FUNDAMENTALS! A Complete Guide to Painting Minis.
This is THE Mini Painting Tutorial video that I recommend for newer painters. If I could send one tutorial video to my younger self on the day I bought my first minis, it would be this video!
In this painting guide I use the Age of Sigmar Chaos barbarian models from the Warhammer Underworlds Nightvault crew Godsworn Hunt. I show some of my favorite ways to build, prime, and paint these models for a simple and fun look. This tutorial is designed to be accessible to anyone, and a useful resource for beginners and people interested in the fundamentals of painting warhammer minis.
I covered as many techniques as possible, from clipping and cleaning minis, to gluing and clamping them, sub-assemblies, how to use spraypaint primer, how to zenithal highlight, how to build a wet palette, how to mix paints, how to basecoat, how to wash, how to highlight, and how to paint eyes. Then I varnish the models.
If you think this video would be useful for someone you know, I encourage you to share it! Also, I’ll be making more videos geared for newer painters in the future- let me know what other useful straightforward techniques I should try to show and I’ll see if I can find appropriate minis! And as always, I apologize for any clickbait titles and thumbnails that I may use :-)
Happy painting everyone!
Probably the best "start painting minis" video on VIworld now!
I agree
900k+ views, Brent! Holy cow!
Definitely agree!
@Goobertown Hobbies hey Brent two questions. The little stain that runs down into the cracks and crevices what's a good brand for that? and also if I'm painting a translucent piece on a miniature like say a wizard casting a spell is it just ink? Or does watered down paint work as well?
Totally agree, I like the way you talk, slow and clear with useful information. I can basically relate to every mistake I made in the beginning in this video.
Thank you. I feel inspired to get started. Gonna start filling up a cart with supplies and get some cheap minis to practice on! Very inspiring
Came back here, to thank you. This video encouraged me to start painting giving me solid basics. So again, thanks a lot!
How do I stop my fingers to shake all the time? I won't be able to start :(
Skin tone included = white northern European skin color.
You know if you were around 15 years ago when I started I probably would of stuck around longer. Was in a small town and not many people to ask and no hobby shops
first time painting
Bit of a tip if you've made your own wet palette. In the video, he's used the Tupperware container the right way up - meaning the paint is quite deep in the container. However, if you flip it upside down, you can set up the wet palette on the lid, which is deep enough to hold the absorbent layer and parchment paper, and then use the main part of the container as a lid
Thank you so much for this video. It's not for me, but my wife. She is so talented at painting and is just now stepping into the realm of painting miniatures and scenery for TTRPG's. This is a great video to start with. Liked, Subbed, Subscribed and Shared! :D
Such a great beginners video! I wondered at some of the techniques I have seen in other videos but your explained them here and others just take it for granted that you know this stuff! I would like to see a few more close up video shots of things like the eye painting, if that is even possible? It is nice to see the effects of a wash as it is applied too. You voice and manner is quite enjoyable and I wish to say thanks! I dislike it when an artist feels the need to be so exuberant and well just so loud that it detracts from the work going on! I do enjoy watching your videos and I feel I am making inroads on your library! I wish I had more experience and deeper knowledge on the videos you have already made so I could recommend a topic for future videos, but in time, I hope to be able to do so. Thanks!
Straight after watching, I went out and bought everything I need to paint my first miniatures! Very educational and engaging for an amateur like me! Thank you :)
Love the commentary. You're funny!
Please make ASMR videos or videos for "Calm." Your voice is so soothing
2021 - The year I learn to paint. Subbed.
thanks! very helpful
This man is like the bob ross for mini painting, he makes it so relaxing and non intimidating to make anyone excited to get into the hobby. Myself Included!
i blame you for me getting into this hobby. your wholesomeness pulled on my heartstrings. lol
Thanks for these tips. Totally helpful for me.
Target audience, myself...
thank you, that was really helpful 🙂 (going to start miniature painting as soin as my colors arrive 😉)
So glad I found this video!
I'm trying really hard, but mine just look so ugly. I don't know why... But the colors don't look as good as they do for him. Maybe I'm diluting the paint wrongly... I don't know.... I'm very sad 😭
awesome
This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
Full watch, must say I've only been painting g a week now and I'm glad I watched this. 😀
Really great video, thanks for sharing!
Thank you
Great video. You have earned my “sub”.
Thank you Brent very cool
I ordered that same paint set and the army painter wash set to start the hobby. Seems like I made a good decision.
