My dude, I very much love your videos, however I feel your not 100% on how the unconcious mind processes information and how comparative analysis works in basic human psychology. Body dismorphia as a point of comparison which you brought up is caused by upwards comparisons, however, it is not counted by an adjustment in reasoning. It is countered by seeing and performing sports where bodies are seen in motion normal regular bodies and muscled bodies and seening how fat and muscle are part of a healthy body. There is a lot to get into and psychology isn't your pet subject, and I can see you came to this we respect and I don't want to rag on you for it. But I think the correct solution to this is not just keep looking and working, it is like with body dismorphia. Participating in group events (sports) in our case group painting sessions and/or watching live streams. I hope that was informative and not condecending.
Hey - I think someone is trying to scam your viewers. I just got a comment response from "zumikominiatures" - an empty youtube channel with same logo, one subscriber - asking me to contact them via telegram. I have screens if you want. Will report the comment but just wanted to give you heads up.
Thanks for adding the link, Zumikito. I've love Witchsong's videos as well. She also put out some great information on painting. Keep up the great work my friend.
My skill is faaaaar bellow yours, but I understand that my hobby... is mine, so every small victory or learning experience is an achievement, that makes me a little bit closer to you or any other professional miniature painter. And I am not expecting to get good just by watching one or 100 youtube videos, it is important to surround yourself with people which is better than you, to keep your foots on the ground and see where you can improve.
Yes! Having friends that miniature paint and are on a similar level really help, obviously IRL is better and painting with friends it always great, but even friends online, in a discord, etc.. My brother is an excellent artist in many mediums and we paint minis together, he is better than me, much better, but he was at a stagnant level above me, where he felt comfortable being good enough and fast enough to paint an army and be happy with it. But I was not. I was bad and slow, so he taught me a lot, gave me inspiration and I grew to be pretty good, but when I got too close to his level, he fled threatened, so he watched more videos, learned new techniques and pushed himself, and I did the same. It's a friendly competition. My minis now are far better than his minis from a year ago, that I felt were at an untouchable level. It's a cycle of positivity, it's fun and productive, we always push eachother rather than settling. Don't settle. Don't give up.
One of my favorite long form tutorial painters is of course, Mr Two Thin Coats, Duncan Rhodes. Every tutorial he does he treats it as if its your first time painting. He's really great for beginners.
My personal philosophy was always to take inspiration from professionals but only compare myself to my previous work. Every project I start is a new lesson to be learned and new experiments to be tried. Great video!
Same. I watch paintvideos for inspiration and to learn a thing or two. Occassionally having a "that's way beyond my talent" moment but never letting that discourage me. I'm not trying to be the best, I'm just trying to get better at it
I’m new to painting. I like to push my ability. I use to draw when young so understand shading but with paint it a different animal. I do like watching videos to get ideas. One of my friends told me to paint what I think it should look like it may not be the ideal color. The hardest thing I’m having is started to paint warhammer 40k and that is more uniform
Excellent video Zumikito. This sums up a fundamental point when painting miniatures: Expectations and patience. I think that one of the great flaws in this information age is that the massive and fast consumption of content has given us a certain degree of anxiety to get things immediately or quickly. It is important that every painter knows how to ENJOY the process and not drown in looking for ways to speed it up. As always excellent video my friend! :D
Your one of the few channels that have a high level of technique but also provide a realistic perspective for painters who don't have the same skill level as yours. I'm always able to walk away with something useful to use in my next project. So thank you for being such a helpful resource
I started in 96, having never painted a model before. My first attempt was not anything like the picture. I improved on my own with neatness but I still did not shade or highlight well. A store member showed me how to do that. I am a good painter now but can’t NMM or OSL yet. I have been complimented by a few painters and asked how I got my results so that has been a great inspiration in itself.
Thank you for showing me in your video, it is a real honor and thank you for learning from my knowledge. You know I always try to give my best in every tutorial and teach all levels, from the one who has just arrived to the one who is looking to win a golden demon, both in technique and knowledge. I will continue to teach anyone who seeks to learn to paint and look for something more artistic in their miniatures. Again thanks for showing me in your video. I hope to see you soon at an event☺
Great video! This is one of the most topics to be adressed in this hobby. Not that long ago I felt myself bad, because I was comparing my work to many professional miniature painters. The lesson I have learnt from that is: "Never compare you to others, but to your past yourself".
