How to Start Painting Miniatures: A Beginner’s Guide

Painting your first miniature can feel slightly intimidating, especially when you see the incredible models shared by experienced painters. The good news is that you do not need expensive equipment or advanced techniques to get started. A few suitable tools, some patience and a simple plan are enough to produce a miniature you will be proud to place on the table.

This guide takes you through the complete beginner process, from preparing and priming your model to adding colour, shading, highlights and a finished base. The same basic approach works for Warhammer miniatures, role-playing characters, board-game pieces and many other scale models.

If you are beginning a Warhammer collection, our Warhammer beginner’s guide will help you understand how painting fits into the wider hobby.

What Do You Need to Paint Miniatures?

You can build a large collection of specialised painting equipment over time, but your first model only needs a manageable set of essentials:

• A miniature.
• Suitable model primer.
• Acrylic miniature paints.
• One medium brush with a good point.
• One smaller brush for controlled details.
• A palette or wet palette.
• A water pot.
• Paper towel or a clean cloth.
• Clippers and a mould-line remover or suitable file.
• The correct glue for your miniature.
• A well-lit working area.

A painting handle is useful but optional. You can also temporarily attach the miniature to an old paint pot or similar comfortable object, provided it is held securely. Our guide to essential model-making tools explains which clippers, files and other preparation tools are useful when building your first hobby toolkit.

Choose a Miniature You Actually Want to Paint

Your first miniature does not need to be rare, elaborate or particularly large. Choose something with clearly defined areas and a design you genuinely like.

Models with armour panels, cloth, fur or other recognisable sections are often easier to understand while learning. Very intricate miniatures can still be painted by beginners, but they may take longer.

Do not worry about completing an entire army immediately. Painting one miniature or one small unit lets you test colours and practise techniques before repeating them across a larger collection.

Prepare the Miniature Before Painting

Many plastic miniatures arrive attached to a frame called a sprue. Use hobby clippers to remove each component carefully, leaving a small amount of plastic that can be cleaned away afterwards.

Check the parts for visible mould lines and attachment marks. A mould-line remover or fine hobby file is usually sufficient. If you use a hobby knife, always cut away from your hands and body, work slowly and store it safely when finished.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when assembling the miniature. Plastic glue is suitable for many polystyrene kits, while resin and metal miniatures normally require super glue.

Some resin models may also need to be washed before assembly. Follow the manufacturer’s preparation instructions, and avoid creating or breathing resin dust when cleaning components.

Should You Prime Miniatures?

Primer helps paint grip the model and provides a consistent surface for your colours. It is strongly recommended for most miniature-painting projects.

Black primer creates natural shadows and is forgiving if you miss a deep recess. White or light primer makes bright colours easier to apply. Grey provides a useful middle ground, while coloured primers can save time when most of the model will share one main colour.

Apply primer in a thin, even coat. Too much primer can cover fine details.

When using an aerosol primer, work outside or in a properly ventilated area and follow the instructions on the container. Avoid spraying during unsuitable weather conditions, and allow the primer to dry fully before painting.

Thin Your Paints and Use a Palette

Miniature paint is often easier to control when transferred to a palette and thinned slightly. This helps it flow from the brush and reduces the chance of obscuring detail.

There is no single perfect ratio because different paints have different consistencies. Start with a small amount of paint and add a little clean water or suitable medium. You are looking for a smooth consistency that leaves colour behind without creating thick ridges.

Several thin coats normally produce a cleaner result than one heavy coat. Let each coat dry before applying the next.

A wet palette can keep acrylic paint workable for longer, but an ordinary palette is perfectly suitable for your first models. Our Game Envy painting-tools guide explains wet palettes, holders and workspace accessories in more detail.

Apply the Main Base Colours

Begin by painting the larger areas of the miniature. These are your base colours and might include armour, clothing, skin, weapons or fur.

You do not need to paint every area perfectly on the first attempt. Work from the larger sections towards the smaller details and correct any accidental marks as you go.

Avoid loading the brush so heavily that paint reaches the metal part holding the bristles. This makes the brush harder to control and can shorten its life.

Rotate the miniature while you work rather than trying to reach every angle from one position. A painting handle makes this easier and helps prevent your fingers from rubbing painted areas.

Add Shading for Depth

Once the main colours are in place, shading helps define recesses and separate the different parts of the model.

Ready-made shade paints and washes are convenient for beginners because they are designed to flow into recessed areas. Apply them carefully and watch for large pools forming on flat surfaces. If too much collects in one place, remove the excess with a clean, slightly damp brush before it dries.

You can shade the whole appropriate area or place the shade only into selected recesses for greater control.

A wash made from ordinary paint and water may not behave like a purpose-made shade. If you want to mix your own, using a suitable acrylic medium will generally provide more predictable results.

Add Simple Highlights

Highlights make raised surfaces and edges appear brighter. You do not have to highlight every detail. Concentrating on the areas that naturally face upwards can make a noticeable difference.

There are two beginner-friendly approaches:

• Layering: Apply a lighter colour to raised areas while leaving some of the darker base colour and shading visible.
• Drybrushing: Remove most of the paint from a suitable brush, then lightly move it across textured surfaces so the remaining colour catches the raised details.

Drybrushing works particularly well on fur, stone, chainmail, textured bases and scenery. Layering offers more control on armour, clothing and smooth surfaces.

Paint the Smaller Details

Once the main colours, shadows and highlights are established, move on to details such as weapons, belts, jewellery, insignia and faces.

You do not need to paint every tiny feature. A clean miniature with a limited colour palette often looks better than one containing numerous unfinished details.

Eyes are optional, especially on gaming miniatures viewed from a normal distance. If you decide to paint them, use a brush with a good point and keep the shapes subtle.

