Painting for The Tabletop? - Consider This

[@havoclord299]

Your style, sound, filmmaking, and philosophy about painting always put a smile on my face. Thanks for not taking tiny toys too seriously and don't stop. Would love to see more project vlogs between these vids, like the orc settlement, just to show what you are working on and give us more places to give you views

[@igoruberwald]

It is a really calming experience

[@philippealpe1151]

I was about to post something, but you said it very well :)

[@theangryjeff]

I agree! So refreshing! Also the fact that these are suggestions/considerations and not a “okay first of all you need to make a wet pallet and buy an airbrush”

[@billdefranza4927]

I couldn't have said it better!

[@sovietbear1917]

I hate spending hours with my goggles on making 'perfect' blends that look amazing, then I show my wife and she can't tell. She used to be in theater, so she was talking one day about stage makeup looking good from 50-300 feet away, but horribly garish up close and something clicked. I started doing really dramatic contrasts and while I feel like they aren't the best from half a foot away with 3.5x magnification, they look amazing from 4 feet away.

[@52Miniatures]

I think level of detail is such a personal matter. I so enjoy spending a lot of time on my miniatures. But just as your wife narrows it down to - what is that time spent on?

[@MisfitHobbies]

I feel like every 52 Miniatures video not only leaves me pondering the intracacies of my process but equally feels like an approachable and understandable academic thesis on this thing we call wargaming, and I love it.

[@blakec1924]

Totally agree with this sentiment.

[@52Miniatures]

I wouldn’t go so far as thesis. Pondering I can agree upon :)

[@hrvojegrgic-akovic5552]

Honestly, I thought this was another one of those "you dont have to try very hard on your entire army" videos. And all the power to those videos, as they do have a point, but I was really pleasantly surprised with this topic and the considerations mentioned here that is rarely pointed out, especially in beginner videos. Great job, as always

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you H. I try to not go through all to many things that already have been covered by others. Difficult, because most things have been done 😅 but this subject I haven’t seen around to much.

[@Scherdnr]

That blue pot of paint being used on the top of your terrain really increased the tension of the story! Loved the video, thanks for this!

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! Thanks Scherdy. An old pot of GW paint :)

[@KnarbMakes]

I wanna hear more about this plan to conquer the known universe.

[@52Miniatures]

Ehh.. what plan? There's certainly no plan. Nope...

[@skimnsurf72]

These videos are like therapy for miniature painters. I always leave the videos smiling, relaxed, and "enlightened." Keep up the good work.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear, thank you 🙏

[@trovarion]

Always a pleasure to watch these videos!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you T!

[@urbanursine]

Great video. 1. The topic was an amazing reminder of why we paint. A couple of months ago, I surrendered my dreams of winning any painting commission and accepted that I paint for my own satisfaction (gaming). 2. This also supports choosing TMM over NMM because on a gaming table, light source/s will hit your mini/s in different angles. 3. Greeeeeat filmography (if this the right term). Love how your videos have their own character and style.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you U, great to read you comment.

[@PainterIdeas]

As someone who doesn't play, only paints, and struggles to notch down the quality of painting to tabletop, when requested and/or agreed on commissions, instead pushing to paint every single detail, this video is just an eye opener.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear P! 👌

[@DCUATL]

Thank you. I often become paralyzed in my painting for fear of not being skilled enough to keep up. These thoughts have been a huge help me find perspective and peace of mind.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear. Thanks A

[@oldschoolfrp2326]

Good discussion - Golden Demon figures are fun to look at, but I learn more useful lessons from gamers with large armies and from board game painters, who paint nice collections quickly and consistently and get them on the tabletop faster

[@rosascreativeworks5403]

Yeah, I want them to look good, but I also want them to get done. Interesting balance to try and strike. 😊

[@jakubgramczynski8155]

Magnificent content on all levels. I've always been afraid of bright contrast color schemes and rather hidden myself in the grim dark muddy corner of painting minis. By showing me a familiar yet previously unnamed context you've opened my yes to the fact that I actually want to paint in bold contrast way :) Thanks!

[@52Miniatures]

I’m still working towards the “colour full grim dark” goal. Keeping the muddy vibe but with more colour.

[@pennsylvania9665]

My friend recommended your channel to me. I'm just starting out. This was the first video of yours that I watched. Thank you. It made me feel a bit more at ease.