How would you color translucent material on the minis, to keep that clear effect buy have it colored? Thanks for this amazing video by the way
I need washes asap
So I’m starting paint a mini that I made through heroforge and I’m not sure what paint is good to use and what paint isn’t good. I grew up painting and building model cars and have plenty of that kind of paint and was curious if that paint could be used as well as Acrylic paints or if Acrylic is really the only recommended type to use.
I recently got back into painting after pulling out some ancient Battlefleet Gothic models I've been hoarding for a decade, and watched a number of videos to get re-acquainted and avoid re-learning old bad habits, but man, your video is about the best possible "first introduction" I've seen out of all of them - you're like a wargaming Bob Ross :) Really glad I found it! And sending it to a friend who is just gearing up to paint his first models as soon as the LGS gets his order!
i’ve always always always wanted to paint dinosaur and dragon figurines. never knew where to start. but i ended up in a gaming shop by mistake earlier and they had soooo many dragon models!!! i bought one and i’m so excited to learn how to paint it. ty for this video!!
Heard from some people that hardware store primer has a tendency to clump. To me it seems like that would only be an issue if you don’t use it lightly. Any legitimacy to that or just an individual preference?
I've also seen similar comments, as well as others saying it works fine. I think most of the issues are user error, since rustoleum comes out HEAVY, and requires light, short bursts.
First model that I painted was a Black Templar, it actually turned out alright, mainly because it's like 90% black but still looks good, in my opinion at least.
It Is a great hobby.
I was delighted about my brother texting me last night about wanting to get into painting so I could share this video with him and have an excuse to rewatch it myself.
Thanks for the great video. I start painting miniatures last week and your tips are extremely useful. 👍🍻
Noice. Painting some for my nerdy dad! (HUGE d&d fan lol)
What brand of varnish?
Very cool, thanks for sharing your process with us.
great vid, I've been kinda afraid to paint my board game minis cuz i don't want to ruin it - but after this i'm just gonna dive right in and enjoy myself.
Excellent video man! I've been painting miniatures for over 30 years, and I learned a few things from this that I hadn't known about before; I really like the 2 step priming with the white overpass dusting. Can't wait to try that! BTW, I've found that a lighted magnifier like the kind that is used in nail salons really helps out for tiny details like the eyes.
I watched this with a bowl of chicken soup on a snowy day. I might have a heart attack from wholesome-overload.
On the finish, why is gloss first?
Haven’t painted minis for about 20 years but I really enjoyed watching. How long was the process start to finish. Great vid 👍🏻
I've been painting for years and I still find this helpful
Watching this I said to myself "this should be the gold standard for hobby tutorials". Seriously, good job! I just started about a month ago and had great results with monster minis. They're wildly easier to paint than the typical humanoids for PC minis. I am facing a bit of frustration with these sizes/detail levels, but this video encouraged me to remain patient and not shoot for perfection when I have
when you paint your flesh on there try a smaller brush and a little less loaded brush will help save you some more of the chiseled details
iv only used dry pallet im 24 iv been painting since i was 10
I've just started getting into painting minis. I have some acrylic paints I've been using for canvas, and I've been experiencing with gunpla models and even with a primer they just do not go on well. Are model acrylics made especially for plastics and just work better?
Great guide, got a lot of tips from this, just one question. What type of clay do you use to hold minis like at 5:00?
Thank you for this video man! I've watched a number of "beginner" videos from other channels with my 3 daughters ages 6, 9, and 12. The others have been helpful but only a little. THIS video is amazing, no crazy intense and distracting music and cuts etc. Perfect tempo for actually learning to do something. The right amount of detail and amazing descriptions of each step and background and context. I am so happy to find this video. I am so glad you set a "this is a perfectly legitimate time to call a model done. . ." spot for shorter attention spans like my youngest. Then continued to more details on highlighting and more for my oldest and me.
What is the name of that type of lamp??
This video inspired me roughly a year ago I will paint this kit soon
I was thinking about start painting minis. Now I'm counting the hours til I can go buy materials to do it. Thanks a lot for this video!
Definitely do! It's a great outlet for time during pandemic, lol, and the result is very rewarding!
And now, deep painting thoughts, by Jack Handey
Great video! Cant wait to start with mine. By the way, whats your mbti?
Did I just find the bob ross of minis?! Awesome and very helpful video!
Im just starting my local warhammer store gave me a mini for free a couple years ago and today i decided it was time to paint it so i got an army paint starter box some brushes and another model but its a dnd one but there is a highlight paint already on my space marine and i wanna paint over but i dunno if it'll do something bad or what
Where could I find a lamp/light like that? Would love to purchase one.