Correcting a mistake is usually as simple as allowing it to dry and carefully painting the correct colour over it.

Finish the Base

A completed base helps the miniature feel finished and connects it to its setting. You could use texture paint, sand, small stones, modelling tufts or decorative components.

1. Apply texture paint or suitable basing material.
2. Allow it to dry completely.
3. Add a wash if more depth is needed.
4. Drybrush it with a lighter colour.
5. Paint the rim in one clean, consistent colour.

Try to make the base complement the miniature rather than compete with it. A dark model can stand out against a lighter base, while a brightly coloured miniature may benefit from something more restrained.

For a complete step-by-step project, our guide to creating scenic bases for miniatures covers ground textures, drybrushing, tufts, scenic details and water effects.

Do You Need to Varnish a Miniature?

Varnish is optional. It can provide useful protection for gaming pieces that will be handled regularly, but a miniature does not automatically require varnishing.

Matt varnish gives a subdued finish, gloss varnish creates shine and satin sits between the two. You can also use different finishes on selected areas, such as gloss on glass, wet surfaces or polished gems.

Always test unfamiliar varnish on a spare piece where possible. Apply light coats and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, particularly when using an aerosol.

A Simple First-Miniature Painting Plan

If all the techniques still feel like a lot to remember, use this straightforward sequence:

1. Prepare and assemble the miniature.
2. Apply a thin coat of primer.
3. Paint the largest areas with their base colours.
4. Add a suitable shade to create depth.
5. Restore any base colours that became too dark.
6. Add a few simple highlights.
7. Paint the most noticeable details.
8. Complete the base.
9. Apply varnish if your project needs it.

This process can produce an attractive gaming miniature without requiring advanced blending or dozens of different paints.

Which Miniature Paint Range Should You Choose?

Warhammer Colour, Vallejo, Two Thin Coats and The Army Painter all produce paints intended for miniatures. You do not have to remain with one manufacturer. Paints from different ranges can be used together, allowing you to choose colours and products that suit your project.

Starter sets are convenient when you need a collection of useful colours. Individual bottles are better when you already know the specific scheme you want to paint.

Consider the type of container, consistency, available colours and techniques you want to use. Dropper bottles make measured mixing convenient, while paint pots allow paint to be taken directly from the container. Neither format is automatically better for every painter.

How to Look After Your Brushes

Good brush care will make painting easier and help your brushes last longer.

Rinse the brush regularly while painting so acrylic paint does not dry in the bristles. Avoid leaving brushes standing with their tips pressed against the bottom of the water pot.

At the end of a session, clean them thoroughly with water and, where appropriate, brush soap. Gently reshape the point and allow the brush to dry horizontally or with the bristles facing down in a suitable holder.

Try not to let paint reach and dry inside the ferrule, which is the metal section holding the bristles. Dried paint in this area can cause the point to split. If you are choosing or maintaining your brushes, our Pro Arte brush guide explains which shapes suit common miniature-painting techniques. You can also browse our brush-care accessories for practical ways to clean, store and protect them.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Most early painting problems are easy to correct. Watch out for:

• Applying paint or primer too thickly.
• Painting over a layer before it is dry.
• Allowing shade paint to form large pools.
• Using an extremely small brush for every task.
• Loading too much paint onto the brush.
• Trying to complete every detail in one session.
• Comparing a first miniature with competition-level work.

Everyone develops brush control through practice. The aim of your first miniature is not perfection. It is to finish a model, understand the basic process and discover what you would like to try next. If something is not working as expected, our guide to five common miniature-painting mistakes will help you diagnose the problem.

Start Your Miniature-Painting Journey

Your first painted miniature is an important milestone. Once you have prepared, primed and painted one model, the process becomes far less mysterious.

Keep your initial colour scheme manageable, work through one stage at a time and allow yourself to make corrections. Every completed model will teach you something useful.

Explore the Bomran painting and modelling ranges for paints, brushes, primers, tools and basing supplies. If you are deciding which equipment to prioritise, see our guide to the seven most useful miniature-painting tools. You can also visit our Painting & Modelling Guides for more practical help with assembling, painting and finishing your collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paint should I use for miniatures?

Water-based acrylic paints made for miniatures are a convenient choice. They are available in colours and finishes designed for small models and can normally be cleaned from brushes with water while wet.

Do I have to prime a miniature before painting?

Primer is strongly recommended because it helps the paint adhere and creates a consistent surface. There may be exceptions for particular products or materials, so follow the miniature and paint manufacturers’ guidance.

How many brushes does a beginner need?

Two or three brushes are enough to begin. A medium brush with a good point can handle most work, while a smaller brush helps with controlled details. A separate older or purpose-made brush is useful for drybrushing.

Should miniature paint be thinned?

Many miniature paints benefit from slight thinning, but the amount varies. Add water or medium gradually and test the paint rather than relying on one fixed ratio.

What is a wash?

A wash is a fluid painting product designed to settle into recessed areas and create shadows. Ready-made shades are the easiest option for beginners.

What is drybrushing?

Drybrushing involves removing most of the paint from a brush before lightly moving it across a textured surface. The remaining paint catches the raised details.

Can I paint over an existing paint job?

Yes, provided the surface is clean, stable and not already covered by paint so thick that it hides detail. Thin corrective layers can often be applied directly over dry acrylic paint.

Is varnish compulsory?

No. Varnish is optional, although it can help protect miniatures that are handled frequently.

How long does it take to paint a miniature?

It depends on the size of the model, the level of detail and the finish you want. A simple first miniature might take a few hours spread across several sessions.

Does my first miniature need to look perfect?

Not at all. Finishing the model and learning from the process are much more valuable than trying to achieve a perfect result immediately.