[@52Miniatures]

Great 👍 Welcome to the channel :)

[@andrewl9191]

So far, this is the only video of yours that I've come across. I'm a D&D player for like....2 years now, pretty much only DMing, but with an art and music background, I really love the way you've done this video.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Andrew, KZbin is very good at narrowing the world down into tight enclaves. I must confess as to never have seen a D&D video in my feed 😅 cross pollination just is very difficult, even though we are all painting miniatures. I’m glad to hear you found your way here eventually.

[@alangates5240]

Seeing your new stormcast and the points raised, I think it helps to think about why traditional rank and file armies had bright coloured shields etc, imagine you are the army commander half a mile away and want to issue an order to a unit, you dont want to spend precious time working out what unit it is that you wish to issue the order to! Units needed to be identifiable from some distance away! These same rules should apply to us armchair generals. Great video!

[@52Miniatures]

Very true! Hadn't really considered that. I mean, the traditional uniform is pretty sound. "Only kill all the ones in red" was probably a nice thing for the folk up front. But as you say. Up on the hill, tactics was maybe easier if one knew who's who.

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

I'm still not sure how this channel is so small. It's one of my very favorite in the hobby space!!!

[@52Miniatures]

We are sneaking in the shadows biding our time, awaiting the perfect storm? Don’t know what the “we” is about, since there is only “me”… 😅

[@bettsdn]

Such a great video. These days so may of us mini painters (me included) are focused on the perfect picture for Instagram or our facebook mini painting groups. But on the table, or even in person under normal light, the minis just don't look as good.

[@8BitJesus]

Doug, over at 2+ Tough, has the term "3' fabulous' and it absolutely sold me on how I want my minis to look. Whether I achieve that look, that's a different matter, but the good intention is there. I think your approach definitely adds a different dimension to miniatures, hopefully I'll get my pastel Eldar finished this decade to apply the new found knowledge

[@BillMakingStuff]

The glimmering armour 'bit' was great!

[@52Miniatures]

I assume this is the point to full Gold schemes? Why else do it?

[@andygorman858]

I pledge my allegiance to 52…..oh wait, it’s not a recruitment video! Great thoughts and ideas on what we look for in painting minis. I used to be the ‘paint it like your entering golden demon’ style but after w[a while and very few painted minis I decided to try a different way. I like the idea of using the zenithal highlight as the base coat and applying the main colours to the highest points as designated by the highlight underneath. Leaving areas just pure black is a sort of revelation to me as I used to think you had to paint everything. Thank you for this fantastic video…..now, back to this recruitment thing……😉

[@52Miniatures]

They are all recruitment videos! Eh.. I mean.. painting videos.. thanks Andy :)

[@clubwargamessanangel]

I really like your videos because of the lighting, dark and melancholy.

[@rmfberry261]

i love this perspective you gave. one takeaway ill put to use for sure is turning down my lights. that way I can get a more balanced view of what they would normally look like. I've found my minies lacky that bright color too and are dull.

[@52Miniatures]

It’s probably individual but it’s worked well for me. It all started with my wife saying “can you turn that bloody light down a bit”.

[@Elfhelm]

I’ve got to say that I embraced “not painting under shields/arms/difficult to reach spots” ever since I stopped painting pieces separately and just getting whole model built first. Perfectionism has it’s place, but it’s definitely not on the gaming table. Very interesting video, I will have the “using vibrant colours” in mind now as I will be painting couple DnD characters for my colleagues. Thank you for sharing!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks E! Yeah, I mean, in some cases it's not a thing. Like, painting with the the one coat of contrast paints, and "avoiding" the dark spots is probably more work than painting them. I see it a little more like a metaphor. Spend time where it needed.

[@percyblok6014]

"Don't make perfect the enemy of the good" is a phrase to live by if you actually want time to play.

[@justmakesstuff]

A lovely and simple video. Without feeling like filler. Calm and wryly delivered to make a series of subtle points. I'd give it 3 thumbs up.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Justin

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

One may find that, if one is painting for enough years, the "looks good at arms length" standard becomes more appealing. I just cant see minis as sharply as I did even a decade ago. Definitely speeds up painting! I agree that adding contrast helps, whatever makes the colours pop even a little is an aid to vision. I also wonder if as technology advances, daylight bulbs will start to make it even into the darkest recesses of FLGS? That would be an improvement and maybe help some of us not feel quite so daylight deprived on certain days. Also - mmmmm, turnips. I ate a rutebaga earlier, so in some places they would say I cut up and ate a Swede. Thats disturbing. :-D

[@52Miniatures]

There was the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Middle Ages… all leading up the the Daylight in the LFGS Age. The ultimate step in evolution

[@vectorshaman338]

This feels like a seasoned designer going overboard w/ miniatures. Love it.