While I definitely don’t paint to a professional level, having all the content and knowledge available has given me the tools for my first army to look pretty damn good. I’m very proud of them and it’s far beyond what I expected them to be. I was expecting “Thin your paints” level but what I got was the higher standard of table top ready. That’s encouraged me to continue with the hobby and enjoy the process. Unlike alot of others I also enjoy the building process which seems to be an unpopular opinion.
I think livestreams (and unedited archives of livestreams) really help set expectations. You can actually see ALL the steps and time things take, the mistakes, all of it. Really helpful for me to understand what these sorts of high end paint jobs actually take.
This is such a good topic, I wish there was more of this - most of us wanting to get better don't have a true grasp of what actually goes into mini painting at that high level because the tutorials are usually just short clips to show the basics of the process!
Hey! Thats my comment at the start of the video! To update on the old comment: im now a lot better as i found a fast, easy style that works for me. I basically start with a grey or grey-blue primer, zenithal highlight with grey seer, wash the mini in agrax earthshade, drybrush with pure white and colour in with contrast. I may drybrush brighter colours if the contrast mutes the underlying drybrush too much and ill use metalics where needed. This method works for me and supercharged my motivation to paint. Its no substitute for a truely great mini paint job like what Zumikito can do, but i like it :). Thank you for the video, i hope it helps many people!
I just started painting and it's not easy, but I don't intend to give up. Thank you so much for the excellent video that motivates me to continue and improve.
Definitely the video I needed. I've been painting for two years now and thought I was making significant improvements but when I saw the faces for my Drukhari I felt I did an awful job so I've pretty discouraged. Seeing this video though has encouraged the hell of out of me though.
Great video! Psychology is a big part of the hobby journey. One thing I’ve learned is that, as much as we may try to emulate other painters, we all have a unique style. It’s something I enjoy seeing at every level. It helps me embrace my work when I’m feeling discouraged. Remember: “no one paints exactly like you”!
Hey man, as a returning Warhammer hobbyist, ive found your tutorials some of the best on TH-cam as well as the most inspiring. Viewers can choose to respond to your content how they want but im glad youre raising the bar for all of us. When I watch your tutorials I get excited by miniatures and I only want to paint more to try each new technique! Please keep making amazing content!
I like the fact your videos are short and sweet. If I don’t understand something, I will search for it. Having the whole process in one video just makes me fall asleep. Realistic expectations is the key to enjoyment
I have seen countless tutorials, my results fail to reach those levels but I am improving at a steady rythim and seeing more tutorials just inspires me and widens my mind. I think they are needed and without them one could no improve. As you say, just compare with your past self, and discouraged people out there trust me, it is an amazing feeling.
I’m very new to Painting miniatures (started just a month or two ago). Have only painted 3 minis to completion and 5 more are almost done. I’ve watched a crap ton of tutorials from various people and I’m looking to constantly improve, but also need more painting time. Right now I’m only able to paint 1 day a week and that alone can be frustrating, but at least it’s something vs not painting at all. There is so much to learn (volumetric lighting, OSL, brush control at that small level is still a struggle, etc) that alone can be overwhelming. But, I’m sticking with it. Putting progress up on IG, was going to do a TH-cam channel to track my progress and improvements, but it’s a lot of work and I do quite a bit for my macro photography channel. So, I just march on. Definitely need a 3D printer though.
The best thing about this video and the message it conveys is that this is applicable to OUR ENTIRE LIVES. The biggest problem people face today, in regards to their mental health issues related to variety of topics they feel bad about, are rooted in this simple "issue": PEOPLE COMPARE THEMSELVES TO OTHERS AND THEIR LIVES. From young girls getting discouraged about their looks when comparing to instagram models, hobbyists giving up because they can't be like pro hobbyists online, to people thinking they lives are shit because they don't drive cars or own houses like people in movies or in "reality shows", it is all the same. People were generally a lot happier with who they were and what they had before TV and Internet showed them "what they are lacking". I'm not even gonna go in the direction of psychology of consumerism... ("you will only be happy if you get/become 'THIS'). Stop comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself yesterday. If you use others as INSPIRATION to give you direction and guidance how to become better version of YOURSELF every day, competing with who you were yesterday or a week ago, then you will never feel like you are failing or that you are not good enough. I can look up to Michael Jordan for his work rate, application, no-giving-up mentality, discipline... and use all that to make myself better. Will I ever become him? No, but I don't have to. I just need to be better today than yesterday, taking satisfaction that I'm improving while enjoying what I'm doing.
