You Don't Need to Be ARTISTIC to Paint Minis

[@alexdoran527]

You CAN strip your old minis, but don't strip your FIRST minis. Keep them around. They'll be times where you'll play someone who has a beautifully painted army, or you see something crazy on Instagram, and you think "man, my minis look like trash." Or "I will never paint that well." That's when you go back and look at your first minis you painted and see the progress you've made. It really does help shift the window and it makes me feel better.

[@tabletopminions]

I keep one of my earliest minis (a Battletech Atlas) on my desk to remind myself where I started. Thanks for watching!

[@DiscoBarbarian]

One of my first is prominently displayed with all the others that i have done since in the game room.

[@luckyskaven13]

​@@DiscoBarbarian I love that

[@markchristy9704]

My first foray into mini painting was for a board game that I have since parted with. I'm still a little bit sad that I don't have those minis anymore as that reference to compare how much I've grown. I do have other minis from around that same time though, so I can at least look at those.

[@Kid_illithid]

I’m literally about to strip the first warboss I ever painted like 14 years ago. I’m gonna make a funny video of him going into the isopropyl like I’m some sort of Bond villain

[@Volriker]

I think there is generally this trend in our world that you do something wrong if you don't do it like other people do. And it's being heavily supported by online content creators, sometimes unintentionally. It's true for mini painting where you use some gorgeous paint jobs by professionals and artists and then you look at your job and you feel miserable. It's true for online gaming, where you need to watch build meta guides for your character, otherwise you feel you are not playing the game correctly. It's even true for Instagram, where you see a selected number of ppl (number which is nowhere representative of the whole population) and you believe that you should look like them too, and there is something wrong with you if you are not. It is important to remember that you can have fun in doing something without comparing yourself to other people and the fact that you are doing something differently than other people doesn't make it necessarily wrong.

[@georgesutherlandhoward4417]

I recently got a hold of an old box of Warhammer Goblins, and man, the official paintjobs on the back of the boxes were a looooot more achievable back in the day!

[@mystic839]

i'm a pretty new painter, and i've been down on myself a bit because i compare my work to what i've seen in youtube videos and stuff but when i paint my board game minis, my friends who play games with me are always really supportive and surprised at how supposedly nice they look i think the lesson for me is: every paint job is better than grey plastic!

[@SomeDudeOnYouTube]

Most important: enjoy the act of painting minis. Embrace your mistakes and learn from them. And have fun doing it. There is no wrong way in doing things the way you enjoy. There might be *better* or more efficient ways (see: dry brushing chain mail) but as long as you enjoy your hobby you are doing it right. And washes and speed paints are a great help too.

[@hogger95905]

I agree with this dude

[@GarryWButler]

I totally agree, if you don’t enjoy it why are you doing it? (Left this out of my list because it assumed this was a given.)

[@tbrizius]

Mistakes are the best. Laugh, and make it work. It’s a plastic toy army guy at the end of the day

[@Eliniel12]

For me, one of the best techniques to practice from the beginning has been edge highlighting (thanks Black Templars). It has drastically improved my brush control which in turn has made painting other things neatly and tidily a lot faster. Maybe don't start off trying to go to the crazy lengths that the 'Eavy Metal team does with 3-5 stages of edge highlights, but just a single, steady edge highlight on places you really want to separate or draw attention to. You don't -need- 3-5 edge highlights when you're standing up playing a game and the minis are several feet from your eyes. That single one will give you plenty of contrast and still help the models pop while showing off the details of the sculpt.

[@hogger95905]

I remember over 10 years ago when a friend and I first started painting minis without knowing any techniques and only used the paints from the local Walmart. We still had fun and were very supportive of each other’s paint jobs. It’s nice nowadays how many instructional videos there are for people starting out.

[@briochepanda]

Learn a few staple techniques to start and they'll probably keep you in good stead for the most of your time painting. - The ol' slap-chop - Base, wash, dry brush - Contrast over metallics

[@timothyyoung2962]

I think a good technique is dry brushing. It's a nice, basic technique that you can do a lot with once you get the hang of it. Also, practicing with washes and shades to see what they can do and all the different ways you can use them. After that practicing with highlighting your minis to hit the raised areas and get some better contrast is a good skill to learn after the dry brushing and washes. Personally I've been able to paint some decent looking minis with just those three skills. I'm still trash at wet blending (my 18 year old son is damn good at it and always impresses me with his fire and smoke effects. They look almost seamless) and I just can't seem to paint eyes and not make my minis look derpy (so I skip eyes, but keep giving it a shot here and there). But I also think having the understanding that you will mess up, that the mini will not look good at first, but to just keep going. Every time I start painting a mini it looks like trash. But afterwards, after I've touched it up here and there and added some washes or/or shades and did the highlights they always look good (for me anyway). Just keep painting, keep practicing, and above all just enjoy painting and realize your minis will not be masterpieces at first (if ever) and that's okay. As long as you're happy with your work that's all that matters.

