Top 5 Thing I Wish I Knew Starting Out (in Miniature Painting) - HC 449
In this Hobby Cheating Tutorial, I take you through the top 5 items I wish I had some clue about when I started out miniature painting oh so many years ago.
#warhammer #miniaturepainting
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0:00 Intro
2:00 What Brushes When
4:40 Prep Matters
5:57 Undershading
7:54 Light Matters
10:36 Skip Perfection
14:22 Outro
"You are walking in the steps of great artists by failing" ... thank you for these kind and wise words. Society often gives you the line "what do you have to show for it", but as I often say "questioning the worth of everything all the time is the easiest path to a life of regret". And I think Nietzsche also said "A cynic is a person who knows the price of everything, but knows the worth of nothing". And your tip I find speaks to the heart of it. Learning from failure is a valid way to improve. And if you think "oh man, I regret how I performed and now screwed up" that actually means you follow the path of great artists. But also not artists, basically everyone who ever did something significant. Don't let regret burn you.
Nobody learns anything through success, they merely confirm what their previous failures had taught them.
"A bad painted miniature is better than an unpainted miniature". Thank you Boss.
Aww Vince not even bad lightning would change our perception of you. We have nothing but respect and admiration.
“The next miniature might not be perfect, but it is the next miniature-and that makes it great.”
Hello Mr. Venturella, I'm getting back into miniature painting, an activity I've never been very good at and have abandoned several times. I want to tell you that this video comes at the perfect time for me. Not only this video, but also your entire KZhead channel. I've since gone through and watched several of your videos, even the older ones, and they have given me the confidence to pursue this hobby and the desire to persevere. Your videos are very well made and clear, even for someone who is not a native English speaker. The topics you cover and the format are very relevant. Over the years, I've spent a lot of time watching tutorials and examples, but I've never really found inspiration until now. Unfortunately, I can't support you financially at the moment, but rest assured that I will when I can. Thank you again and see you soon. Best regards, Arthur
The respect I have for you Vince is immeasurable. I have found the standard of painting I enjoy achieving and you helped me on this way. Not really looking to expand my skills anymore but still I'm watching every video - hope they find people who need them
Fun thing, the "It felt like a chore" to "something I enjoy/love" by way of knowledge/understanding pipeline is universal - yes, even for math!..
You'll never convince me that math can be fun, dang it!
Thanks for your words and videos. Not only do I learn, I feel more human and I also feel this is ok to try and learn.
Well said!
I just made a poster of your "1998" knight to hang on the wall next to my desk. Just as inspiration, that was your 1998 paint job, and look at the fantastic work you make now!! Hopefully, with some practice, and a lot of fun, my work will keep improving too.
I know you’ve mentioned this in other videos, but the perfection section always hits hard. I’ve been in the hobby for little of over a year and that really slows me down. Also trying advanced techniques when you’re starting, added to the perfectionist side of many people, can be a challenge. Great vid, Vince!
I've been painting with this philosophy since 1978, I went from D&D, WFRPS, Warhammer Battles, 40K, AOS, and Several other gaming systems, I started doing Grisaille in 1980, and my friends all thought I was mad for using 3 layers of under coat, before even deciding on a paint colour scheme. My figures have never been masterfully painted, but they came out with better contrast and hue values, than anything my friends did at the time. I'm happy to say, after seeing the final figures for them-selves, they started to paint Grisaille. I'm glad, that they learnt from my 'glaring stupidity' back then. Now of course, Grisaille or Slap Chop. amongst other names, is common place. But, the reason I originally painted like this was for ~ ----- A black under coat, to keep anything I missed when painting, in Shadows. ----- A second under coat, dry brushed in grey, was because, I had trouble telling the different items on a figurine, apart from each other. ---- A White drybrushing, I added to make it possible to use colours such a red, and yellow: as in those days, their opacity meant their coverage was sh*t. I've since learnt layering, blending, and the use of oil washes. I don't compare my painting to that of true artists. But I am happy that mine constantly improves. You never stop learning. Thanks for your help in my journey Vince.
Any mini you finish is perfect
I appreciate you and other high effort KZheadrs like Ninjon. I'm pretty new to miniature painting, and I chose a white scheme army to focus on and you can imagine what the result of that is. Every mistake made is a mistake that is extremely difficult to cover back up again. Your videos give me a ton of new things to try and an invaluable resource, and no matter how appreciated you are I think you deserve more. I relate right now with what you said about fighting with it, not loving it when starting out, etc. I think it's because my models aren't different enough from each other, so I am burnt out a bit from fighting with white. I'm glad to hear that even an accomplished miniature painter with a lot of insight has gone through this. At its core, we all know that our failures and frustrations are shared with people who did it before us but rarely does it feel genuine when someone tells you that they struggled with it too, and that it will get better if you just keep going. Thank you for this video, and all of your other videos I have to continue viewing and reviewing.
