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Welcome to another episode of The Joy of Miniature Painting. I'm Caleb Thompson, and I'll be your host for the evening. I have pre-recorded this talk, which allows me to focus on the live painting performance. As it turns out, I am terrible at multitasking. I would have to pause whenever speaking, and I don't think I would cover everything I want to.
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So, I'll paint a miniature tonight, specifically Reinhold Gobber Speculator. He’s a happy little model used in the tabletop game Warmachine. My goal is to create happy paintings. If you want to see sad things, watch the news!
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Miniature painting utilizes numerous techniques. Many of these techniques, such as striping, glazing, or two-brush blending, are time-consuming. Others, like pigment shading or zenithal highlighting, require additional supplies beyond just brushes and paint. If you’ve painted on canvas or elsewhere, you may recognize some of these terms. They are not unique to miniature painting; they are techniques we’ve appropriated.
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My aim today is to complete something, so I'll keep my tools simple: a painter's utility bill, including dry brushing, washing, and base coating. I can't go over 45 minutes because we have a busy organizer with no sense of humor.
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Painting is a general term. I also dabble in converting miniatures—changing them from what their sculptor intended. This may involve changing the poses or swapping body parts, as well as basing them in interesting environments that help bring the models to life, like showing them running over rocks or crouching behind fallen pillars.
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However, there are less glamorous parts of the hobby, like dealing with Fimo clays or picking super glue out from under my fingernails after assembling parts. Nevertheless, most of my time is spent painting, which is the most exciting part for me. I find painting to be a fulfilling outlet that is more satisfying than just lying on the couch watching Netflix.
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It allows me to step away from the technical and interpersonal demands of my job, engaging the creative and imaginative side of my brain that often gets less exercise than the logical and analytical hemisphere. It’s amazing how much time I can spend getting the right color gradients for a flowing cloak or finding the perfect transition between shadows and highlights on a muscular arm. I may be terrible at freehanding wood grain, but I still give it a try.
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Having a hobby is incredibly important. People with hobbies tend to be healthier and are at a much lower risk for depression and dementia. I came into this hobby already feeling depressed, but painting helps me forget about that.
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As miniature painters quickly learn, there are some simple ways to give life and vibrancy to a flat, dull piece. The very first step in painting a model is to base coat it. This is when you apply the base color to various sections of the model—painting a leather belt brown, a stone gray, or cloth green, blue, or red.
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When applying paint, we usually thin it with some water. The thickness can vary based on the paint brand and specific color. A common description for thinned paint is that it should have the consistency of skim milk—just a bit thicker than water. While that can be useful, people often regurgitate such advice without truly knowing the specifics.
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For base coating, a good suggestion is to aim for about two parts paint to one part water. Thinning the paint allows it to fill in the small details on the model while preventing clogs. This creates a much smoother coat. For example, when we paint the walls of our houses, we need to fill in tiny holes, which is best accomplished with undiluted paint. In miniature painting, details matter, and not thinning the paint enough during the base coat step can lead to regrettable consequences.
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This is why you often see miniature painters working with some paint already applied. I’ve prepared the painting ahead of time because watching paint dry can be a bit boring. It’s sort of like a 3D coloring book—it can be fun!
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A base-coated model can be used in a game, but there are tricks you can apply for better results with minimal work. The first technique is shading, which involves darkening areas where light doesn’t naturally reach, thus giving definition and vibrancy to model colors.
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The simplest way to shade is to use a pre-mixed wash. This technique is excellent for highlighting the texture on the surface. For instance, a well-textured area will better show off the effects of a black wash over gray metallic paint. Similarly, a brown shade can be used to add depth to the model.
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Now, let's take a look at the model. We've got a nice wall with plenty of texture. Apologies for the audio quality—it's all my fault. As I apply the wash, it sinks into these cracks, creating contrast between the base coat and shaded areas.
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By using a wash, I emphasize the differences in depth and shadow that will bring the model to life. Painting is a great way to express oneself, but there's a serious side to this hobby. The National Institute of Mental Health states that one in four adults experiences mental illness, yet many do not seek treatment.
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Mental health issues impact both our personal and work lives. In this room, it's likely that at least one of us is dealing with some form of mental health struggle. There’s often a stigma surrounding these issues, leading to fear that sharing our struggles will result in judgment.
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I encourage you to seek help if you think you may be struggling with a mental illness. Talking things over with friends and colleagues can often help, and sometimes we need professional support too. It's crucial that we create an environment where it's safe to talk about these issues.
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Let’s take a moment to recognize individuals working to improve mental health awareness in the tech industry. Organizations like Mental Health Pronto and events dedicated to this cause are helping initiate crucial conversations that can help people in the tech field.
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Once the wash is dry, we can move on to dry brushing, one of the simplest ways to highlight areas. In dry brushing, we apply undiluted or slightly diluted paint in a gentle layer over the textured surface.
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In this technique, we take a lighter colored paint onto the brush, wiping off most of it on a rag or paper towel. The goal here is to leave a subtle layer of paint on the highest points of the texture we’re working with, creating a smooth transition between light and dark areas.
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The order of shading and dry brushing can depend on the desired final effect. Sometimes I prefer to apply a layer of wash first to bring out the shading details, and then I dry brush to add back some brightness to the higher points of detail.
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When I began this hobby, I started with a coworker as an excuse to spend more time creating. We watched countless YouTube tutorials and eventually jumped in ourselves. The key to starting anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe strongly enough, you can achieve.
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Hobbies can indeed prevent burnout. They can provide a refreshing break from the stresses of coding and provide a different outlet for creativity. For many people, diversifying what they're doing and engaging in something completely different can offer just the recharge they need.
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Some hobbies can even lead you to making money. Platforms like Etsy offer opportunities for designers and creators to sell their work. If you don’t already have a hobby, I encourage you to explore starting one—writing poetry, joining an improv club, or learning to knit or work with your hands.
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Surrounding ourselves with creative pursuits helps keep our minds balanced and can lead to lasting happiness and connection. In a world dominated by technology, stepping away from the glowing screens will give you time and space for self-expression and accomplishment.
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As I wrap up, I want to express my gratitude to Thoughtbot for allowing me to share in this space and for supporting the mental health initiatives within the tech industry. They foster a space that encourages balance between work and personal well-being. If you're interested in working with us, please feel free to talk to me.
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Before I conclude, I must extend a heartfelt thank you to Bob Ross. Growing up, his shows introduced me to the joy of painting, even if my parents sometimes complained about the pacing. Rewatching his old episodes for preparation for this talk brought back wonderful memories of his positivity. If you’ve seen The Joy of Painting, you might have noticed some of his famous quotes woven through my talk.
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From all of us here, I wish you happy painting, and I look forward to seeing you next time.
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Feel free to approach me after for any further questions. I'm happy to show you my painting techniques and models.
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One question often arises—do I play games, or is it mainly for painting? While I primarily enjoy painting, most of my models are from the same game called Warmachine.
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When experimenting with colors, I generally have sample models. For example, I created this first model to test out color selections quickly. It helped visualize how the final piece might turn out.
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I use a variety of paints. As I go through the painting process, I like to take notes on color schemes and combinations to refine my approach to future models.
