Painting minis?

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

As far as brushes go, I don't have any specific recommendations for brand. Since you're just starting out, I'd go for the cheaper brushes first. You can hit up any store that sells art supplies, like Michael's (if you're in the US), where you can find inexpensive brushes in the sizes you want. I typically purchase a variety pack of smaller brushes and use them until they die. Brushes are going to be more expensive at your local hobby shop and I don't usually think it's worth the premium you pay.

Lots of great advice in your post (and this thread in general), but I am going to give a different opinion on this. Brush quality matters!

I painted minis back in the 80s, so any advice I might have that comes from those experiences has long been forgotten But I have quite a bit of experience with home renovations and repairs, building science, etc. A corollary of having this as an interest is a ton of experience painting. My last summer job in high school was as a painter with a local painting company as well. A cheap brush, whether you're trimming your bedroom wall or painting the cloak on your wizard, is a) not going to hold its shape and b) is going to lose bristles (more a problem on larger brushes I suppose...). A brush not holding its shape means you lose fine control and the ability to create precise edges and lines. You get random bristles dotting your wizard's ear. The brush doesn't pull paint up cleanly, so you end up with random burps of paints down your stroke.

Especially if you're a beginner, don't cheap out on brushes!

 

[Fenris-77]

Good brushes matter a lot. You don't need great brushes, or expensive brushes, but don't buy crap either. They'll be a pain in the butt you don't need.

 

[Clint_L]

There is a reason a Games Workshop mini can go for as high as $80 each (possibly higher). The details are crisp and the plastic is some magical formula (and the FOMO and marketing is world class).

The plastic isn't anything special. It's good quality HIPs plasic, basically the same used by model-makers worldwide. And plastic is about the least expensive cost in making miniatures; it's literally pennies.

The reason they are so expensive, and I write this as a survivor of years in the GW trenches, is that it's basically a pay-to-win scheme. They cultivate an in-store and tournament culture where only GW miniatures are allowed, and of course charge an arm and a leg for the best (as in most powerful) miniatures. Yes, and defnitely FOMO.

Yes, they do excellent work. But the exorbitant prices of the miniatures have little to do with the supply costs and everything to do with their carefully cultivated demand.

You can back a D&L Kickstarter and get 100 similarly detailed miniatures for the price of one GW showpiece.

 

[Clint_L]

Good brushes matter a lot. You don't need great brushes, or expensive brushes, but don't buy crap either. They'll be a pain in the butt you don't need.

I've become a lot less fussy about my brushes and buy packs of 12-20 off Amazon for about the same as one Citadel brush. They last just as long and work just as well.

TBH the only thing I worry much about spending extra on is good primer designed specifically for plastic miniatures, and for me the only option there is Citadel. Paints, brushes, palettes, everything else you can get for cheap or improvise. I use whatever piece of tin or plastic is lying in recycling for a palette.

I like the idea of just grabbing a cool miniature, preferably a large non-humanoid, and having at it. Best way to learn is by doing. Watch a few videos. Remember that light shades usually go on top of darker ones. Metals look way better over a black base.

 

[Fenris-77]

I've become a lot less fussy about my brushes and buy packs of 12-20 off Amazon for about the same as one Citadel brush. They last just as long and work just as well.

TBH the only thing I worry much about spending extra on is good primer designed specifically for plastic miniatures, and for me the only option there is Citadel. Paints, brushes, palettes, everything else you can get for cheap or improvise. I use whatever piece of tin or plastic is lying in recycling for a palette.

I like the idea of just grabbing a cool miniature, preferably a large non-humanoid, and having at it. Best way to learn is by doing. Watch a few videos. Remember that light shades usually go on top of darker ones. Metals look way better over a black base.

I'm not advocating for paying the GW premium (I haven't in years). Only that people avoid buying cheap crap. I am, or was at one point, a golden demon winning painter, and I know just how terrible it is to try and use a cheap-ass brush for anything that matters. It sucks. Anyone who's ever tried to paint eyes or do fine lining with that piece of crap they bought cheap at Michael's knows what I'm talking about.

 

[Clint_L]

I'm not advocating for paying the GW premium (I haven't in years). Only that people avoid buying cheap crap. I am, or was at one point, a golden demon winning painter, and I know just how terrible it is to try and use a cheap-ass brush for anything that matters. It sucks. Anyone who's ever tried to paint eyes or do fine lining with that piece of crap they bought cheap at Michael's knows what I'm talking about.

I do not paint at your level! I was thinking more in terms of beginners and enthusiastic average painters, like me. I ain't gonna argue with you about best practices for high level work - you know what's what!

 

[GothmogIV]

this is all super helpful, and I am grateful for the advice and ideas. I don't know if my 57 year old eyes are up for minis, TBH. Even with a lot of light and a magnifying glass.

 

[Koloth]

this is all super helpful, and I am grateful for the advice and ideas. I don't know if my 57 year old eyes are up for minis, TBH. Even with a lot of light and a magnifying glass.

Look at it this way. It is a wash. If your eyes prevent mini perfection, they won't notice anyway. That imperfect mini will look great! Especially at table distance. So paint away.

 

[soviet]

this is all super helpful, and I am grateful for the advice and ideas. I don't know if my 57 year old eyes are up for minis, TBH. Even with a lot of light and a magnifying glass.

Base coat and wash is all I do most of the time and they look great.

 

[zakael19]

You can grab a great size 2 sable brush for like $30ish, and it will last for longer than you might be painting on the regular, lol. A perfectly fine one is like $15. That's a burger and fries these days, and will be so nice to paint with.