[@duckrutt]

Helmets and robots my friend. Helmets and robots.

[@Darklight689]

My personal approach, enjoy the process of painting. And someone pointed out the other day, you’ll enjoy having painted minis on the table even if they aren’t that good. They only have to look good from 3 feet away

[@jakec5550]

The technique that kind of "opened the door" to me for painting was dry brushing. At the time, most of my models looked like they were wearing old (acid washed) jeans, especially when I used a blue color, but to me it gave my minis shading that I couldn't get anywhere else. Later, I found other techniques that were better for that, but I always remember the friend who showed me what dry brushing was and how that really made things fun for me while painting things I enjoyed.

[@thetattoodmini]

the thing i have always loved about miniature painting... there is no wrong way to paint YOUR mini. that's the one thing i've told anyone i've helped get into the hobby, that as long as you make the mini look the way you want it, it can never look wrong. mostly, i tell people i don't teach how to paint minis, i teach techniques that you can use for miniature painting. i always try to emphasis the point that there is no right or wrong way to paint your own mini, it just depends on the look you are going for, the amount of time you want to invest into it, and how much technique you want to use to define the miniature.

[@rosskwolfe]

I must say: Thank you. Thank you for saying that some people are just naturally better at art than others. One of the most frustrating things I hear (and I hear it a LOT) is that natural talent isn't real, only putting in the time and effort to improve matters. I mean, sure, most people really can learn most anything with enough time and effort. But there are people out there who are just amazing and have top-level talent without even trying. I've known such people, this one family in particular. Drawing, painting, sculpture, musical instruments... There was nothing they didn't immediately excel at. It was insane. I'm not exaggerating when I say being a world-class talent was for them as easy as breathing. And then there are people on the opposite extreme like me who no matter how hard I try, I will never be a good "artist". Try as I might, I simply lack the ability to do well. I can barely draw stick figures and I can't even hold a straight line when tracing something. I have seen some improvement in my painting ability over the years, yes, but I'm never going to achieve the heights that some people out there seem to believe literally anyone to be capable of. It's just not true. And more importantly, it's okay that it's not true. Yes, encourage everyone to practice and improve, but stop telling people that natural talent doesn't matter.

[@Msomuk]

Perfect explanation of the difference between skill and talent. I have some skill as a painter but I do not have the artistic talent. That’s my wife’s domain. But it doesn’t stop me from watching, trying, and learning. I can paint very good table top minis and I am very satisfied with that! Thank you for what you do

[@thatwithtusks]

Former art history professor and museum curator here, I would argue that art is about communication more than anything else. Craft is based on skill where art is based on meaning and purpose. I think a lot of people think they can't make art when they're really anxious about their skill level in craft. Paint to the level that makes you happy in sharing whatever story you're trying to tell, if some particular technique is necessary to see that vision through then it can be developed, but otherwise just use what you have to communicate what you need to.

[@mordecaitoth6703]

With so many great tips around technique and tools already in mind my #1 top tip is to avoid pure white! It is such a disservice that beginner paint sets never include a neutral off white color. Pure white should be used sparingly for only the most high of highlights and reflective surfaces. Tip #1.5 is to not be afraid of mixing paint; make your own off white and other colors! Depending on the paint range you are using ymmv, but, at the very least, a little white or black to go lighter or darker will give your colors much more depth and versatility.

[@michaeltribou4261]

Thank you for the excellent overview. In my view, I think there are a few very basic skills that need to be learned at the beginning: 1) effective shaking/mixing the paint in the bottle 2) effective thinning of the paint on the pallet for flow from the brush 3) effective brush control for the base colors. Essentially coloring between the lines Other techniques are usually applied or used after these basics

[@Warpcaller]

I completely agree with this video, I can't paint anything to save my life but with the minis I can put out decent looking tabletop minis at a reasonable pace once I learned a couple fundamental techniques and the rest is just muscle memory at this point.

[@rogthepirate4593]

Same goes for regular painting. If you ever developed an interest in it, just as with painting minis, it's just learning techniques and practicing. There is nothing more to it than that.