I'm about 4 years into the hobby, it made me feel so good to hear that you used to hate painting. I have found kitbashing to be my love, but I never get them painted and always move on to my next grey piece. This video was exactly what I needed to hear to motivate me to finish them and not demand perfection of myself. Thanks for all you do Vince!
Hey man. I'm on the same boat too when it comes to model miniatures. Taking different kits and bashing them together is fun, but that tends to leave me with a lot of unpainted plastic. I've stopped myself from doing more kitbashes to avoid more unfinished models, because I want to paint up the ones that I have queued up for completion. And even those are just in their... sketch stage, with only a rough estimation of lighting from above. Get your models painted soon. And I'll get my models painted too. All the best to you, stranger. 👍
This is the painting primer nobody else was doing. Thank you for adding something really meaningful to the space.
Vince makes me want to be a better person and stop procrastinating. Maybe ill get started on that next week.
Props to you for showing your '98 minis. I'm probably around your age, and started GW games around 95 and lord my paint jobs were train wrecks. They're still train wrecks, but good enough that I can laugh at my old ones.
It's the good old 'keep the first model you ever painted' advice. It shows how far you've come.
@@harbl99 i marked mine with a little 1 on the baserim
You got great videos with helpful tips. I've been painting for 17 years now and in the last 2 years is when I finally hit a level to be satisfied and happy with my skills. It's a long road for some but you just gotta keep brushing. Keep up the good work
Vince, I started miniature painting around 1990 and I still find and learn new ways to improve. Recently I discovered your channel and fifty videos later I have already changed my perception of highlights (abandoning 30 years of devotion to white!) and glazes/filters/blending thanks to you. Every miniature we paint, even if we've painted thousands and thousands like myself, is just more experience to use for improvement. Thanks for all you do and thanks for this video as it is as self-reflective to myself as it was for you.
The brush advice is something I definitely could have used years earlier. In my early years of painting (I started 40K during 2nd Edition), I believed I needed the smaller brushes for everything. Even basecoating a marine was probably done with a size 0 or 1 brush, because it was a small model right? It took me years to learn that size 2 or 3 should be the workhorse brush.
"I can't build the perfect rocket, because I'm not a rocket scientist." *A little smirk emerges on Vince's face.* You crack me up, Vince. Loved this video, great fundamentals, have a great weekend!
If Vince put his mind to it, he'd land on Mars by the time we get AoS 6th edition
Thanks for the pep talk. Good to be reminded of the basics from time to time
Like you Vince, I started painting in the late 90s. Back when there was no KZhead, Instagram, and the whole internet was a novelty really. Learning to paint by seeing what other painters are doing has never been so accessible. That being said, If I may add one more tip to your list: It's OK to use highly refined painted figures as reference but don't compare your results to others. "Comparison is the thief of joy."
When the end result matches what I envisioned in my minds eye, I have achieved my level of perfection. It's happened. It's a journey always aiming to improve and go higher!
“My big, synthetic purposes” is such a great turn of phrase. I’m adding this to my everyday vocabulary.
#5 really stands out to me. Especially as I get more skilled and more experienced I simply more easily see how much farther I have to go to reach "perfection". If I wasn't able to recognize that I don't think I'd be able to grow, both by seeing just where I can and should improve, and I also wouldn't recognize when any particular mini is done-enough. Thanks for the awesome vid!
Thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative video. I have been painting historical miniatures since my teens and I reached seventy this year. I’m still learning and I always take something away from watching your videos. Thanks again👍 Keith from UK
This was a great video, thank you Vince. Great to hear #5 especially.
Glad it was helpful!
"Let there be Light", "It was good light", "You are the Light of the World", "Lighten up Francis"...🙃 It's absolutely all about Light in mini's as you said. You could have "Vincy V's Light Channel" and never run out of exploring the usage of light, how to get there and best practices with equipment and so on... Good video.
