How to Paint Fantasy Miniatures
Bring realism to your fantasy miniatures, which will spring to life under your skillful hand.
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You Will Need
- Poster board
- Desk or workspace
- Desk lamp
- Fantasy miniature
- Small vise
- Magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe
- Craft knife
- Small files
- White and gray primer
- Acrylic paints
- Small paintbrushes
- Spray sealant
- Lighted headband magnifier (optional)
- Awl (optional)
- Tweezers (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Set up workspace
Place a piece of poster board on a desk or workspace to catch spills. Use a desk lamp in addition to any overhead lighting.
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A lighted headband magnifier is a helpful tool if you plan on doing several miniatures.
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Step 2
Examine and remove imperfections
Clamp your miniature in the small vise, and examine it with a magnifying glass. Remove any imperfections with the craft knife and a small file.
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Step 3
Prime
Cover the miniature with a thin layer of primer. Keep a light hand to avoid filling in finely detailed areas. Use white primer on light-colored models, and gray on darker ones.
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Step 4
Paint from inside out
Start painting the deepest, most recessed sections first and work your way outward, covering the highest, raised areas last.
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Use an awl or tweezers to move paint out of unwanted crevices.
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Step 5
Create shade
Create depth and shade by going over some areas with watered-down black paint on a dry brush. It will catch in the recesses and bring out details, like musculature, hair, and clothing folds.
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Step 6
Add highlights
Add highlights by adding some white paint to the color of the area. For example, if your miniature has a silver helmet, add a bit of white paint to silver paint and dab it on to create the illusion of a metallic shine.
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Step 7
Spray seal
Spray the finished miniature with a matte spray sealant in a well-ventilated area to keep it looking fresh for years to come.
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Did you know? The fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons was published in 1974.