You r so right…. The videos will help to learn and understand techniques, but the best comparisons at your disposal is yourself… Compare your last mini with the one you just did…. Look for improvements you tried! Today you made a conscious effort to do a better skin tone. Compare skin tones.. New blend on some armor? … compare armor blends… thats your most rewarding and encouraging comparisons…
Your video about painting with intent really helped me break through what I felt was a wall in my painting journey. I've started getting/printing models for specific skills (like a squig loon boss to work on my glazing) and realizing that some models just don't work with certain techniques (like nighthaunt grimy, worn metal and nmm or stormcast and skin).
Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You captured in 9 very critical minutes that we all have to start somewhere, we have to practice, practice, and practice. We look to others for inspiration, guidance, and even ideas. And you make it clear that (back to my first point): we must START at the beginning, little knowledge = baby steps and with time, effort and patience we can (hopefully) be ALMOST as good as you and the other masters! Keep it up my friend, you are like a light/beacon for us lost souls...
Your videos are packed with useful information in easy to understand chunks. I never really stopped to think about the amount of time a pro painter puts into a mini, having that information included when you look at that amazing insta photo would go along way to setting realistic expectations!
I literally started painting my first mini's this weekend after watching hours of professional painters and whilst I knew I wouldn't be able to match the results guys like yourself get straight off I imagine I would be a thousand times worse if I hadn't had the amount of reference that I have been exposed to. Not only am I really happy with my results but I know how much better I can be with practice and time, its a fantastic hobby and I am so glad that people like yourself inspired me to start and helped me develop some knowledge. I think the thing is that it's not just the 30+ hours that a professional spends on a model, its the thousands maybe tens of thousands of hours they invested in building skills, knowledge and developing an eye that create the finished results.
A big problem for me is my brain has been trained for years for instant gratification. You just don't get that in painting. I will happily play videogames for 6 hours a day sometimes, but if I try to do that with painting I get discouraged by what I perceive to be a lack of progress. But my perception is warped because I'm not spending nearly as much time as I think I am.
I think your videos are some of the clearest and easiest to follow for me. I've watched some other painting techniques and got mixed/bad results. But from your videos I've gotten the best results, so keep them coming!
When I got back into painting minis (I had last been doing them in the 90s) I started with Squigs. I thought they were ridiculously over the top ten, and they still are. The best thing is, especially the smaller ones, are blobby things with teeth. If you're not that skilled, they still will look like blobby things with teeth. After painting lots and lots of "bitey skittles" (I didn't see the point in making them all orange, and this way the rainbow tastes you) and watching videos and trying techniques, I'm getting to where I think my work is ok. I even entered a mini in a local contest and won second.
I'm a little late to comment, but thank you so much for this video. I was fortunate enough to find a channel early in my painting journey that uploaded unedited painting session videos - the videos would be of just one part of the model, not the entirety. Although that particular channel hasnt been updated in 6 years, it was really eye opening to see the artist make a mistake and fix it on the spot & just how much time it took to paint just one part of a model. I was also able to diagnose and fix all my issues with how i was using my wet palette, brush angle, grip, etc.
Thank you for this video ! I've be fascinated by W40K for a while now but only recently decided that I wanted to paint minis. I don't plan to play the actual game with them, I just like miniatures and crafts. You video actually made me less anxious of starting this whole process, when you see all the amazing work from talented artists online it can be really daunting.
Yea… wasn’t till I saw you show that one time something took you 7 layers did I realize how many layers things could take… also the key info like wicking the brush… use of medium… some of this stuff is hidden gems. Thanks for uncovering them. 😊
Solid stuff. Agree completely. Lowering expectations and adjusting targets to current skill level was when most satisfaction and the largest skill boost happened in my own painting career. Am sure this would work for most people as well. In the end it is all about putting time into it, everything will come somewhere along the road. Better to focus on maintaining motivation and keep going. Cheers!
Recently I've realized that I am quite proud of my minis, I can do different styles, etc. And then I also realized one tiny thing - I've been painting for 5 years. Most of this time I felt inadequate about my minis compared to some amazing ones on the internet. Discouraged too. What you need to take from that feeling is force yourself to improve, that's it. You paint a mini, look up similar minis online, and you see a mini so much better than yours you almost cry in rage. Next time you incorporate some things from that paint job into yours, and it already looks a bit better. Years and years later - well, now you look at some of the minis online and go: "I can do better)".
I'm the same. I was admiring a swarm of rats I painted for dnd, and it occurred to me that I've been painting minis for like six different tabletop games for seven years.