Thank you so much Vince, I cannot tell you how helpful number 5 was in particular. Thank you for your encouragement and everything you do, your videos are absolutely unreal! You have been such a lifeline in learning this hobby, and these words of encouragement mean so much. Thanks as always, and I hope you have a fantastic day!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, thanks Vince! Personally I started enjoying this part of the hobby when I stopped painting armies out of obligation. Now I only paint what I want, when I want. It really feels like a hobby rather than a second, unpaid job.
It is very encouraging to hear great painters stress that it is okay to fail, make mistakes, because they did too. That's how we learn. This seems to be hobby that is easy to feel bad about or quit because we watch videos of so many awesome miniature painting artists painting models with what appears to be ease. Vince's wise words will keep me working to be a better painter and help me realize that if I don't beat myself up about every mistake I think I've made, I will keep getting better and better. Thanks for the video.
Mornin' Vince, gang. Hope everyone is well and the paints are flowing!
Great video and thanks! For me getting into the hobby not too long ago it was a few of these with a bit more. One, when first starting out, don't be afraid you'll mess it up just start painting & don't expect it to look awesome. Two, if you do screw it up, while stripping a mini isn't fun, it's also not hard to do & you can try again later with any new stuff you learned. Three, while many of the competition painting pieces look fine, especially when starting out you don't need to edge highlight or add OSL fake glows to a mini because sure it will look nicer but you can easily feel trapped in painting just that mini to try to finish it. Four, between tiny details on a mini or plastic terrain, just because it's there doesn't mean you have to paint it differently than the surrounding area as that will just eat away at time painting that same thing. Lastly when a mini starts to feel unfun to paint, you can easily finish the part you're on, take notes of the paint/step you're on & move on to a mini that you will have fun painting it & return to that other mini later.
Vince, you always know the right things to say to drag me out a painting rut. Thank you for everything you do.
You bet!
Once again you are so inspiring. Thank you. It comes as I struggle to paint a mini. And it helps a lot.
Cheers for the vid, nice to see papa nurgle is strong with you
A lovely summary, Vince. Even though I do know those things, it warrants reminding for me, and others, who tend to get stuck in the details (and our heads). Thanks!
Well said!
the WHITE in the picture of your wall!!! i have spotted it, right in the lightbulb!
Total legend!
I love the #5 reminder, Vince. “The perfect is the enemy of the good” - Voltaire As a recovering perfectionist, I have to remember this constantly. The other thing I remember you saying in one of your videos is, ‘It’s just paint…..” That’s incredibly simple but a great reminder to keep moving. If you make a mistake, it’s just paint.
Very motivating and grounding tips. Getting stuck on a mini that is not comming out 'perfect' is a real barrier to enjoying the hobby and learning more, so hearing this advice really helps.
Glad it was helpful!
I started just last Christmas and am always trying to strive forward with videos like these to keep me going ❤
You got this!
Great video: I love these think pieces as well as your superb technique videos.
Thank you very much!
Thanks Vince. I still use the flat brushes when I really just want to hit the high spots. Maybe it’s just a matter of having practiced with those brushes for years.
General thing I would say to my past self is that there are plenty options for every GW product. Especially the Citadel pots, decent paints but try some other brands with dropper bottles.
It took me years painting to be willing and able to accept good enough not perfection for what I painted. It is now something I try to pass onto my friends who have just started painting.
Vince, you're a treasure. I mean that in the most sincere way. Thank you for all your videos and sharing your learned wisdom.
Is the example you show from 2024 a mini (at the 13-minute mark of the video)? That looks like a painting on a wall or something in an 40k art book. That is AMAZING Vince!
Rocked it Vince! These summaries are so helpful. Can I ask 3 things (greedy I am)? Can you …… link cheating vids on ‘tones’, ‘brushes’, ‘mini prep’, ‘drybrushing’ embedded or in the timeline to quickly go down the rabbit hole? Create playlists indexed relevant to those big words not everyone knows what they mean? 3 (thanks for reading this far) redo some vids like this that speak directly to Tom’s, my kids and the 8-13y Vinny? Record yourself a few hobby nights while painting with the kids (not the goldens, sorry) - short 3-5 min, single topic, same narrative and respectful dialogue but start with the kids’ (use what they use) descriptive words for tones/light/drybrush, then teach the concept under 5? Oh oh oh… and how they/we can paint over/repaint/strip models we know suck, but need to be ok with tweaking or starting over vs hiding and bailing on the hobby? Sorry my dude, good videos like today’s stimulate ideas and cool conversations
Dont forget to enjoy the hobby. We do it because we like it, because its fun. Never forget that!