[@ChopsTV]

I think the hardest part of mini painting for me has been overcoming the "Im not good enough to do that technique yet" mental block. "Im not good enough to try highlighting yet" or "Im not good enough to try freehand" or whatever. Because lo and behold, when i just told myself to shutup and try it, it more-or-less worked! Are my first edge highlights great? naw. But those models look way better than the models I painted when I thought I wasnt good enough to try.

[@kartchner7]

AGREE! I really enjoy these kind of videos. I am the most unlikely of artists. I was never artistic growing up, and quite frankly pretty bad at it. I really do enjoy painting minis now and it mostly from earning the techniques and practicing them. Learning what to do and what not to do, and learning what amount of time and detail i am happy with as a COMPROMISE, has been super important. I spent a lot of time learning technique, but really its actually doing it has been the most important part. New paints, and having a permanent set up has really helped my overall satisfaction. I also like seeing my progression through the years, so i never repaint anything no matter how bad they are. Here are my favorites i have learned: 1) compare to your own progress, not others, 2) as a corollary to above be humble and take well meaning advice, and be willing to learn new techniques 3) paint paint paint, best way to get better 4) patience with yourself, its not a job its a hobby, the world isn't going to end if you only paint 3 figs when you meant to finish 5. 5) experiment with new techniques and products, they are out there. mini painting for me has dramatically changed since 2019 for the better.

[@wittlegoblin]

Being willing to put in the time is definitely in my opinion the #1 thing you need to improve painting! I think a lot of people follow incredibly skilled painters on social media and then get frustrated when they're not there and they don't see their improvement. A helpful thing for that is stepping back and comparing current models to earlier work. Also, I think reading about color theory and learning about light /shadows is super helpful in the beginning as well.

[@MW-xi9oy]

I think you nailed it - there's two sides to the hobby and its good to be aware of where you are / where you're going / where you want to be, at that point in time.

[@threewiseman1]

It's taken me years (on and off) of painting, but I feel like I've finally hit a point where I'm genuinely happy with the results I'm getting now, and I'm feeling confident in branching out and trying some more 'artistic' techniques - wet blending, ost. I am still by no means a pro, nor do I think I'm even close to perfecting these techniques, but I'm happy with what I've done. That said, I've been able to do 'table top quality' for a very long time now, enough to impress the layman. But as someone else said, as long as you're enjoying yourself, that's all that matters.

[@NapGod]

I was alive for 30 years of life before I felt I was allowed to think of myself as artistic. It was a video of yours very much like this one that convinced me I could at least try. This is a great one because it frames painting which can seem like a black box to someone like me in a way that's more mechanical and achievable. Not everyone can win a golden demon, but everyone can learn to basecoat, highlight, wash, and drybrush, and thinking about it like that demystified it for me. Another huge thing, I went a very long time thinking award winning painters achieved a higher quality at an equally higher pace. It wasn't until I was watching Vince's videos from when he painted his skaven + stormcast (Ratcast) army that the penny dropped. He was explaining his nmm technique on a shoulderpad and said something like "...and from here I'll keep doing that [process] for the next 45 minutes or so". I never want to spend 45 minutes painting a shoulderpad and a huge self-conscious weight was lifted. So, thank you for continuing to make videos like these. There's something so satisfying about being able to hold a physical token of your time and effort that everyone should get to experience.

[@Stampstudio71]

I love the fact that uncle Adam drops these early Friday morning videos . Makes my way to work so much better

[@Slayernuke83]

Glad to hear you promoting that this is a journey that we are on, gaining skill.

[@arkeonox9058]

One of the reason I love Forbidden Psalm and Mork Borg is the mindset of the community. All for DIY. Enjoy what you're doing, it doesn't matter if it's not smooth etc

[@thediesel4475]

I think it is also worth considering how many minis typically appear on the tabletop. If you are playing a small skirmish with say 10 or so figures, you might want to spend a bit more time on the detail or with an extra highlight or two. But if you intend to get 100 figures on the table, then it is the mass effect you are aiming for. I think it is a really important message that whilst we all get inspired by the amazing minis we see online and in the media, the people painting them got to that point after years of practice. With an analogue hobby like ours, there can almost be a disconnect between our everyday experience of instant (or very quick at least!) gratification online and recognising that time will need to be invested and improvements will be incremental. The most important thing is to just get started and practice, recognising that your first efforts will not be your best. But they will always be better than the ones you never start!

[@chrism4919]

New to the hobby and painting my first army of Black Templars for 40K, the advice I can give is paint in batches/units, and take a few days off before starting the next batch. As soon as the painting feels like a job or daunting task is when you know to take a break. Don't let the number of models you need to paint overwhelm you.