I just started painting a few weeks ago and I watched many hours of tutorials before I began. And I'm glad you made this video, because people starting out shouldn't think that they could get results right away. They need to practice the skills and learn and shouldn't have crazy expectations
I am motivated by the spite of trying and get as good as the people I watch and I continue watching people better than me so I can steal their techniques and get better
First time painting miniatures and they are actually coming out way beyond my expectations, I take these videos and me surprising myself as motivation.
This is a great topic! I really enjoy painting minis, but I have too much else going on in my life to devote gobs of time to really noodling over every model. As someone who has an art degree, but couldn't pursue it to support a family, I have mixed emotions about following pro artists. I would feel the need to try and get my stuff to that level, and it's just not going to happen. But so many of the youtube painting community are really really good and I feel like the constant tips and tricks will help me do something cool from mini to mini. I will probably never feel bold enough to enter my work into a comp, but I was never very competitive to begin with, so I'm ok with showing off my work to my friends and impressing them. And they give me plenty enough praise (even when it's not the best work, lol).
I hear you! I recently decided to paint a few models to my best possible level no matter the time and loved the result way too many hours later, well knowing I still suck compared to the really good painters. It also gave me an idea about the time needed to apply all the skills and thus enabling me to choose a lower quality than my maximum for the vast majority of the figures. Certain pieces get the love (I have painted most of my players figures as good as I possibly can), and the rest are 'decent'. But, when you push yourself you also increase skill and speed, thus improving the overall level of your work, so the occasional burst of attempting perfection is still key to me :o)
@@jenschristensen1774 Agreed. Putting the time into the one or two pieces that can really benefit from the work will make the army of 50 minis you painted to about 75-80% satisfaction not sting as much. I should probably invest in a few busts or other non-warhammer type figures to cleanse the palette and be a change of pace to the assembly line style of painting.
Good video. I like the examples you used at the end, I've used some very similar ones helping train people in martial arts. And you can't play a guitar like Jimmy Hendrix the first time you pick up a guitar. Motivating someone is helping them turn "I can't do that" Into "I can't do that yet" And I think you do it admirably.
Good points on expactations however I learned most from Vince Venturella videos because he shows what happens on the palette and steps taken between brush strokes. If not for that I would have never known to wick off excess moisture from the brush after dipping it in paint. So while I appreciate your content I would not mind longer videos with more explanation of what happens in the background.
Excellent video. You touched on a key point that I think gets missed a lot... TIME. I wish it were common practice to post the amount of time spent on a mini when sharing online. It would help keep your expectations realistic while also setting a target to achieve
I sure cannot paint like you and so many other great artists, but I love watching what you can do and it inspires me to get better. Who cares if I can't reach your level ? I'm not trying to be the Michelangelo of miniature painting
Nice video, my Method for keeping me encouraged and keep on improving is comparing me to myself, what I mean is I keep every single mini I made thus far to track my progress and to see the areas that I have to improve on or which I managed well.
Great video! I know what you're talking about. I've been (and sometimes I go back..) there. I started by doing some ww2 scale models, then went into mini painting. In both cases, I was looking at pro painters like "wow, I want to do this!" and.. started trying. With little to no effect on doing things as good as they did. After time, I found i am doing progress actually, by scrolling my own insta (which I treat like gallery for myself so I don't have to keep pictures on my phone) and that keeps me motivated. I wrote quite a lot 😅 So, if I can give anyone who keeps himself away from painting it is- don't compare yourself to pro painters, just like Zumikito said. Make your own pictures and look at them. Over time you will see how far you went from first mini to the one you did lately!
Really motivational video mate!!! Of course all of us want to paint like Sergio Calvo does, but we have to know that we are not professional painters that spend 8 hours per day during year to achieve this painting level. Thanks for this nice video!
Thank you very much for your words, I will continue sharing my knowledge and looking for new ways to teach, new materials, finishes, colors ... so that you do not get tired of learning and improving.
This topic hits home. Now when I think about it, I've actually caught myself quickly scrolling past a mini painter's post on Instagram as if to skip it. I guess when you see so much of it, instead of inspiring it can become quite anxiety driving.