[@jasonogg8743]

Your videos always seem to relax my brain. Thanks for the vid.

[@52Miniatures]

My pleasure!

[@billcurran7210]

This is a good tip. I mainly paint for D&D and other tabletop RPG's and often show the players their cool new minis in great light, and all that disappears while gaming. Checking the contrast at the gaming table while painting makes sense.

[@philgee486]

A feast for thought There are mini painters who rightly speak to telling a story with the painting of a mini (or more), I like that approach. Some really good ones will go beyond just running a bit of basing pigment over the boots to tie the figure into it's environment, they'll talk about environmental lighting. Is it midday in a desert? Is it moonlit in an ancient forest? How does that effect the colours cast over the mini that complicate it's look, how do we create them with paint. I've been told to replicate cool daylight on my painting table, and I do. I even cover leds with bits of sweet wrapper and save all sorts of other coloured plastic so I can shine them from different directions onto my zenithal and take pics to guide me later. I paint models to play games with... But I play with them on a board on the dining room table.... Above is three cheap energy saving bulbs in frosted glass shades and behind me is a window onto the concrete patio Once painted I never again look at them in cool daylight lighting, I just don't. My display shelf for the ones I'm most proudest of is opposite the painting desk, not under it's expensive lighting. Don't remember anyone ever pointing out how my models live, and how I actually view them, how they might look in a forest yes, but not how they might look on my dining room table from where I'm standing - and how that perhaps ought to influence my painting decisions. I think about painting every day, I paint or model most days for at least a bit. I think I'm a thinker.... But this is considering painting, this is mindful hobbying, this is what I come to 52minis for, this is why Alex is alex

[@philgee486]

I use a dice tray, but would really like a terrain camouflaged tabletop dice tower for each genre of games, great plan. I watched this vid and was immediately so glad I knew where there was a packet of wine gums in our kitchen. Then it occurred to me, so much more than that.... I need snack holding terrain, Hiding washable interchangeable tupperware inserts. Wine gums, M&Ms, sausage balls, cheese and crackers.... What about edible objective markers - whole new game Now the lift off roof of my ruined dystopian factory won't reveal the ground floor layout, it's going to be cheese straws and hobnobs ..and winegums

[@philgee486]

So sorry for dragging it back into the gutter that is food obsessed chat.. I am really

[@52Miniatures]

I could see myself there, mistaking the candy bowl in disguise terrain piece for the dice tower terrain piece. Accidentally chewing down on a die, teeth flying across the battlefield..

[@philgee486]

@@52Miniatures What? you don't snack on dice when the winegums run out???

[@bluesheepminecraft]

Your painting is just sublime - can't wait for the new stormcast video!

[@danwagner4306]

Ohh the generic talk is warming to my heart and pleases my hobby butterfly soul. Much appreciated great stuff...

[@52Miniatures]

Glad to hear it :) thank you

[@nikchi]

Yes, this is why I like the loud colors, all the grim dark stuff just blends into the tables.

[@Veles343]

So you're saying a yellow army is the best idea then 😁

[@52Miniatures]

😂💛

[@blainetoms]

absolutely wonderfully written and produced as always. everything is so considered in your creative process, it really is lovely stuff.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you B, I appreciate it.

[@TylerProvick]

Personally I think people should focus more on volume than detail. Drybrushing, edge highlighting and washes are often cited as "bringing out detail" but on the tabletop that detail merges together. On the other hand, having the tops of object be bright and the bottoms dark shows the volume, even at distance. You don't even need blending - in situ lighting and distance handles that part. And never paint eyes.

[@youtousim]

Maybe a bit too specific already, but a general guideline as well: The colour spectrum perceived by our eyes provides the most nuances in yellow tones for bright areas, red tones for midtones, and blue tones for darker areas. Thus using warm colours for highlights and cold ones for shadows is often recommended.

[@52Miniatures]

Quite so! Also quite natural, cool shadows and warm highlights :)

[@dirkignatzek]

Since there are obviously two of you i demand double the output of your excellent videos, sir!!!

