COMPLETE Beginners Guide To Miniature Painting

Here is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know to start the miniature painting hobby! This is the ultimate guide to miniature painting for beginners! Brushes, miniatures, paints, the wet palette you need, the best 3d printing companies, and more!
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Links (some of these may be affiliate links):
Miniatures

Tools:

Paints
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00:00 Intro
00:13 Miniatures
00:42 Assembling & Preparation
02:42 Brush Types
4:23 Brushes Types part 2
4:44 Synthetic Vs Sable
5:28 Other Tools
6:20 Priming & Zenithal Highlighting
9:06 Paint Types & Thinning
11:10 Tips Before We Start
11:51 Techniques
14:58 Sealant
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Videos:

[LylaMev]

What's your favorite mini producer?

[CosmicDuskWolf]

The one thing I notice people don't talk about when making these beginner videos, is cleaning the mini with a toothbrush and soap and water. It's mentioned here and there, but not often.

[spincarez]

New to your channel and a beginner at figure painting, I find this video one of the best for someone trying to understand the different techniques used. Thanks

[Peter-llot]

Doesn't matter how long I've painted, I keep forgetting some of these. Always good to have the reminders!

[nekrataali]

Been in the hobby for decades. Still learn stuff from watching this channel. I've never heard of scoring plastic styrene to help make better joints using cement. But it's such an obviously good assembly hack.

Some other random thoughts:

You want to buy primer specifically. Some beginners will try "priming" using regular black paint. Not only does this not help the paint stick or go on smooth like this video shows, using regular paint doesn't seal the surface of the model. The main purpose of priming is to prevent materials within the model itself from causing discoloration over time (especially with plastic and clay) and to prevent outside elements from getting into the material. The main reason old models (as in lead models from the 70s and 80s) experience things like lead rot is because outside moisture seeps through the paint and into the metal. Using primer after washing your models prevents things like this from happening. Regular paint won't protect your models, especially if you're constantly handling them as game pieces in an environment that doesn't have climate control. Museums keep their paintings in good shape by controlling temperature and humidity. Your local game shop doesn't.

Generally, mixing milliput and green stuff gives the benefits of both. You can get more detail sculpted, while also being able to sand the putty once it's cured. I've also been finding good success with procreate and Aves Apoxie. Procreate is good for doing really fine detail work. Aves is just good all-round. You'll need to experiment with different brands and types, mixing them together as necessary. I rarely use pure green stuff or pure milliput. I'd also recommend using Vaseline instead of water (unless you're trying to dissolve milliput so it gets into cracks/crevices or to make texture). Just remember to wipe your model off once the putty is cured so you don't accidentally have paint chip off after priming because the model has lubricate all over it.

[bartbechtel]

This video is going to help my wife and I, thank you. We have been trying to learn painting for a few weeks now, but man is it tricky

[CaritasGothKaraoke]

I recommend a reptile bulb for lighting. Not the heat lamp, but the full spectrum lightbulbs designed to reproduce sunlight’s natural spectral distribution. The ones specifically made to keep pet reptiles healthy are also the most accurate. They’re not cheap, but they have both fluorescent and LED bulbs so they’ll last you either a long time or until your cat pushes the lamp off the table.

[GreyHouseGames]

Your explanations of layering are ones I keep coming back to; they're so good!

[thattabletopguy]

I came to the hobby via Warhammer 40k, then started playing D&D so I discovered HeroForge. I then got a 3D printer because buying an STL on HeroForge was much cheaper than paying them to print it, so then I discovered Broken Anvil Miniatures which is my favorite mini studio for 3D printed minis. I also really enjoy One Page Rules for their alternate sculpts for Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar, or you could even play their games which are better than the Games Workshop games that inspired them.

[Lamefoureyes]

Lyla! You've build such a great resource for painters across the mini community, it's been so helpful to me to see clear examples of how to use a palette and layering. What I feel like I'm interested in seeing next is how you yourself solve certain problems etc. when you're painting a mini from start to finish. I feel like I get maybe 60% of the way there and because I don't have the foresight or experience, I get a little stuck and don't know how to go up to the "next level" of contrast to really finish the mini.

[DrMarcos]

Just getting started and this video is AMAZING. Thank you for getting right to the point and covering SO much. Its a saver for sure!

[kkryptyk]

Very comprehensive yet concise breakdown for beginning mini painting!

[chemgeektim]

Great guide! I always appreciate the reminders on glazing and layering up the colors. And of course, contrast, contrast, contrast!

[brentwood]

Comprehensive review... of EVERYTHING. Thank you. Love the tricks and tips you share! What's good and what's bad.

[MountainKing]

I think your explanation of layering and the color paper pyramid is probably the best and most succinct explanation I've seen. It really clicked for me.

[markkuhn]

A timely video. I just finished building my first Tau Fire Warrior. It was quite a struggle getting both arms to line up at the shoulder, but the armor plate should cover that up. I'm going to build a few more and then begin painting. Thank you for all the great videos. Here goes nothin'!

[MrScrawnjuan]

The grey gradient dry brush is a great idea. Also the photos to know where highlights should be. I'm gonna try these 👍

[magnusmillerwilson]

Even as someone who has been painting for a year, I still learned from this rapid-fire intro! Thanks, Lyla.

[skelenton]

Not a wargaming painter, mostly into military vehicles and the occasional Gundam, but have been watching various miniature painter channels for years now. This will definitely be a handy video if I ever decide to dabble in this side of the modeling hobby, thanks for making it!

[bravodelta]

Just came back to this video; thank you for explaining things so easily and concisely!