[@spacedock873]

All very true. Painting minis is like any other skill such as learning a musical instrument or flying a plane - time spent practicing will lead to improvement. There are always certain people who have an innate natural aptitude for particular skills like musical prodigies or natural pilots. The one thing that has helped me when painting minis is accepting where I am on the learning curve and being happy with my results. As a perfectionist I am naturally stressed if I feel I cannot do a skill to a very high level but the key is recognising that this is unrealistic in the early stages and getting comfortable with that fact.

[@erikbraun473]

My very first models were "drybrushed" necrons that I painted with Testors enamel paint. Not particularly proud of them now but wow did they see some fun tabletop time over the last 9 years. Now I actually know what I'm doing and paint sometimes for the Art of it but mostly to get models on the table. Just putting paint to model alone and finishing something is incredibly rewarding and worth trying it out for.

[@frankn4576]

I watch your channel and this video really resonates with me. I am creative but have no artistic "talent." I'm color blind and have poor eyesight and only started to paint minis in my later years. My advice to your viewers is that sometimes we are our worst critics. Do not put pressure on yourself and compare your work to some master painting you see on the internet. Once I let "perfection" go I started to have fun and my skill has increased over the years. Cheers and thank you for this video!

[@poulsentyler]

I think that having any sort of artistic ability definitely helps you in mini painting. I used to draw and paint a lot through highschool and my short stint of college where when I got into this hobby about a year ago I have taken massive leaps in the last 3 months of painting dally compared to once in a while in my first 8 months. But I think I've progressed as much because I have a pretty good attention to detail, patience, and don't get very discouraged by anything before in my art journey I know that you are always improving and will fail time and time again.

[@grendelb3298]

I learned to just enjoy the ride. Mini painting and wargaming is a hobby I always wanted to try, but was so daunting to me. I stuck to RPGs and comics. Now, I find myself having more fun with minis and wargaming. I get to incorporate all of my interests into it. All I had to do was just do it. Your channel definitely motivated me. Thanks! Now, if I could just get the nerve to try Drukhari skin.

[@FyruHawk]

This idea of being "just ok" is really helping me now that I'm getting back into 40k minis after a burnout. For example, I'm not going to personally bother with edge highlighting because I'm really bad at it, and I know that trying really hard to do edge highlighting even just decently will be too much and probably make me burn out again. Shade paints are how I give my mini depth, I love those paints.

[@markchristy9704]

Speaking (or typing, maybe?) as one who considers himself to have near zero artistic skill/talent, I can say that mini painting does not require artistic talent - something I'm very grateful for. It's lots of fun to see that finished product and know I did it myself, especially when I figure out a new technique or style that bumps a piece up just that little bit further. As for those all-important first techniques, I'd say dry brushing and washes are pretty high on my list. While technically more of a tool, there is still a technique to using washes that, once grasped, really can make an otherwise average mini start to stand out.

[@davidkilby1043]

Very well done video. I mostly do 1/35th scale stuff, but I use a lot of techniques that I have learned watching mini painting videos

[@nachomahn]

I am a board gamer that struggles drawing stick figures and my toddler’s color by numbers were a bit of a stretch. I was saddened by $300 kickstarter games with tons of gray ruining the immersion for me. I heard about this speedpaint stuff so I got a rattle can of white primer, slathered a single color on the whole mini, and was much less bored. Then I pa-chow’d my way around KZbin and learned you can zenithal, dry brush, and even use more than one color of speedpaint! But still I would sit, unable to figure out what colors to paint something until I discovered magical things called box art and card art … the even the Google image search and the Instagrams… why reinvent the wheel when you can steal/recreate someone else’s ideas. 10,000 hours of KZbin does not an expert make, but it does make me want to learn and every mini is better than the last … and I am having fun doing it.

[@DiscoBarbarian]

+1 for being absolutely correct Uncle Atom. the formula is: Results = 30% Raw Talent + 20% Training + 50% Practical Application/Practice

[@thehumblepundit9790]

I love this video! I was one of those guys that shied away from painting miniatures because I was SURE I didn't have the skill to do it. And my first few miniatures were atrocious, LOL. But, I LOVED painting them, and with time and practice, the techniques started coming. Uncle Atom is 100% correct. I have not and will not aspire to be an Artist in this genre, but I enjoy it, and my miniature painting is consistently improving.

[@TenkaiHimura]

When I comes to technic, I recommend starting with drybrushing and learning how to use washes, after that, if possible, zenithal highlighting. on the way learning to thin your paints. these few take you a loooong way.