Zumikito, this is probably the video I liked the most in your channel. I've liked many (most) of them, I really like them, but this one touched me because more or less that has been my story. I started painting nearly 30 years ago, with ZERO resources (no Internet back then), and after a couple hours of group class from a good painter. After that, it was all self-teaching, and learning by mistake. Very painful. And expensive, at a time where I could not afford the hobby. So, I stopped for some years. Like 10 or so… I retook the hobby like 15 years ago, after spending 5 years painting on-and-off, maybe one mini a year or less. With the Internet, it was easier, but… then I discovered how much I sucked at painting (which was good, was a reason to practice and improve) and I set an unachievable standard for my minis: the one I watched on the videos, webpages, conventions, etc. So I stopped again. For another 10 years more or less. It was a few years ago that I decided that my minis are for me, that I wanted to paint them the best I can, and that I was going to put an effort to improve, using channels like yours to learn techniques and for having good sources of tips, but NEVER to set MY standard. I'm not going to paint like you, EVER, period. I'm not a pro, I'm way too old now to even think about it, and I would not enjoy miniature painting unless it's a hobby and not my job. And now I'm happy! My miniature painting has improved incredibly, I'm far from what I would like to obtain, but I'm getting there step by step, I like the minis I paint and I'm aware that I will NEVER be even NEAR to the people whose videos I watch. Not by a long shot. And I'm OK with that, because my new targets, my new standards, are not unrealistic: my new objective is just paint a bit better on each miniature. Just a bit. Maybe trying a technique I didn't dare to use before for fear of ruining the mini, maybe trying a new effect, maybe just doing some technique in a different way, etc. That, for me, is "improving" and it's enough. After being aware that with the amount resources (time, money, mainly) and the amount of ability (including sight, hand-steadiness, and plain painting talent) I have at my disposal, I will never reach the levels of the people whose work I admire. And it's OK, the important thing for me is to paint a tiny bit better and ENJOY painting, rather than being frustrated because I'm not as good as people as Zumikito 😂 Thanks for the video, really, and sorry for this brick of a comment 🙄
Great video, I'd argue there is no one at fault as it's a skill, every time you repeat the task it gets better. I've been practicing Ultramarine symbols and 7 models in and I'm getting there.
This is a subject i could chat a lot with you about. I try my best to show all my actions in videos because as you said, it is important. Thanks for sharing man.
I appreciate this video, I have a squad of chaos with a variety of factions and I just seem to have got myself in a rut just adding grey.. I have taken a few pains of the table and taken a step back to try not over do it
I had to learn from the hard, i was not thinning my paints enough after painting my first 6 or 7 model. im now considering repainting those first minis
I just bought the Recruit edition and Paints+Tools set last month, i painted the Space Marines Blood Angel colors and i just mixed and matched with the Necrons, and surprisingly, they turned out _really decent_ considering i literally just started painting i think i'm gonna like this hobby
I never realized how lucky I am to still have an innocent view of my abilities and work. I can never be negative no matter how many times I screw up or do a scheme I don't like. I just paint to have fun and make something I can be proud of. I'll eventually get better, but I can easily admit I don't want to be amazing or anything like that, maybe not even box art quality. I want to take a model, tell a story, and be happy with what I did. I've had hit or miss attempts on models, but the difference really is how much time you want to put into it. There are no shortcut to quality, except in cases of yellow.....that evil evil color.......
Lord Zumikito, it is thanks to you now I'm more confident of painting 1/35th figures! I normally paint WW2 model kits so after watching your videos I gained alot of tips and techniques that allow me to up my game! Hail Lord Zumikito, guardian of the sacred beard!
Watching this after just getting into Warhammer from a friend and watching a few lore videos and thinking about buying and painting my first miniature since I’m experienced with Gunpla, but never painted anything smaller than a 1/144th other than doing my darndest with MG pilot figures, this is reassuring.
every time I see how great these guys paint minis. it motivates me to keep going because I'm the kind of guy who is determined to get better because any human that can do this means I can too. in time. some people are too soft. and aren't built to compete against themselves to get better. lazy thinking
Very nice video :) I was having this issue the other day when I was watching a video, however I was able to compare the amount of time I've actually been painting to the person I was watching and in my mind set my goal to be "I want to try and be that good" I may never be a professional but the I feel like if I try and practice I'll improve. I used to be nervous about wet blending, now I try to do it on at least one part of a mini no matter how big or small the section so I can get better at it.
I think the largest point made is the time invested. I batch paint and spend 2 hours on each standard regular mini for basic troops. Hero’s/commanders and centrepiece more for sure, but I would never spend 30+ hours on one model. I work fulltime and have kids, dogs, etc. so I’m happy with my standard! Also- thank god for explaining not all the steps are included in each painting tutorial. I’ve watched many and whenever it shows “the next step”, I notice a large variation of extra shading, blending, washing, highlighting etc done. I get that many may not watch every minute, but I also feel that some pro painters don’t wanna share all their secrets. And why should they..some things are best valued when you discover them yourself!
