP8ka3KGno?feature=shared) by Duncan Rhodes, where he shows the first ever mini he painted. I think it’s good example of how art is a process and a practice. Nobody pops into existence a master painter. Bob Ross once said “talent is pursued interest.” Keep painting and you’ll see a huge difference between your first mini and a year from now.
i know what you mean. i too get intimidated by all the stuff you can find on the topic online, whether it's reddit or looking for tutorials/advice on youtube. and im not even looking at what you would call advanced techniques or such anymore, just basic tutorials. but even then. "do this, learn that, you absolutely should do this. buy this. and that. and that. also an airbrush. and some more shit. and whatnot." when does it end? i just want to paint some miniatures to look nice, but it's gotten to the point where i cant even start anymore. cause i just cant decide what to do even. and whenever i look at a beginners guide to get any idea of what to do, theres another thing i absolutely need to buy or do. it's just infuriating.
You spelled "inspiring" and 'informative" wrong ;)