Miniature Painting Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding Miniature Painting Basics

Covers the history, scale types, and common applications of miniature painting. Establishes context so students understand the craft's scope before touching a brush.

Lesson 2 • Preparing Miniatures for Painting

Teaches mold line removal, assembly, and priming techniques. Proper preparation ensures paint adhesion and a clean final result.

Lesson 3 • Setting Up Your Workspace

Guides students through ergonomic and lighting considerations for a productive painting area. A well-organized workspace reduces fatigue and improves paint accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Mixing Paints Effectively

Teaches wet and dry mixing methods to achieve target hues and values. Accurate mixing reduces paint waste and produces consistent results.

Lesson 2 • Using Contrast and Harmony

Explores how contrast directs the viewer's eye and harmony creates visual unity. Students apply these concepts to make focal points stand out on a model.

Lesson 3 • Fundamentals of Color Theory

Introduces the color wheel, primary relationships, and temperature concepts. These principles underpin every paint scheme decision made throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Drybrushing for Texture

Explains the drybrushing method to quickly highlight raised surfaces and textures. Students apply it to bases and armor to add depth with minimal effort.

Lesson 2 • Applying a Clean Basecoat

Teaches thin-coat application to achieve smooth, opaque coverage without obscuring detail. A solid basecoat is the foundation for all subsequent techniques.

Lesson 3 • Brush Handling and Control

Covers grip, hand stabilization, and brush loading for consistent strokes. Proper technique prevents shaky lines and overloaded brushes from the start.

Lesson 4 • Edging and Line Work

Introduces controlled edge highlighting and fine line techniques for crisp detail. These skills define shapes and add visual clarity to a finished miniature.

Lesson 1 • Glazing for Smooth Transitions

Introduces highly diluted glazes to unify tones and create seamless color shifts. Glazing corrects harsh transitions left by layering and adds color richness.

Lesson 2 • Two-Brush Blending

Teaches the two-brush method to soften edges between applied paint zones. This technique offers more control than wet blending on small, detailed surfaces.

Lesson 3 • Wet Blending Basics

Covers blending two wet colors directly on the model surface for smooth gradients. Students practice on flat panels before applying the technique to miniatures.

Lesson 4 • Understanding Light and Shadow

Establishes how a single light source creates highlights and shadows on a 3D form. This mental model guides every shading and highlighting decision students make.

Lesson 1 • Skin Tone Basecoats and Shading

Covers selecting and applying base skin tones across a range of complexions. Proper shading in recesses gives the face immediate depth before highlights are added.

Lesson 2 • Painting Eyes Accurately

Breaks down eye painting into a step-by-step sequence for consistent results. Well-painted eyes are the primary focal point that elevates a miniature's quality.

Lesson 3 • Highlighting Facial Features

Teaches progressive highlights on brow, nose, cheeks, and chin to simulate light. Accurate highlight placement makes faces look three-dimensional and lifelike.

Lesson 1 • True Metallic Metal Techniques

Covers applying metallic paints with washes and highlights for realistic shine. TMM is the fastest route to convincing metal and suits tabletop-quality painting.

Lesson 2 • Rust, Patina, and Weathering Metals

Teaches chemical and paint-based weathering effects for aged or damaged metal. Weathering adds narrative and realism that elevates a miniature beyond clean paint.

Lesson 3 • Non-Metallic Metal Fundamentals

Introduces NMM using only matte paints to simulate reflective metal surfaces. Students learn the high-contrast value shifts that make NMM convincing.

Lesson 1 • Adding Foliage and Scenic Details

Introduces static grass, tufts, leaves, and scatter to bring bases to life. Scenic details reinforce the miniature's narrative and make the base feel inhabited.

Lesson 2 • Thematic Cohesion Between Model and Base

Teaches color and narrative linking between the miniature and its base. A unified theme makes the model and base read as a single, intentional composition.

Lesson 3 • Base Construction Materials

Surveys materials used to build textured bases, from sand to foam and cork. Understanding material properties helps students choose the right medium for each theme.

Lesson 4 • Building and Texturing a Base

Guides students through gluing, layering, and sealing base materials before painting. A well-built base holds up to handling and accepts paint without flaking.

Lesson 1 • Photography and Portfolio Building

Teaches macro photography setup and editing to showcase painted miniatures online. A strong portfolio attracts commissions, community recognition, and competition invitations.

Lesson 2 • Object Source Lighting

Teaches painting light emitted from an in-model source such as fire, gems, or screens. OSL creates dramatic atmosphere and is a hallmark of advanced display painting.

Lesson 3 • Freehand Painting and Designs

Covers painting banners, insignia, and decorative patterns directly on the model. Freehand adds uniqueness and demonstrates a high level of brush control mastery.

Lesson 4 • Smooth Blending with Oils

Introduces oil paints for ultra-smooth blending and glazing on display miniatures. Oils' long working time allows corrections impossible with fast-drying acrylics.