[@kristophermelin7160]

There's also a huge middle ground of hobbyists who spend years getting better than "table top" quality, but never become "award winning" artists. It's ok to be pretty good after years of practice. There are a lot of musicians who'll never get a record deal. But they sure like to sit around playing guitar, making music. Or guys who golf their whole life. They're never going to win a pro-am tournament, but they may play against a group of friends or coworkers. And along the way, they really enjoy the activity. Great video - thanks much!

[@cavemanbum]

Discovering washes and inks has totally changed my painting game over the years. Just like you said, Uncle Atom, it's all about discovering tricks and techniques that make your models look great without that much extra effort. Army Painter Strong Tone wash and Tamiya's panel line inks have become my secret weapons in the last several years. 😉

[@georgesutherlandhoward4417]

My mum was a professional illustrator, and she's always felt it's important for people to make art and engage in the process of all those decisions and choices and actions, regardless of whether or not they're artistically-inclined. That could be pottery, or painting, or carpentry - regardless of its form, it's important to engage those areas of the brain and make stuff! The emphasis on "paint your models to do it and enjoy it" over "paint your models as well as possible" is one of the things I love about this hobby, and why I always go out of my way to comment on something I like about my opponent's painted models.

[@ScytheNoire]

I think the most important beginning step is to just understand light and shadows. When doing art, we first learnt to just do things in grey scale, and just focused on shapes, and how those shapes interact with light and shadows. I don't think it should be any different for miniatures.

[@calenoch8813]

8:32 I think the most important technique is getting in the habit of putting paint on plastic and not worrying about hitting the homerun each time.

[@Rhone007]

I love this video & wish something as encouraging and positive like this existed where I started painting models pre-internet. Well said & expertly communicated. Love it, thank you!

[@chadkittleson5447]

I agree. I have always felt it is intention rather than skills that make art. When I paint minis I don't think I'm making art, I think I'm making game pieces. It's okay for people to see them as art, but i see myself as more of a "maker" than an artist. It helps me move on to the next project.

[@jonesfigures]

100% truth! Repetition and *trickery* is the key to getting fairly high level, quickly painted stuff out. As usual, excellent video, sir! 🤘🤠

[@tabletopminions]

“Repetition and trickery” - I like that. Thanks for watching!

[@saltfreegamer]

Totally agree that anyone can learn to paint well. I think that the distinction between art and craft (aka design) is that art is trying to say something, to communicate with the audience, to evoke an emotional reaction or thought. Great art can be created with low technical skill, and great technical skill can be used to create works with nothing to say. Is the ability to create art in this sense a skill? I don't know. But either way, the ability to paint well (or draw well, or play music well, etc) is a technical skill anyone can learn. So don't worry about "talent", just paint. There's a long road before your innate "talent" becomes the limiting factor.

[@MentoliptusBanko]

Again great advise Atom! I'll share it with a couple of friends with whom I had a conversation about this some days ago.

[@michaelonsrud3748]

I think the most important skill you can learn is patience, and it is a skill. Unless you're gifted it's going to take a lot of practice along with trial and error until you get to the point where you're happy with the results. If you feel like you're getting frustrated or impatient, take a break and walk away for a while to refocus.

[@minipaintingforyou]

In some instances artism helps 😂 I don’t consider myself artistic at all. I know exactly how little control I have over the brush. A lot of zenithal priming, transparent basecoating, drybrushing and washing later, I‘m proud of countless painted armies. Basically all of these techniques I learned from youtube. So thank you Adam, together with a host of other creators you enabled me to get a display case full of painted minis 😊

[@Moonlighter_TV]

Most important technique for a beginner? Just brush control. If you can control your brush and paint within the lines then you can get a clean base coat and for a table top game piece that's like 80? 90? Percent of the work to get a beginner piece that looks nice. The when you want to do more things, dry brushing, washing, highlighting or what have you, that ability to just get a clean base coat and being able to put the paint where you want on the model cleanly will help you in close to every single technique you ever want

[@GinjaBadger]

I only play Blood Bowl but I love your vids. Just got a 3D printer and I've been printing simple stuff for my 8yr old to paint with me. She loves contrast paint and drybrushing.

[@edwardliu111]

It's really encouraging to hear that it's just about skill and technique

[@myabi]

IMO the technique of Slap Chop is the most important. It lets me get minis that I think look great from a tabletop perspective on the table quickly. I think I tend towards a darker SlapChop (not as heavy handed with the white) and it means less vibrant colors over the top, but it works for the types of armies I want to play.

[@Vallinen92]

This is so true. I am worthless with actual painting, but miniature painting that relies more on 'quick tricks' and 'techniques' is something I can actually learn.