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! I demand a double like button 😂

[@marcozanobini8307]

I've the same problem: I can't leave out the details (even not visible). Each miniature takes a ages to finish to these standards and every time I wonder why I can't compromise on quality... I realized that: by using all my painting skills on each miniature, I improve. And, even when I try to paint quickly, I am able to be more precise and the mini remains extremely readable (increasing the contrast from a distance). So.. you've not waste your time on your actual stormcast army. In the next one you'll have the right knowledge and the right skills to do a great work!

[@52Miniatures]

Quite so Marco! I very much agree. I don’t think I intended anything in this video to be about speed, rather things to consider regardless of painting speed.

[@Marconius6]

I paint more with my display case in mind, since that's where my minis spend 98% of their time, and where I see them every day. Like, I actually sit at eye level with some of my minis, so just not painting the underside of a huge dragon would be a complete non-starter for me. Bottom of a tank though, that can probably be just one solid color.

[@rosascreativeworks5403]

That's what I need to do. Build a display case for my minis... good thought.

[@VertexCarver]

A variant of a complementary color scheme can be really cool. What I mean is to choose your primary color that is incorporated in everything. Playing around with texture, saturation & value mapping helps readability & having something like 90% this primary color just makes the mini look cohesive along with a rich contrast by your complementary color. One disadvantage though, is that you often have a distinct lighting sanario like a cool or warm setting. It also looks a bit stylized or unrealistic. idk, I think it marries well with the grimdark style as you often use desaturated colors but can make use of that & create contrast by color choices or the standard saturation & values.

[@52Miniatures]

Sound nice :) thanks for the tip 👍

[@jquickri]

Love this. Instagram has kind of done a number on people's expectations for what good painting actually looks like.

[@52Miniatures]

I mean, when I was a kid... the only thing was 90's GW box art, and the occasional white dwarf tip. Always the same - base layer, wash, highlights. "Ta dah!" Now you mini will look perfect... And I thought that was intimidating.

[@Plaquebearer]

You sir are a champ, great thoughts all round. Kudos!

[@timothypaul8983]

This editing was very enjoyable to watch while listening to your rant. 👏

[@52Miniatures]

Hah! Thanks T

[@Iwanttoregister]

It's good to see that you've finally started magnetising your miniatures :)

[@52Miniatures]

I’m slowly growing up :)

[@seankavanagh3742]

This for me is a Eureka moment thank you so much!

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear Sean 👍

[@Elminarion]

That's why at some point I just dropped the idea of artistic, Golden Demon winning painting. I just prefer have fun gaming, with nice, really neat minis, not a diorama on shelf. Great vid, as always!

[@rosascreativeworks5403]

Exactly.

[@Doppelwulf]

Excellent video! I really enjoy this type of topic and I there are few other channels that delve into the more esoteric and philosophical areas like you do. While I do enjoy your tutorial videos my favorites are the ones like this. The meat of it is in the voiceover but the visuals keep me engaged as well. Bravo.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you humbly D!

[@CJWproductions]

Your new squad of brightly colored Stormcast look fantastic! What I think is really interesting is, I don't think I would have noticed you didn't detail the shadows, if you hadn't mentioned it. There's also a lot of nice upward-facing detail on those models.

[@justinanderson3095]

This is a tremendous film style. A pleasure to watch

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Justin!

[@mato_2000]

Funny! I was thinking about this yesterday, how many painters claim you need a "daylight" to get the right colors while most games are played in warm/bad light. Thats just gonna make your minis look bad - on the table that is. Instead, painters should probably think more like makeup artist for TV, adapting the makeup (colors) for the skintone and light, in our case, base coat and light to look natural. :D

[@52Miniatures]

I think painting under daylight is the way to go. It’s kinder on the eyes and will be the “true” representation of colours used. But I think checking under other lights is a good idea. And maybe not to paint white armies…

[@LamesJames]

Whenever I see a new video from you I instantly watch it. Great stuff man!

[@52Miniatures]

I appreciate that!

[@diehexenmaus185]

this is honestly something i had never considered (largely from being a player in theory more than practice, for the most part!)

[@MarcinEstkowski]

All good thoughts. Love to hear you (I dig your manner) and to watch minis you painted - this style of yours is my favorite (I didn't like the minis, when I saw them raw, but painted your way - oh boy!). But on this video we (me and my 5YO son) are jealous of... the bottle caps my son collects, because he never saw the Sweden ones. Thanks for the quarter of good quality entertainment!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks M, and I can relate, I’ve promised the bottle caps to my son :)

[@MarcinEstkowski]

@@52Miniatures I could send you some Polish ones for the young collector.