Hey, man. I'm just starting out, and I've been watching a ton of videos (Squidmar, Duncan Rhodes, Dungeon Dudes, Vince Venturella, etc.), but your videos are by far my favorites. This video in particular is the one I keep coming back to, watching it again and again. So, thanks, man. You are awesome.
Does it matter if I get flat white paint + primer? I see in the video you're using just flat white primer but every store in my area is out of flat white primer, they only have flat white paint + primer
it depends on what you're painting! if you're painting light colours, you should use a white primer, but other than that it doesn't really matter. My army (Adeptus mechanicus) has a lot of metalic, I use a silver spray :)
Hey dude. Thanks so much. I watched this the first day that I got my paints and minis. I learned so much. Much love from Vancouver Island
You sound like a mix between a robot and burger king foot lettuce guy.
I've seen a lot of people using airbrushes. How important is that and how much does it affect the end result?
Thanks a lot. That motivated me to paint my Cthulhu: Death may die miniatures. Going for the biggest miniatures first, and then we'll see how it goes from there
This was incredibly useful when I started painting minis about 9 months ago, thank you.
What a good tutorial! Thank you!
All I can say is...... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I came here because I wanted to paint my D&D character mini. She is near and dear to my heart and I want to do a great job on her. Again thanks sooooo much.
I think I've been hyptonized by the voice... I will paint minis I will paint minis. Nice video.
Ahh yes the flesh tone nacho cheese
Hey Brent, sorry for the necro comment here, but I just wanted to let you know that this was the first video I watched after buying my first minis and paints almost 7 months ago. Since then I've painted 11 or so minis and I've been seeing steady progress on each one. It's one of the most gratifying and soul-comforting hobbies that I've got into. I just finished rewatching this video on a whim and I realize that so many of my techniques that I've developed over the past half a year are directly influenced by this video, and yet upon watching it a second time I'm still learning things! You are a wonderful teacher and I love how wholesome and optimistic you are. It's really inspiring to me as a new painter. All that to say, if you're reading this in 2021, thank you so much for making content and inspiring me. I'm super excited to go home tonight and paint another mini.
You're like the bob ross of mini paintings! Great job! I really enjoyed it!:)
I don't know if it's just because I'm from a traditional painting background, but it always surprises me how many model/mini painters seem so reluctant to mix paints. When you said the paint set didn't come with a purple, I had a flashback to a friend of mine saying he wanted to use purple as the main colour for one of DnD minis, but couldn't because he didn't have purple paint. I pointed out that he had blue and red and he just looked at me blankly. When I showed him that you can, indeed, mix colours together it totally blew his mind.
Is it better to huff the glue or the spray paint? Or should I do both?
I liked the vid I paint before putting them together. I personally find it easier before glueing
my dad got e into painting minatures since he wa into D&D. I was 14 at the time. I am now 29 and jus spent 4 hours on research and over 350 bucks. This video is the final step and damn its a good one cause i forgot about all this shit. thanks
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for this video. As someone who is trying to get into painting minis this was all I needed. And your voice is really relaxing to listen to!
Just starting out. Your video tutorial has helped me out immensely. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 🙂🙃👍
They looked so awesome! until you painted the googly eyes :(
I'm not a new painter, but there were two useful pieces of information in this video: zenithal priming and washing not being very effective for open areas.
Whoa... was that a Letterkenny reference? Jacked? Yoked? Lol
A great video. I loved the Bruce Lee/Vin Diesel comment. LOL
My name is also Brent, and I greatly appreciate this video. Well done Brent!
Good video.
"Simple paint job" *me: 🥲
I just want to let you know that this video in particular really helped me get back into painting minis and integrate this artform back into my life in a profound way. The calm, easy going attitude and basic breakdown really helped me get over the anxiety and just go for it!
What do you use to print the minis?
"melty"
Lol target audience is for beginners... I keep watching this video even after starting.
This is so epic, I just got temple of elemental evil and want to get into painting minis!
LIterally just arrived while I was watching this video.... now I need to buy some paints!
Thank you, new to this and it made it a lot more easier to take on as a new hobbie
I just got my very first mini in the mail today, im so nervous to start, but this gave me hope that I can do this. You did an awesome job of explaining and not making it difficult to understand. :)
Super nice and helpful vid ❤️
All very useful techniques, thank you very much
Adhesion promoter is much better for priming plastic than metal/wood primer. Krylon fusion has it mixed in, or you can get it straight up from most car parts stores like autozone ect. Prob not a big deal, just some information I've learned from painting cars (bumpers, trim ect), and making custom console controllers. The finish is much more durable, I haven't had one lift for 6 years now. Just some info for those interested. Anyways great video my friend, thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!