Also there are techniques that look really cool on instragram or in youtube videos that the professional shout from the rooftops about but look like complete ass on the tabletop if you pick up the miniature and look at it. The biggest one is Non-Metallic Metals, they look great in a display case or in photos where you're viewing them from one angle but the moment someone actually picks up your miniature and turns it in their fingers...it looks really jank. So yes, learn NMM if you're focused on soley putting up pictures on Instagram/online or making youtube thumbnails or if you really want to learn the process, otherwise if you're focusing on getting an army 'tabletop ready' just stick to TMM. Also source highlighting with coloured light (like say you're painting a miniature as if they're in torchlight but not holding a torch) can look really weird and out of place on the table for the same reason, the moment the miniature is turned, the illusion is ruined.
Practice, practice and practice again! I've started painting a year ago and it was... Not awfull, but quite bad. Now, a year after, it is still very far from perfection, but my Emperor's Children already collect lots of likes and a lot of newbies ask me: How did you do that? Also with the help of your content, so thank you!)
Coming back to the hobby after 13 years out. It's a whole new world and I have had to drop my expectations massively. The equipment, the ranges, the skill has all increased ten fold. Or at least it's super visible now.
For me, finding motivation in general, will be the bigger challenge. Even your first mini you showed, seems better than others I've seen. I don't even know if i have fine motor skills to do that. I have no issue buying figures that are prepainted, which saves money in the long run. But not too much if I'm going to buy scenery. I'm not terribly worried about that. I just want to fovus on making dynamic dioramas instead of gluing them in resin or fixing them to a scene permanently. I see this as an outlet for PTSD better than gaming. Which is my goal in this.
I think for expectations the best thing that you can do is take pictures of each mini you do and revisit them to see how far you have gone. I remember struggling with power weapons and being frustrated that I couldn't thin my paint properly into a glaze. While I'm not amazing at power weapons now, I'm much better than I was before. Like the illusion of a shinning sword works at table distance. This being in stark contrast of my first attempt which was basically a checkerboard with blue and white.
I never get discouraged by looking at your stuff or other professionals work. I know i may never get as good as the best but i enjoy displaying the ones i put all my effort in because i am proud of them. I have learned alot from tutorials. There is a painter on youtube called Sorastro. I had the same minis and paints from two of his videos and tried to literally copy exactly what he was doing. Not only did i want my mini to look like his but it was a fantastic learning experience. My minis turned out great because his tutorials were so well done. Now i paint stuff and not look at videos. Im no where near Zumokitos level though. The best thing to realize is you will get better even if at first it doesn't seem like it. Not all of us will make it to the top but that's ok. Just keep going and enjoy the hobby. PS If you make 30 minute painting videos i will watch them
Painting like many things requires time doing (training) with increased difficulty (stress/load). If you do the same gym workout you'll get better at doing that but will plateau. If you want to get better you have to push gradually against your limits to raise the ceiling. There is a huge problem in the hobby that many rarely get to see in person the miniatures they see on Instagram. They are heavily curated, shot from the perfect angle that shows the model at its best and (often) corrected in post - and painted by artists with incredible skill and no time pressure to complete. You have to be happy with what you're doing and the progress you're making. If you're not improving , a common one is "I can't paint faces" or "I can't do eyes" then get 10 heads and paint them one after another - you will get better but you have to be out of your comfort zone to move forward. Often (and I find myself here frequently) I'm painting on automatic rather than deliberately pushing each bit to be the best I can do. This isn't wrong but often competition painting/art is confused with army painting and the two should not be compared. One thing you personally could do to help, is give an impression of how long it took you to do something. Where you've struggled and corrected mistakes over and over. This doesn't need to be real time, but a series where you dub over you painting in real-time sped up that shows the struggle, might help others see what is really needed to achieve your high standard. Document the mistakes - paint was took thick, didn't wait for the previous layer to dry, not being neat enough, wrong paint/brush choice (pushing on with a brush that has lost its shape etc etc).
I like listening to the music that reflects the world that painted minis come from. A good example of this is me painting my escher gang from Necromunda while listening to Necromunda underhive wars music- somehow it helps to create an atmosphere of immersion in the world of the game, thus making painting more focused.