[@kristianjensen5877]

Painting miniatures can be like a coloring book - if we have fun with it and we manage to paint roughly within the lines, the result will typically be "good enough". Being artistically inclined does help coming up with good looking color schemes, but if we are having trouble doing that, luckily the Internet exists and we can find a lot of cool examples here. Prioritize learning how to be thorough and accurate then move on to learning how to transform those skills into artistic results with more advanced techniques.

[@mightyblowstudio]

Brings up a real interesting point about whether natural talent is real or not. Are some people really predisposed to have an ability for one thing or is it just their surroundings, who they grow up with and how they're taught at a young age that give us the impression they have this natural gift. Idk. Great vid as always ❤

[@rogthepirate4593]

As someone who arguably has a gift or talent for art in general, I'd say it's really just something like a headstart. I was simply very interested in it from an extremely early age and had a lot of time to figure out how to do it. And yeah, sure, people learn at different speeds and I seem to be a naturally quick learner, but there is nothing special about the skills themselves. Honestly the most important components to learning something, anything, are interest, willingness to learn and persistence. I picked up music - specifically playing bagpipes - in my mid-20s because I really wanted to and managed to do it fully autodidactically. As a kid, I did have music lessons but not for the instrument I wanted because that was too expensive for my single mom at the time, resulting in me losing interest and dropping it. But when I had this self-motivated drive to learn, it just went easily. I think it's basically the same with every skill, and natural talent is simply a predisposition to being a quick learner when something interests you.

[@almost_zab]

Best part of mini painting is that it can be as involved and artistic or a quick and efficient as YOU like. If you can walk in both worlds then you really are gifted because "finished not perfect" is skill that you can lose if you focus only on artistic level stuff.

[@kitten2799]

The most important thing to learn, in my opinion, is how to thin down paints and when to thin them more or less. This is something you only learn through practice but it is the skill which all other painting skills rely on.

[@Hudjunababa]

I'll use the old racing adage: "Talent can't beat seat time, but it sure can help."

[@phoef123]

If you want to get further with painting i would argue leaving the contrasts/speedpaints alone at the beginning. Just learn, 2 thin coats, little blending, lil glazing and shading and washing.

[@centerededgedesignusa7957]

Where is that shirt from? Is that a Ten Hundred? Knowing that its ok to 'mess up', and that you're going to learn, and just keep trying, is 100% accurate to my experience. In my last class I taught, I had a mom of one of the students try it, and within an hour she was impressed with what she could do!

[@alexbarrett3832]

100% this, and its not just minis. The myth that you have to have some sort of magical "natural talent" to do any sort of art puts so, so many people off trying creative pursuits, but the level if skill you start at isn't nearly as important as where you get once you've put in the work to learn. What art takes is practice and patience. If you keep at it, you ll soon outpace anyone whi is naturally artistic, byr doesn't want to put in the work!

[@LPP_YT]

Totally agree, you don't need to be a 'natural' but it does help to get you to get out of the gate. The rest is totally down to the time you're willing to sacrifice to improve, and the mind set to keep pushing. I honestly believe that pretty much anyone with the drive can win a GD (other awards are available 😉), it just may be a little easier for some than others. Deliberate practice, repetition and perseverance wins races, at least imo. 👍

[@howardcoates6985]

most important as starting technique was learning drybrush basics, gather info on youtube (painting videos) and practice to learn brush control. as for artist.. i am not.. i lack the creativity. I still have issues determining what needs highlights as well as making passable blends

[@socklips7655]

I struggle every time I sit down to paint, that I'm not "getting it" as fast as I feel I should be. It turns into frustration and absolutely saps any enjoyment. Trying to figure out also how not to go at table-readying a mini like its an entry into Golden Demon

[@wisebloodj1]

Every model painted is a work of art and it's creator an artist. Don't let anyone tell you different. Commercial viability and popular acclaim feel good but they don't confer the status of "art" on a project. Never let the lack of either stop you from engaging in the creative process. Bare your soul in that B1 Battle Droid or Eldar Farseer. Each new attempt will be better than the last.

[@rorycanning2087]

I think an inate talent is definitely needed for award winning pieces. But for tabletop not really. I'm a prime example of this. I was (very strongly )invited to leave art after a few months into the class. This was not a nice feeling, obviously, to carry through life and was one of the barriers for me to really get into Table top games. (that and there was no real scene where I lived) I eventually, years and years later tried around the middle of 8th edition 40k. I found tutorial videos that worked for me and am still going strong to this day, and what I produce for table top well........they're good enough for me

[@bruced648]

most beginners think "quality and quantity" after a while, they switch to "quantity over quality" eventually they become "quantity with quality" as you stated, the more time you spend, the better your results will become over time.