[@theturts9626]

top notch editing in this one

[@AzraelThanatos]

One thing that makes the more drab paint jobs jump out on the table is to go a bit different on the base rims. I started back when I was doing a commando squad using the Reaper IMEF for it. A basic base color just did not want to do more than blend them into the drabs of the table which would have worked for diorama purposes, but not as much for gaming. I ended up using a metallic blue that I'd used for the emblem on the mini and it makes them stand out a bit more and look more like the characters they are supposed to be. In some ways, the brighter colors also tend to make me think of various RTS games, where you have the bright outline to make the units stand out to the eye on maps. A lot of colors also manage to enhance the paint job such as using one in your color scheme for the force as a unifying color there, or just one you like. My Dragon Rampant force has a copper base rim color that seems to fit the feel of the army while also being something bright enough to stand out against a more drab and realistic terrain and, even, the force itself which just has a few things that stand out as fantastic

[@52Miniatures]

Great idea. I’m for the first time actually trying black bases with my new army. I’ve been enjoying using slight colour tints to match the miniature but now I felt I wanted to try black.

[@zramirez5471]

Alex apart from being incredible advice, this video is a masterpiece! Absolutely incredible composition; your work is for both the physical art of painting and the cinematically inclined...

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you humbly Ramirez

[@zramirez5471]

What time in Stockholm do you normally try to do your live streams? I'm in GMT -5 so I think you're like GMT +2? Depending on what time in the afternoon you do I might be able to get up early enough to join...

[@52Miniatures]

@@zramirez5471 My streaming times change I'm afraid, because of life and family. I have difficulties deciding on the one set time.

[@badpoulet]

That comment on the "expensive cards that are probably already out of date" hit right in the feels! XD

[@52Miniatures]

I mean, what is Yndastras war scroll like now? Does anyone know? 😂

[@paulincumbria]

To make bosses stand out, rather than giving them a different colour scheme, I elevate them on rocky bases. And by quite a margin - about a 1/3 to a 1/2 of the overall height of the mini. It makes them stand out on the tabletop - quite literally!

[@52Miniatures]

Also boosting "line of sight" :) I've got a hero on a ridiculous base that's actually taller than the mini itself. A lot of fun.

[@TheSevenUpMan]

I found that painting under the painting lamp with its integrated magnifying lens is a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because it helps me actually see what I'm doing. My eyesight is not what it once was. On the other hand, this cruel white light makes every single mistake or fuckup painfully obvious. Still, what I found is that if the mini is at least decent under the magnified white light, it's actually pretty good on the table. And yes, that's what counts.

[@TheBasicBrush]

Not laughed as much at a miniature video in ages including my own 🤣 you are a master of the craft!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks BB!

[@trollsmyth]

Great video with some very intriguing ideas. I've been thinking along similar lines as I'm painting a handful of crews to run demos of Stargrave with. I decided to paint the pirates bright yellow. It's a stupid color for an army, but yellow should really stand out on the table. (And now they're the Legions of the King in Yellow.) I'm painting all the loot orange for similar reasons. I'm looking for bold paint schemes for the different crews as well as radically different sources for the minis. I'm using the old medieval rules for heraldry ("metals" on colors and colors on "metals" but never "metals" on "metals" or colors on colors) because the whole point of those rules was to allow you to tell who was who from across a battlefield. We'll see how it goes.

[@52Miniatures]

Sounds like fun, good luck Brian!

[@coalitionofrob436]

Space Monkey returns! For some unhealthy reason I love that little guy.

[@52Miniatures]

It’s a cracker of a mini!

[@Mark-cl4dd]

Much food for thought 😀

[@EelcoWind]

This was good! Modestly hilarious, informative, an angle/topic that is not often discussed and reflective of your own old work. Subscribed and on my way to the supermarket to buy a pack of wine gums!

[@52Miniatures]

Well thanks E, and welcome to the channel. At least I’m contributing to candy sales as well :)

[@gideonswake]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Anthony!

[@manyminigroup2065]

This is my first video of yours I have watched. And I love how thought provoking it is and the film to accompany the thoughts is really entertaining. I really really enjoyed hearing what you had to say and enjoyed the video. Thank you for this, I really needed to hear some of these things

[@52Miniatures]

Welcome to the channel Charlie. Great to hear and hope you enjoy future videos :)

[@TheEnd]

Thanks Al!