I’m not expecting myself to be amazing but the advice still helps me to stay positive. I’m probably the least artistic person I know and I’m still proud of what I’ve done so far despite my mini’s not looking great
This happened to me shortly after I started painting. On my third board game I followed Sorastro’s guide for the Journeys in Middle Earth game. When doing Legolas he started his skin with green then used highlights for the actual skin tone. I tried this and it looked like an Orc with paint on his face. It really demoralized me and unfortunately after painting for a year I still cannot highlight without making the highlights look off but overall I am still improving and I did learn other useful techniques from his series I was able to replicate
Hello! I've learned drybrushing is huge when highlighting because it only applies a small amount of the color you want and if done correctly it should help make your highlights go from visible different shades of paint to a slightly brighter or darker gradient
Just using certain techniques will improve your painting even if you don't have them mastered. Priming in black brought the quality of my minis way up. Same with dry brushing, and Armor washes. Since Lyla explained the color shading pyramid concept, I've been dying to try some more feathering, stippling, and wet blending. When you are learning, you make do with the paints and supplies you have on hand. As you improve, your resources, tools, techniques, and paint supply expand with you. The more you try, the more you learn, the more time you invest, the better you get. I just need to be more consistent.
for the sake of motivation i highly recommend to not go back and repaint your minis (apparently some people do that), if you leave your minis as they are you will be able to very easily see the progress you made, for me its very easy because on my first mini I overdid with the wash and my 'beautiful' ultramarine has a bunch of dark spots everywhere on his armor while my latest minis are beautiful (insert obama meme) point being, have some proof of what you did in the past so you can compare yourself to yourself and see how much you've improved, whether it be the actual mini or just a photo if you really want to repaint it oh also try to look for tutorials that dont use the same mini you have, it will be much easier to not compare a profesional paintjob with yours if the minis are different (obviously doesnt work if you are looking for tutorials on painting specific factions/minis etc but it works if you are looking to learn a new technique or some trick)
When I was beginner what helped me the most was watching a full start to finish video and trying to copy everything the painter did. I ordered all the same paints and focused on trying to copy everything. It took away so much decision making and freed up brain space to focus on basics. I learned so much about getting paint from pallet to brush to model
Late to the party, but luckily I just discovered you in my feed! (Subscribed!) I just wanted to weigh in and say that I wouldn't be half the mini painter without pros like you making these videos showcasing your work and techniques. Yeah, I can't paint nearly as good, but much like Goku with a strong opponent I relish in the challenge and it inspires me to push my abilities past my current limit. A lot of people need to realize that unless you have some unknown talent you've never tapped into, you are not going to compare until you put in the time to learn these techniques fully, and practice their applications. Tldr: I disagree that it's professional painters' faults, moreso that starter painters tend to have unbalanced expectations and think that watching a bunch of videos will automatically make them better. Nothing (not even raw talent) can replace hard work and practice.
For me I never thought I could paint anything that looked good but just getting paint on a model was exciting because a badly painted mini still looked better than a gray one. Now I don't get to paint much but when I do I'm excited to try new skills and I see a small improvement little by little
You inspire me to do my best. You show me what's achievable with practice and hardwork. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and videos. They are very helpful.
I initially was discouraged when my minis didn't turn out nearly as well as the professionals' did. One night a bad primer application had bricked any and all will to paint as I just botched the very, very beginning of the process. Then, I found a tool that works, that being brush-on primer from the Army Painter, which allowed more control in my priming application process, and allowed me to paint without botching another miniature (I am broke and havs a smol army, so I really didnt wanna waste an entire assault intercessor squad on learning to prime with a rattle can). So after this botched mini, I stopped, and spent days just.. watching paint tutorials, watching what they do, how they do it, and autoplay eventually brought me to Duncan's 6 Tips video, which showed me his first mini, and how beginner it was. That show of his first little firstborn marine reminded me that we all start bad, and can eventually work our way up to the TH-cam Pro Standard that we idolize. It also helped me realize that I also was doing better with my careful attention to detail and my patience than some pros did at their own very beginning. This realization helped inspire me and keep me in the "I'll get there, and where I'm at isn't bad." mindset, because my fervent consumption of these miniature painting videos has got me learning things before I apply them, allowing my brain to streamline the learning process by having a basic understanding before refining my technique of things that can't be shown, only felt. My second miniature is a pretty decent Ultramarine, the paints not thinned, but not nearly as thick as what I would have done had I not been shown that the paints really do thicken and darken out a lot as they dry. Aaaaaand now I am starting a Militarum army as a detail painter, ironic.
I won best painted army yesterday! This really makes me happy, because I did not have much time painting my necrons. I only have like 30min for a warrior including base. The result was that i was painting all minis more or less only with effects. It worked.