[@josiahchua628]

The most important techniques are the basics. Brush control, understanding your medium and how colors interact with each other on the model. All intermediate and advanced techniques are built on these foundational techniques. With the advent of the internet and youtube, you are just a 5 minute video away from understanding basic color theory or learning basic brush techniques. As the saying goes, you have to learn to walk before to you can run. A strong foundation in the fundamentals will see you through your entire painting career. Don't be afraid to imitate or "steal" techniques from other artists if it helps you expand your painting skillset. And at the same time, don't be afraid to do things differently from other artists as well.

[@Cyber.Dude.]

“It’s good enough for who it’s for.” - Me painting my minis. Good enough.

[@Willyoustandintheend]

You would be amazed by just getting you base coolers in use a wash then highlight the colors that you want to pop will change the look of your mini

[@MDLi0n]

Thanks for the encouragement

[@TheSteamBigot]

The very first thing I tell people when I present a clinic on painting models is that I am not an artist. I am a skillful painter who has learned the skill over a period of time.

[@JohnathanJWells]

Uncle Atom wearing an anime shirt was not something I ever expected tbh

[@docrad9201]

What company are the Ork minis from at 2:02?

[@MadassSoerensen]

Thank you for this video! I've been in a hole lately where i kept saying bad stuff about my paint jobs even going as far as trying to see if other people would like it on instagram only to get hit even worse with the feeling of not being good enough as noone likes what i post on instagram 😅

[@desertzombie]

When it comes to the grunts, I try to do the basics. When it's a commander, I go for a little more detail

[@Murihey]

I am an engineer by trade and about as "artistic" as a brick wall. The problem I usually run into is poor knowledge transfer and lack of definition in art education (as in - we draw 2 circles, and then we draw the rest of the owl). But with miniatures, I managed to piece together a bunch of logical causes and effects for what makes a good looking piece: light volumes, highlignts and shade simulation, color theory and contrast. Based on that - I don't need to be "artistic", I just need to practice concrete techniques in discrete steps to achieve those effects, be it blends or drybrush, or whatever else.

[@FernandoMSanz]

Enjoy what you do, and choose the RIGHT moment to do it. No matter how good you are at wet blending, if you feel "forced" to paint even if you are just tired after a long day at work, just because you feel that you should dedicate X amount of time per day/week/etc to it, your models won't look that good. For most of us here, this is a HOBBY. Not more, but also not less than that. Besides of that, practice is the key. And invest in decent tools and materials, else your skills will only grow that much.

[@FatYggdrasil]

4:41 what are those minis with he beak-helmets and muskets? They look very nice Edit: Most important beginner technique is a clean basecoat followed by a wash. Everything else will fall into place later and the first results will speak for themselves.

[@tabletopminions]

They’re 3D prints of Turnip28 models sculpted by Saint Decent. They were super-fun to paint. Thanks for watching!

[@viewtifuljoe4412]

I believe it is also a mindset because being able to look at something then to after some time create/bring to life a model how ever they decide to create it has to have some kind of forethought or understanding. I personally just cannot understand edge highlighting. I mean I understand the technique of using the side of the brush against raised edges whether rounded or straight but other than that to choose where to put the effect or what color to use is lost on me. Also it took me forever to try and figure out stuff like a brush to use solely for metallic paints where I already have medium size base brushes that I was not even using lol.

[@Bluecho4]

While certain people do have genetic or neurological advantages in certain fields (Michael Phelps, for ex, has a particular cocktail of genetic and physiological traits that converge to make him _really good_ at swimming). But I think people overstate "natural talent" as a factor. Aside from environmental factors that might make someone have a better baseline conducive to their art/craft, mostly it's the practice and being informed. When you look at an 8 year old creating illustrations you as an adult can't do, what you don't see is the dozens if not hundreds of hours that kid practiced. You know, while you were hanging out with friends or watching TV. Dedication and passion are important to the process. On the subject of mini painting, at its base layer, it's less illustration and more like a 3-dimensional coloring book. So long as you paint within the lines, you'll get something serviceable. Better looking than a bare model, anyway. But just as that coloring book can be jazzed up by a person with artistic intent, so too can you turn a model from a paint-by-numbers to something _really_ beautiful.

[@sideswipe2615]

I really need to internalize this. I’ve amassed a large group of gray unpainted minis because I’m afraid of them not being perfect. I’m working on getting some primer on them now, so that’s at least a step in the right direction.

