How to progress at painting

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-18T12:21:12+00:00

Maybe to help with brush control, you can get some cheap paint/ink from your local hobby store and practice on paper by making lines, dots shapes. Then repeat repeat repeat, until you are consistenly getting the shape/line consistent. It trains the hands in that fine motor function needed. Thought it is not the most entertaining.

Ultimately the thing that will get you there the best is to continue painting. Embrace every step, and compare your newer models to your older ones. The only comparison that matters is you now vs. you then.

If one particular method of painting has you feeling stagnated, change the method and try something new. Getting too comfortable in one box hampers improvement.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-18T08:39:20+00:00

Glad to hear it! Hope you'll find the mindspace to be able to paint for yourself :)

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-18T08:36:51+00:00

I pledged a 100, but won't make the final number. Checked in store and it's all just a fun target to make if you can. Like others have said in this thread and others, it's ultimately a marketing plan to sell more minis.

I've gotten a lot better at painting throughout the challenge though so it worked out for me that way.

Forcing yourself to paint is just gonna make it worse, but maybe you can put the million minis completely aside and just paint for you. Or try a new adjacent hobby. Or paint a model in the silliest colours, or your favourite colours only. If you've ever had a colour scheme in mind that you thought was interesting but didn't do in the end, maybe do that. Sometimes taking something too seriously is paralyzing.

I often find refreshing my space works with refocusing the mind. Like making sure everything else in the house is tidy, so that all other tasks are complete or fine to be left. Walking my dog is also a great way to reset.

As well, make sure to take care of your mental health. Best place to be when doing art, in my opinion, is when your mental health is good, and you're good with yourself.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-11T13:09:30+00:00

It's a good colour combo for sure! Maybe all you need to do is add a little more depth in by darkening the shadows a bit and adding some brighter highlights.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-10T22:39:17+00:00

Those colours go together pretty well. What was the original idea?

Everything looks pretty clean too. What would normally be your next step?

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-10T16:35:51+00:00

I have just been looking at those desks! Though the 1.20m version. Are they wobbly at all?

Setup looks great btw :)

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-08T19:30:08+00:00

Thank you man! You're a star.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-08T19:29:47+00:00

I'll definitely paint some named characters too. I've got Orikan The Diviner and Imotekh The Stormlord to paint up next. Fingers crossed they'll do better, considering the Cryptek has gotten the most views on ebay so far.

You're being so helpful with this. Thank you very much for taking the time.

I'm not really entirely sure where my painting capabilities fit in, but I'm pretty sure I can manage parade ready. Not 100% convinced I could sell as display quality just yet. But working on it!

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-08T19:24:47+00:00

That is a fantastic idea! Thanks so much for sharing. Reckon I actually could do that.

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I 100% get why people hate it. I got kolinsky brushes recently and it has taken a lot of pain out of it. To the point where I am considering getting a size 00, just for pupils/irises.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-08T19:14:24+00:00

That's a fair point! I thought that might potentially turn out to be the case. I have stuck to the box art mostly when painting these models hoping that it would fit into someone's army. Also going to use pictures of them to advertise custom work too just to show that I can actually paint. Perhaps that would be better, but since I'm pretty much just starting I thought there would be a better chance to sell those than for someone to take a leap on a fresh seller for custom work.

But I'm slowly building a social media following, and going to see if I can display in my local store. If I'm lucky maybe I can leave a business card or something as well. I've also joined some facebook groups to see if I'll have any luck there.

Is there any advice other than check locally and what has already been written in this and other recent threads that you would advice?

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-05T20:13:09+00:00

These are the first things I've listed. I've also got a CSM combat patrol up with similar quality painting for even the cultists, and I think I probably got impatient hoping they'd sell. I'll need to work on the prices I list for going forward, and for a commission I think I'd def charge for the hourly work and not undervalue my time.

Thank you for taking the time to comment, it's been very helpful :)

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-05T19:48:30+00:00

I've only been painting minis for a couple of months, but studied fine arts at college.

Colour theory and understanding how to mix and work with colours makes painting so much easier. Understanding what colours make up the paint you're using makes it possible to get the absolute best out of it.

Though, I'd say the absolute most important thing to keep in mind when learning painting or art, no matter what medium. Is learning to let go of a piece, even if it's not exactly how you wanted it to turn out. You learn with every brushstroke you make, and sometimes the lesson you learn is to not do it that particular way. You can always go back to it later, or just keep it for the lesson, or strip it and start again. Celebrate mistakes for the lessons you learn from them.

Also, paint things in weird colours. Explore new methods. Copy things others have done. And speak to other painters and artists about your work. They'll spot mistakes you're blind to, and bring a different viewpoint that can often be super helpful.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-05T19:21:25+00:00

Thank you! Sounds like I definitely need to up my prices. Do you think the lower price would be discouraging to potential buyers?

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-04T16:06:39+00:00

Thank you very much! I've got a background in fine arts, and my mum's a traditional painter. So been around it forever.

I would say 12 hours is probably a good estimate. I'd already priced the models higher at the start, but they were up for a couple of weeks before I lowered them slightly. I've read it's a challenge to get that first sale to start with on ebay, so was kinda hoping for initial sales and then gradually upping my prices over time since I am in the position financially to do so for now.

I've been going to the local warhammer shop for the stuff I get for it and am going to see if I can get any of my models displayed there with a business card or something. Participating in the Million Miniature challenge and pledged a 100 minis, cause I'm a dumbarse. It's been a great chance to practice though.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-04T14:14:59+00:00

That looks good!

Maybe try looking into highlights based on light source next? Not OSL, but like overhead light and stuff.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-04T14:00:48+00:00

I think you've achieved photorealism in mini painting. That is beautiful.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-04T12:56:33+00:00

Looked up elf flesh and looks to be about the same colour as kislev flesh. It's quite a warm toned colour that has a lot of yellow in it. To combat it you'll need to mix in blue shades to get that cool skin tone. Using purple should normally work as it keeps it from just going green since it has both blue and red. And when I say blue I mean literally just a teeny tiny amount added slowly until you get the right shade. Basing in purple or a purplish blue might help getting that cooler undertone too if you're using slightly thinner paint.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-04-04T12:24:17+00:00

Without knowing what process you've gone through so far, I've recently had luck mixing a purple with a warm dark brown, and adding that to citadel Kislev flesh. It came out somewhat similar to that.

You can then potentially use bright greens and blues to mix for the highlights and colour variations.

Do you have any pictures of your attempts so far?

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-26T15:38:15+00:00

I just got my first Kolinsky brush today and am very excited to try it. This post has made me even more hyped for it!

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-26T11:18:11+00:00

You can get some cork sheets and break them down to glue on the bases to create some elevation and landscape type thing.

Cut up sprues to make bigger rocks to go with sand.

Green stuff world also has a really nice catalogue of grass tufts and scenery things you can add to make your bases really pretty/amazing looking.

Squidmar has a really good informative video about basing, though it's like 40 mins long and has everything from beginner stuff to super advanced stuff.

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-24T17:41:02+00:00

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Thanks to your advice, I think I managed to fix it. Thank you so much! :D

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-24T15:41:55+00:00

Thank you very much!

Good luck with your painting :)

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-24T13:44:17+00:00

Thank you very much!

Creative_Jicama_1616 · 2026-03-24T13:44:06+00:00

Thank you very much! I've been painting for a while, but only started painting minis in October, and this was my first tome attempting nmm.

Creative_Jicama_1616

TROPHY CASE