[@acidcoen]

It always makes my day when you post a video :) Some really interesting thoughts and ideas. Great job as always Alex!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks D! I appreciate it as always.

[@Slaneshhhh]

Awesome video. I love the chill vibe.

[@DuhRake]

I have been enjoying all of your videos but this one in particular is just amazing. Such a cool and classy presentation style, thank you.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear Drake, thank you.

[@kosachilles2504]

I don't even highlight, just base coat and wash lol loved the video! Can't wait to see your new stormcast!

[@Smaakakor]

Haha. Kikaren och tumstocken fick mig att skratta högt här borta, mycket underhållande video även denna gång.

[@52Miniatures]

Fint! :)

[@thedabblingwarlock]

Thank you, Alex. I was struggling with figuring out how to paint the minis I have primed and sitting about waiting for the brush. You've helped me not worry about that so much. I enjoyed your sense of humor throughout the video. I hope the like I gave you helps in your plans for world domination. ;)

[@52Miniatures]

Glad to hear it DW, and yes, a like goes a long way :)

[@mordj5247]

How about painting minis using color schemes with the aim to trick the brain and confuse your opponent (it's warfare so it's legit) : a strong deadly unit, painted to blend and be forgotten on the battlefield, a "hit that unit" unit painted brightly in order to focus the eye on it, making the player forget about the real threat. There are many optical illusions out there that trick the brain and that could be used in tabletop. What an army would look like if painted in this single goal : some very flashy, fluo, colors for some units ? dark black or grey no borders for others ? This would be very interesting to explore and analyse there after the behaviour. Maybe write a form of few questions to gather up players impressions, behaviours and actions during the game.

[@52Miniatures]

Now this is some devious planning! Now we just have to figure out how to make the huge hero models look less imposing :)

[@sethpeterson8261]

It works. The Sea Monster in my Blood Rage set blends in to the board so well my brother always takes it, because other players often think they're safe and completely miss it on the board even though it's really big and looms over other minis. It's big, it's obvious, yet no one ever notices it until it attacks and then you're like"how in the hell did I not notice that thing right next to me!?!"

[@ForgottenStreams]

This is such a cool and refreshing perspective to the tabletop standard - thank you! (and yes, pun intended)

[@chriswhite7249]

It's interesting that you say that painting under lower lighting has helped improve your painting. I found the opposite to be true for myself. I had been painting under a single Ottlite, but a few months back I put in an LED workshop light that is incredibly bright, and I think my painting is better because of it. I think because everything is so well and evenly lit that I have to push my highlights and shadows much further for them to stand out under that light. I think the result carries over under normal lighting and everything looks better because there's more contrast than I would have done normally.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear Chis. Yeah, I think these things are individual. But that they are good to experiment with. Not just assume that brightest is best - or what I say is best for that matter. To check minis in different lights, to try ant paint in different locations. All the stuff :)

[@MentoliptusBanko]

Very thoughtful video. Your new Stormcast are much nicer that the "grimdark" ones. I am a little biased because I love colorful armies. The fact that each is a different color is beautiful. I usually paint skirmish warbands where every mini is different in some way...and when I put them in units in an army it is all very colorful indeed. And I like it. So don't be afraid of colors, not everything in life should be (grim)dark 😉

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks M, I’m looking forward to getting more done, to see what they look like in numbers :)

[@MentoliptusBanko]

It will be beautiful, full of colors....just as planned 😉

[@Tgauchsin]

I love your videos. You are like the smooth Bob Ross version of a mini painter. Very well put together videos and excellent tips for this mini painting noob. Subscribed and can’t wait to watch more.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you P and welcome to the channel

[@LostJasonR]

That 6:28 moment killed me! :') Epic video sir!

[@mttwstyle]

Really enjoyed this one!

[@robbar77]

Oh wow, the original version of Dungeonquest! Drakborgen I think. Amazing.

[@52Miniatures]

Drakborgen yes! My childhood friend :)

[@markfrommontana]

Alex, So as you know I paint military miniatures to go with my model airplanes and I although don't paint fantasy figures and haven't played a war game of any sort for decades, I think everything you discussed here applies to what I do--how I might paint my little pilots in the best way to make them pop (or not pop) on display. This was great. Oh, and.. I read all of the comments (which stood at 51 as I type this) and I'd just like to say--don't change your narration stye one bit.

