All beginnings are hard, many people have to realize this when starting a hobby. A tabletop fan had to find this out himself as he wanted to start painting miniatures for Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. Before he gives up the hobby due to disappointing results, veterans from the community rush to help.
What did the newcomer present to the community? A tabletop fan and newcomer to the hobby of miniature painting turned to the community on Reddit with a downcast self-realization: “I think I’m going to stop painting miniatures.”
Along with a picture as evidence, he explains that he is tired of spending money on miniatures that always look “ugly” in the end. All the tutorials he watched show good results that he simply cannot achieve himself by following them. He also adds that he has motor coordination problems with his hands and is bad at anything that requires patience.
Before the miniature community loses one of its own due to a rough start, experienced hobby painters rush to help him. They know exactly how hard it is to start a creative hobby and what really matters. The newcomer receives exactly the tips that he as a beginner – and also others interested who have starting difficulties – really need.
Some miniatures of the heroes can also be seen in the trailer for the fourth campaign of Critical Role:
“It’s neither a race nor a beauty contest”
What tips does the community offer? Other miniature painters from the community on Reddit urge the newcomer with various tips to improve his skills but also to stay optimistic. Based on his miniature, the following things stand out:
- The paints he used are too thick. The layers of paint take away all detail from the miniature, making it hard to see what is depicted under the dried liquid. Diluted paints and thus thinner layers would make a big difference.
- A brush is handled differently than a pen. One should not use the tip but the stroke of the brush. Strokes instead of dots.
- A grip for the miniature can help provide more stability and control. Otherwise, it also helps to support both hands against each other.
- Errors are part of it. Paint will always end up where it doesn’t belong. One just has to remember to touch up these places later (with thin layers!).
“It’s neither a race nor a beauty contest,” explains one of the helping miniature painters PalOfAFriendOfErebus on Reddit. He also points out that it is not always helpful to watch the professionals on social media. Painting minis is often their job, and they have invested a lot of time and money into the hobby.
He recommends as encouragement and strong help “Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy” on YouTube, where he presents his own first miniature that the veteran painted 25 years ago. And it looks almost as good as the desperate newbie’s:
How did the newcomer deal with the help? Based on further posts that the beginner published later, one can see that he did not give up and is steadily trying to implement the community’s feedback and keep asking for help. Especially the tip regarding diluted paint ensured that the details of his figures are visible again:
The other hobby painters continue to help and motivate him to support him beyond the entry.
“It’s getting better. Keep going, keep improving,” writes laztheinfamous. New-Trainer7117 also thinks: “Yeah, man, they look great together. Really great that you didn’t give up, that’s the most important thing.”
If you want to start the hobby yourself or want more testimonials from real pros, you can read our interview with the miniature painter Bubblegum Angels, who shared her own tips with us: An artist turns tough Warhammer soldiers into “silly little guys”, hitting a nerve with the community
