Basics of Miniature Painting (Start Here)

In this Hobby Cheating tutorial, we take it back to the absolute basics, covering things like what is acrylic paint, how to hold your brush, how to apply paint and taking you through the simple steps you will need to get your miniatures painted and on the table. Hope you enjoy!

0:00 Intro
0:55 Assembly & Priming
1:35 Mini Paint
5:20 Thinning Paint
6:38 Paper Towel Magic
8:30 Palettes
10:20 Brushes
12:15 Holding the Brush
12:50 Brush Positions
14:00 Brush Cleaning
15:50 Painting Basics
17:30 Washes
20:25 Highlights
22:05 How to Highlight
25:40 When NOT to Wash
27:00 Outro

Hobby Supplies

My Games (w/Uncle Adam)

Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl: (paint, primer, basing paste, etc.):
10% off your total order! Enter COUPON CODE: VinceV

Element Games - (ALL your hobby needs, UK based, ships WORLDWIDE):
Use Referral Code: VIN0010 for DOUBLE STORE CREDIT CRYSTALS on your first purchase!

Social Media
Twitter: @warhammerweekly
Instagram: VincentVenturella

[WilliamWorthey]

I have been painting miniatures since 1984 and I can tell anyone reading this 100% the best intro for new painters I have ever watched using it as a training tool for my new gamers!

[gregarious_one]

The place to start as a beginner IS Vince’s channel. And he does answer every question- a rarity in the YouTube world!

[fulldrawpainting]

Is it bad I've been painting over 15 years and I'm still watching all this 😆

[ChokedByHalo]

22:45 "experimentation will lead you to truth". I find this part of the hobby the most fun part of it. Theres so many variables it always gets me excited.
Also even if something shouldnt work (like coffee grind for bases) it sometimes works, if something should work (like purple and yellow paint scheme) it sometimes doesnt work.

[kl]

Wow, you are awesome. Thanks so much for this. I've watched countless 'beginner painting" videos and this is the only video that talks about the real basics. You are a seriously good teacher, well done!

[nerzenjaeger]

I'm an experienced painter, intermediate stage I'd say. This is the best starter video out there. It might not be flashy, but it covers many of the overlooked details when starting out, while trimming all the unnecessary fat and noise. It offers no shortcuts, but the non-negotiable skills to build upon. Good stuff.

[raxacor]

Vince you are THE mini painting Ambassador, everything you do is Gold. Information like this 30+ years ago would have saved me years of trial and error, fails and frustration. Great content 👍🏻

[LegionaireSiggi]

I've been painting off and on for the last 20 years and only recently started wicking the paint on a paper towel. For were I was at prior to this, it made a big improvement and can't recommend it enough for newer painters.

[SgtBotBot]

So glad you took the time to do this Vince, it's invaluable for people starting out into the hobby. I'm sure it's all stuff you've mentioned about 10 times elsewhere, so appreciate your patience in refreshing it and putting it all in one place.

[vonadi]

Thank you for this video! You thoroughly, clearly, and concisely explained everything I needed- and exactly what I had been doing wrong. Thank you for giving specific examples on what people *feel* like doing that should be avoided, as well as the proper method.

[uriance]

The comment at about 3:00 is the thing that the painting interwebz community needs to hear every day - the particular paint (as long as it is mini paint) doesn't really matter until you find your painting style (and both you and Ninjon have mentioned about certain paints being suited for different styles). Seems whenever someone asks a paint question on the book of face, the comments explode into a full-on 12 sided no-holds-barred grudge match and almost no one ever says "what you can get at your local store and works for you"

[ningaubleotse]

The brush handling / holding tip just made a light go off in by brain. An "a-ha" moment if you will. Thanks, Vince for sharing your wisdom and experience. Very very much appreciated!

[ringodeathstarr]

vince your video an audio has really come along man . im lovin it

[SvenEnterlein]

I don't think I'll ever get bored of these basic videos. I learn best by repetition and your videos are a constant flow of information. Thank you so much! What I think beginners should most appreciate is that you are not trying to sell them a specific product but work with what they can find. Many content creators push too many products and it becomes overwhelming very quickly.

[aberodriguez]

This was the best investment of my time in learning about the terms and techniques that apply to miniature painting. Thank you so much Mr. Venturella.

[leoanddiana]

Thank you so much for this video. I was always hesitating on starting this hobby, your video made me take really think i can do it without worrying, I know it'll take more than 1 miniature to paint to start understanding exactly how it is. The way you explained all the info i needed to know was very good and I think it is the best video i've seen so far on how to start painting miniatures for beginners

[hrvojegrgic-akovic]

Not a beginner, but truly a great video. You lay out the most important stuff in less then a half an hour which I had to search the net for hours when I was starting out. Definetly the video I will be recommending to anyone starting out.

[sloppyjoe]

While I'm not a noobie, it's always good to go back to basics! Vince out here doing the lords work, keep at it brotha, ive learned alot!

[cliffwood]

I started painting minis maybe 2-3 years ago, and Vince's guides have been immensely helpful in my hobby journey. I'm so happy to see new videos every Saturday, and I reference at least one video before starting basically every project. Here's hoping this video will help more people start in this wonderful hobby!

[musashidanmcgrath]

Amazing timing. :D I'm about to pick up a brush again after almost 30 years. I painted 100s of minis back in the Warhammmer Fantasy Battle 3 and original 40K days, but haven't touched a mini since. I'm a professional 3D artist/sculptor and now that I'm printing my own sculpts I've decided it's time to do something that me as a kid would never have dreamed of. The amount of tutorial resources around these days is fantastic, and to think in the 90s we just learned this stuff as 10 year old kids ourselves with nothing more than Mike McVey's 3 page painting booklet! Haha! Thanks mate, will be sure to binge your vids.