Great video awesome tips, and as I always say " your last miniature is just practice for your next miniature".
Absolutely!
Great advices!
I really needed to hear this. I've been struggling a lot with my painting lately. Thank you Vince.
You got this!
You are the absolute G.O.A.T, sir!
4:29 +1 for loving the planet!
Love your videos, your style really gels with my learning style. Thank you for all you do. Long time lurker.
I am constantly amazed at this brilliant man does not have more subscribers. Thanks Vince! You always give us good advice.
Enjoyed the video. Thanks.
What I have learned on each mini is trying something new and try to do better each time. Figure out how to do it better or be open to trying a new method. I have found new styles, recipes, and become just better by testing things each time. Can’t have perfect, but I try to deliver on an idea for each figure each time though.
Very true!
Thank you for this Vince I truly appreciate what you're doing. Like you I started my painting journey with Warhammer mini's also back in 1998 or so lol. Unfortunately I had to move away from the people that I did these things with and it was many, many years later that I picked the brush back up. So its almost like starting over again, but thats okay because now theres so much content and others out there that are more than happy to help. I would like to add though to go with this video is that while you watch these other painters DON'T get discouraged if your model doesn't look like theirs. It takes time and practice! Also I just got my copy of Reign in Hell and finished reading the rules. I can't wait to play!!!
Awesome on all counts!
Thankyou for another amazing video. I came to the hobby October last year, and very nearly didnt stick with it after a very sour introduction to a games workshop store with a friend. However found a local hobby shop, got a few models and paints. I obsessed over youtube channels until i stumbled onto yours. The level of detail, support and passion you have for the hobby is amazing. I've not watched every single one but anytime i want a new technique, or interested in a new paint. I come here first your resources are really valuable to me and just wanted to thankyou for the hard work and for helping me to find my feet and really sit down and enjoy painting miniatures.
I first started enjoying painting after finishing my first army. Finally I had something to play with and the pressure to finish it was lifted. Everything I painted after that was a lot more relaxing and fun and I could really take my time learning new techniques.
Wow team 3rd edition 40k here. I started in 1998 and it really was youtube that changed the way I painted too. I still have a bunch of my old "how to paint miniatures books." I was explaining to a friend that we were the blind leading the blind back then. Do you have a video on model prep? I was talking to a new hobbyist and was walking them through some of my model prep steps but I directed them to your videos for some additional painting guidance.
Thanks as usual Vince. I am constantly going back and watching your “How to paint (insert color here)” series. They are gold!
Glad you like them!
You are honestly my hobby hero. I want so much to paint and enjoy it, and I struggle to find the joy in painting for painting's sake. Seeing how you grew from, let's say it, and absolute mediocre painter (my first Skink when I was 12 was better) to one of the best painter on this planet (looks like you made some progress though) is just inspiring. Keep it up!
Thank you! Wonderful to hear and always happy to help. :)
Awesome video, Vince! 😊 I wish I knew all this back when I started too. Great info, completely invaluable imo 👍
13:41 this is such a good advice thanks Vince🥺❤
As someone just starting out painting and finally sharing my stuff with my small groups this video meant a lot. I watch people like you... Ninjon... Sorastro... trying to learn and improve. But the reality of not expecting or even striving for perfection hit home for me. Thank you for all you do and share. Just got to learn and then move on... great advice
Glad I could help!
Good advice Vince. I will try the oversize brush bit for basecoats.. generally I dont go higher than a #3 atm.
Just a wonderful message in this video. The last point should be emphasized to anyone who is trying to do anything that requires skill and practice. The idea that trying and failing is better than perserverating on perfection or, even worse, not trying at all, is something that I try to tell my son frequently, but Vince says it so well in this video. And it certainly doesn't hurt for me to hear it again as I try to get my human Blood Bowl team ready for my first league.
You, sir, are a treasure. Full stop.
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Becket With each and every thing I have tried (and sometimes have actually gotten quite good at), I have also learned to appreciate the masters I was looking up to. And while "practise makes perfect" can be true, "practise makes permanent" often is the grim reality when you practise without being open to identify mistakes and learn from them. One can spend decades strumming the guitar without ever getting past a few heavy handed cowboy chords - same goes for painting, cooking, photography and just about everything else.
Having watched this video while painting, i picked off the shelf one of ny very first miniatures... fair to say, progress has definitely been made in five years of painting!