[@52Miniatures]

I think it is a cool thing. To step by step discover what "works". We can totally choose to discard, or ignore whatever the discovery is, but it's fun nonetheless. I'm still in between liking the less dramatic up close, but very much appreciating the dramatic on the table. And yeah, I'm not going to change narration :) - From time to time I do enjoy dishing out reminders to folk who seem to have lost the sense of common decency. Regardless of their listening state.

[@Wijkert]

You are so good at making video's with a message or at least something to consider! Lovely stuff.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks W! I probably think to much...

[@Wijkert]

@@52Miniatures I do that too...

[@jeremiahpointer1299]

Another lovely video. Thank you Alex. Can't wait to watch it at home, again!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Jeremiah.

[@CarlConstantine]

Excellent video as always. I’m mainly getting into this hobby strictly for the painting, the self care portion of the hobby. Even with no plans of tabletop domination with whatever army or armies I paint, these are great thoughts and observations to consider when choosing a colour scheme for all the Veil Touched minis arriving in October/November. As well as some other armies I may paint leading up to that great event. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and observations with us once again.

[@valtsu5752]

Awesome video! So much truth!

[@Hartmansgrad]

The lesson to be learned here is that if your table and it's surroundings are garbage, it doesn't matter how good a painter you are. Build a table, make it higher than a dining table so you can see...make and paint terrain...treat other aspects of your hobby with as much diligence as you would clean mould lines, it will pay dividends when your miniatures belong on the table rather than a light box.

[@52Miniatures]

Quite true!

[@squidly162]

Very interesting!

[@WayOfHaQodesh]

Hahahaha, excellent topic for discussion and great points for contemplation. Much appreciated.

[@benstephenson8988]

Love your videos.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you!

[@elronman]

I was hoping this topic was going to be what I expected when i read the title. This is something I think a lot of people don't consider, especially with the wave of internet close up shots of miniatures. Even in the recent promo shots of armies, they opt for close ups at eye level. Well lit and spread apart. Marketing first and practicality dead last. Grimdark instead of Garish.

[@elronman]

of all your examples, the necron stood out the most. And I think it's just because of his base.

[@52Miniatures]

The base and the metallic shine :) Thanks E!

[@chrisgallagher7]

Solid video as always. Great work.

[@flowinsounds]

that was funny. your stormcast eternals disappeared into the background/bases, when you put colourful figures next to them. I tried doing instagram style paint schemes, but then shifted to high contrast, boldly highlighted & colored schemes instead, precisely because it looks better on the table

[@nathanielstark5070]

It was really fun to watch something different. Also, I can't wait to see more of these new stormcasts :)

[@52Miniatures]

Hopefully next video will be a bit more of a spotlight on the new Stormcast :)

[@RPRsChannel]

*_I always add lights to my terrain. Light from inside houses, streetlights, mushroom casting off light. All light from terrain more or less shines down on the table. It make a world of difference._* Edit for the worlds most common spelling mistake.

[@52Miniatures]

That’s pretty cool :)

[@k_sinner8147]

Amazing as always please more 3D printing

[@rosascreativeworks5403]

I'm down to only one mini that isn't painted yet. I do have to think about making some terrain and perhaps some building type stuff. Great video and inspiring. I've got too many projects on deck at the moment, but maybe one of these days I'll get my game going. 😊👍

[@paintingbyminions8360]

Wonderful video. I think I’m going to do all my instagram photos at table length. Just for kicks.

[@52Miniatures]

😂👌

[@ashen_strix]

Would love to see your take on how to get inspiration to do bases. I paint and play boardgames such as Zombicide for example, and I'm always painting the bases black out of laziness, first of all, but also because I do not want to make them stand out because of a lack of coherence. (What the base looks like vs where the mini actually is, making the base a paved street if the mini is in a wheat field for example.) How do you choose a context, how do you decide what to do?

[@52Miniatures]

I believe I’ve done a video on bases at some point? I usually envision a story, a context for my miniatures. That help me come up with the colour schemes, usually this story leaks over onto the bases. If the minis come from a city environment, a forest, a swamp? Same with colour. Is it a “dead” environment, or green growing? Or magical?

[@ashen_strix]

@@52Miniatures Thanks, might've missed that vid somehow. Will watch it when I get back from work! And thanks a lot for the tips. Will try and figure out some things for my little heroes and foes!