[@xionlord00]

My biggest issue is my lazy eye. I almost don't have effective depth perception. So when I think I am touching with just the tip, I accidentally bop the mini. Would love to see any youtuber do an eyepatch video, if only to give me a confidence boost that I might get there

[@unbekannteslp7687]

I always hated art in school. I was terrible at it and it always was one of my worst subjects. That's why I was initally scared of miniature painting, but now I kinda like it. I'm definitely not very good at it, but it's fun and relaxing.

[@GCLEM92]

I certainly fall somewhere on the Artism spectrum, I am not fully Artistic, I can’t say I’m creative I’m just sticking to known units and regiments and using known paint schemes. I can’t create my own. I have improved my skills in the last 13 months of being in the hobby.

[@Scaran1982]

I think for me, it’s the “omg I spent so much money on these” and dont want to screw them up.

[@jamesmaas7244]

Great video, again uncle Atom. Once again, the more you do something, the better you will get at it.

[@RavenMorpheus]

In this video, Adam talks about bangers... You don't even need to be artistic to be considered an artist, example, Tracy Emin. Of course being artistic helps massively when you want to make a name for yourself in the miniature world, example James Wappel... Personally I don't consider myself to be artistic, I took art at secondary school, but I didn't learn anything. Meanwhile the James Wappels of the world somehow do well at art in schools/uni - money and time help greatly, eh. In recent years I've tried to move on from "getting stuff done" to semi-display painting, but it's often difficult to make that step up, for example I can edge highlight a marine all day long, but I suck at blending on robes! So I'm sure I lack the artistic skill others have acquired.

[@klobbson]

Overall I'd just say don't be afraid to make mistakes. Especially if you're attempting some NMM or even freehand. It's all just a process where you kinda go back and forth adding color and correcting until you've reached a result you're happy with. The mistakes in these cases aren't even really mistakes, they're just part of the process. It's going to look a bit shit almost all the way up until you're finished I find.

[@geoffok]

What would have helped me when I started was understanding that we're going for high contrast, not realism. I started trying to make the miniature look exactly like the real thing, which meant my first miniature took like a month to paint.

[@tabletopminions]

I generally go for realism, myself. Thanks for watching!

[@JachymorDota]

Like with any other skill, the basic level is achievable for most: Baking bread, making spaghetti or crafting a bird house. Knowing how to make a triple layer cake does take a lot of time and practice, but is not required if all you want are brownies.

[@destrocrimson]

being artistic can be learned. It just takes time. Someone that is artistic out of the gate starts with an advantage, sure.

[@RozanovaHunter]

The most important technique of all is... doing. Learn from others so you don't have to reinvent the wheel, sure, but the only way to improve is to practice. I want to mention that the innate talent argument can often feel right, but that gatekeeps a lot of people out of artistic pursuits because it's honestly just about motivation and practice. If you have the time and you're motivated, willing to learn, and willing to practice you can start from a paint by numbers book and eventually end up with a Crystal Brush award.

[@Pyrenthius]

one of my consistent comments on subjects like this: there seems to be a convention amongst the masses that in order to spend time doing something you need to be good at it, and ideally make money of it, otherwise it is a waste of time. there is no room to learn and grow, unless you're a kid, but even then, you're still told to focus on more mainstream things that will help you in the conventional world. God forbid as an adult you're doing something fun, again, especially if its not making you money..

[@tabletopminions]

People do tend to want to get better at things they enjoy (it’s not the only reason to do them, but an added benefit) but I agree, it shouldn’t be the end goal. The enjoyment of doing the thing is the fun of it. Thanks for watching!

[@Pyrenthius]

@@tabletopminions i think my point didnt come across properly. Im all for ppl doing what they enjoy. Im talking more about the concept of people only being "allowed" to do things theyre good at and not to do new things

[@cavemanbum]

I learned a long time ago not to judge my talent by other people's standards. Back in the early 2000s, I frequented the Cool-Mini-or-Not website. One of the absolute best minis I ever painted, a 40K Eldar Avatar, was painted even better than in the photo of the official original model put out by Games Workshop. Despite this, my Avatar has only garnered an average rating of '6' on CMON. 😠 So I learned to never let people's judgement sway me. I might not be the best painter, but I know I'm better than most; and that's enough.

[@rvdammit]

To my mind preparing/priming your minis gets the least attention. Maybe 4 lines in a video, clean the mini, remove mold lines, prime, add zenithal.

[@sidtheragali1447]

nice short video. And definitely helps to keep in mind!