Thanks for the video, I’ve taken my painting more seriously for about 9 months now. I always have a problem of ‘run before you can walk’. I shouldn’t feel disheartened when a mini doesn’t work out the way I want. I have however invested in a decent brush and that has made a difference already
Thank you for the wonderful wisdom, as always!
Any time!
Cheers Mr V. Great advice as per. Keep well. 🖖
Thanks Vince It was funny before watching this i was looking for a model and i came across a couple of painted models. I held them in my hands a i thought well there no golden demon but they look better then being grey.
Another piece of gold, thanks Vince :D
My pleasure!
You are so right on the prep... the world needs more videos of prep, especially showing some of the worst of mold lines and bad decisions on sprue building. Vince, GW might have handed you the new genestealers at some point. Said genestealers are really well made... except one of the chitin pieces connects to the frame of the sprue in a concave area, on a section that, when assembled, will be facing up and to the front! So no using a really good nipper for us: Hobby knifes at ugly angles, followed by sanding with the smallest stick available Also see mold lines that go through a textured area, like, say, the backpacks of Tau breachers. Cleaning the top areas won't be too bad. The recesses? No sander can get there, enjoy making the hobby knife not ruin the details of the sculpt!
Thanks for the words of wisdom Vince, I’ve come back to painting Warhammer in my 40’s after a twenty year break, I wouldn’t consider myself a good painter but I’m starting to get some results I’m actually quite happy with
A trick that was a Game Changer for me was gray scale undercoat for lighting. And then taking a picture and go into photoshop or gimp or whatever and colorize the areas. It leaves the shades and colorizes the area with hue. So I could test "color themes" for my minis without ruining them :D After that of course I would have to find the colors that work the way I intended, but this step is just such a massive change.
I enjoy your videos so much even though some content is above my limited skill level. I have been in the hobby for only 6 years so I still struggle with some of these points but painting no longer feels like a chore. I call my painting skill level "Tabletop+" 😊
#6 - Know yourself. If you don't like a particular color scheme, no amount of time and practice is going to make you happy painting it. If you don't like the aesthetics of the miniature, no amount of stellar painting is going to make you happy to move on to the next one in the unit. If you're unsure about your color choice, paint a test miniature. If you don't like it, you can always re-prime and start again. Also, understand what burnout looks like for you and take steps to avoid it if possible. Not everyone can do this, but I have some kits I love to put together and they just sit in the box until I need to ease myself down from a burnout point. I also own a couple Underworlds warbands if I want to move off of say, Chaos Space Marines, and work on something very different. I'll also step away to read or play video games. The world is your oyster if you just know yourself and admit it to yourself.
Great video - i have a hard time with painting my Doughters of Khain i wanted them to be perfect and i strugel. After hearing #5 i fell free and i starter to have fun once more thx
Weeell now I want to see a rocket painted by you. Or a Moon scenery :D
That last one is one I don't think enough people tall about enough. Can't tell you how many times when I was starting I spend 30 - 40 hours fpr it tp look like crap know I just paint a model till I am don't with it and it always come out better and I always learn more
I don't believe for a second that you're not a rocket scientist, Vince.
Great tips from a Master. Thanks Vince!
You bet!
Great timing! I am grooming a newbie into the hobby and this is a great video for them as well as for me :)
Glad it was helpful!
Loved the video. I wish you did more of them.
Working on it! ;)
Amazing channel and amazing advice. As usual, great words of wisdom! Thanks again.
Thank you
Thanks so much for this Vince. I really appreciate it. I am a medium ok painter. But I have a bad neurotic habit of stripping ever model that is 80% done and starting over. I'm never satisfied with my work. And I need to stop. It hurts, but you're right. I get better when I fail. I know this. But I don't let myself. I will finish something today. :) Also, literally you are always gonna be a teaching Adonis- by your merit you are handsome and you will just have to live with that burden lol.
Great advice. Too much time has been spent trying to make things perfect before moving on, to the point of stopping altogether. Yep. Need to just move on and try again. Practice makes the muscle memory as well in the brush control. Thanks Vince!
I set my alarm for this? Just kidding.. great video for beginners , or just as a reminder to focus on the basics and things that make life easier. Since my reintroduction to the hobby you have been my inspiration. Keep up the good work Vince, and thank you.
Excellent as always. Love hearing about the journey of the legends. Waiting for these new pro acryl reviews
Thank you so much as an old guy starting with miniatures I have often felt too timid to start. Can you do a video with some suggestions for a first miniature? Thanks
LOL!! 11:22 Dead LOL on FLOOR!!
God tier advice as always. Thanks!