In 2021, I wrote a post about my early journey into miniature painting. Back then, I had dreams of painting busts and learning how to airbrush. The beauty of a(n online) journal is the ability to reflect on that. Let’s dive into it.
Since I picked up the paintbrush, I’ve completed three busts, three 72mm full body figures and quite a few 32mm miniatures. I built and sculpted parts of my very own diorama. I also got featured as a part of Loot Studio’s community. Looking back, I imagined the list of completed projects to be longer, but it’s quality time well spent. I haven’t been painting to make an army (although I respect the hustle of my Warhammer peers). Each project has contributed to the steady build of my skills, and it has benefitted me to have a space to create outside of cosplay. Additionally, it has been quite a gift in terms of understanding how I paint my make-up as well as props and textiles.
The airbrush has become one of my favorite tools. It is incredible for basecoats, achieving certain light effects, costume weathering, and prop painting. I’ll admit, my precision is still a work in progress, but I don’t think I ever imagined how valuable this tool would become in all aspects of my creativity. There is a few airbrush paints that I can recommend for cosplay as well: the XTREME METAL line by AK-Interactive is one of my favorites for props. It creates the perfect metallic shine and comes in a wide variety of shades. I also love Schmincke AERO COLORS, specifically the shimmers, to create iridescent effects on fabric. And it doesn’t wash off. Some of my favorite tools in general include the paints from The Army Painter (their Speed Paints also work really well on fake nails). I’ve also come to love the Kolinsky size 0 brush from Green Stuff World. This is by no means a sponsor list (I wish), but products I genuinely love and use. The tools I’ve invested in for painting have also been very useful for cosplay and tabletop gaming.
With multiple hobbies, it can be difficult to find enough time to dedicate to all the projects I have in mind. It also means that seeing actual improvement between projects is sometimes difficult. I hope this serves as a reminder of how long it can take to improve and gain confidence. Below you’ll find the very first figure I painted and the latest. Even if you don’t have time to practice every day, trust that every step still takes you forward.