I really enjoy your channel. It's the best for me for miniature painting. A lot of know-hows, very well presented in short videos, with a sense of humor. Not childish like Miniacs (like when he paints drunk as if we were still in high school) or giving up your soul for the youtube algorithms gods (squidmar). This video is on point, I was wondering the same in the last weeks. Why I still don't manage to make very smooth gradients? Is it lack of practice? and so on. I am now also watching videos from Vince Venturella to gain more knowledge but it requires more time. I have done a five days painting workshops this summer and despite the teacher being not very pedagogue, I learned a lot. From the students, from the teacher, from getting feedback, from trying new paints, from trying new brush sizes, from seeing others paint, from forcing my self to use techniques I was not comfortable with etc. I think there is a limit to what youtube can offer and I encourage people to find workshops to learn in person. Maybe you want to organize such workshops in the future :-) ?
I think on the lowering your expectations, you also should have added in, "what are planning on doing with your minis" if it's just you and a couple of friends once a week or once a week then it doesn't need to be this epic studio production show piece. If you doing local games, then yea it should look a bit better, clean edges nice flow but again, not studio stuff. World tournaments and and master championship stuff, then yes you need your stuff to be on point. But most is just play with family and a friend a time or two. I paint Star Wars Legion minis and the more you practice the better you get. But you are right having the basics helps. I was a model railroader and a painted model cars when I was young. Great video thank you for being humble, a lot of people don't get into the hobby because they scared or self conscious about their abilities. This video needs to be seen by everyone either loosing interest or coming into the hobby.
Yesterday I painted my first miniature and I did it knowing that the final result wasn't going to be like the miniatures that I usually see on TH-cam. My miniature is far from perfect, a decent attempt at best, but I'm content with what I accomplished and I'll keep practicing.
This is why the old painting forums were in some ways better than modern algorithms driven social media. You got to see minis from a range of skill levels, while still getting information about different techniques and styles, and perhaps most importantly, you'd see people's mistakes too, or concepts that just didn't work out. With the way modern social media works, if it isn't mind blowing, it doesn't drive engagement, so it doesn't ever reach you. There were downsides too, but I do miss jumping on a forum and seeing someone's weird daemonette/ork conversion idea, a 3 colour painting challenge, and a cutting edge experimental non-metallic-metal technique side by side.
Fuck that, comparing your work to others is a waste of time. Enjoy what you've finished, be proud of it, and later on you can be proud of how far you've come when you keep on painting.
I always liked warhammer 40k and always wanted to get into the models and painting. I have never took the step to try because I always felt I would never even get close to how you paint. After years of watching videos just wishing I could take the step to at least try....you have giving me the motivation to try.
If the me 10 years ago would see how I paint now, he would poop his pants, because it seemed unattainable at that point. Lower your expactations and go for it tiger!
Your first mini looks like mine, and honestly, I'm pretty happy with mine, I see others and I'm all like "oh cool" but truly I like mine because I actually try, and i enjoy it, and that's all that truly matters.
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My dude, I very much love your videos, however I feel your not 100% on how the unconcious mind processes information and how comparative analysis works in basic human psychology. Body dismorphia as a point of comparison which you brought up is caused by upwards comparisons, however, it is not counted by an adjustment in reasoning. It is countered by seeing and performing sports where bodies are seen in motion normal regular bodies and muscled bodies and seening how fat and muscle are part of a healthy body.
There is a lot to get into and psychology isn't your pet subject, and I can see you came to this we respect and I don't want to rag on you for it. But I think the correct solution to this is not just keep looking and working, it is like with body dismorphia. Participating in group events (sports) in our case group painting sessions and/or watching live streams.
I hope that was informative and not condecending.
Hey - I think someone is trying to scam your viewers. I just got a comment response from "zumikominiatures" - an empty youtube channel with same logo, one subscriber - asking me to contact them via telegram. I have screens if you want. Will report the comment but just wanted to give you heads up.
@@Scarhandpainting same to me...
@@Scarhandpainting Same here.
Thanks for adding the link, Zumikito. I've love Witchsong's videos as well. She also put out some great information on painting. Keep up the great work my friend.
Can confirm, my rock bottom standards leave me fulfilled with nearly anything I paint no matter how amateurish it is!
I acknowledged my low bar and then picked death guard, so if my paint job looks like shit that means I succeeded
@@williamstoneman6977I’m having fun painting Tyranids for a similar reason. Less pressure for symmetry and shit on organics
This is 👍
My skill is faaaaar bellow yours, but I understand that my hobby... is mine, so every small victory or learning experience is an achievement, that makes me a little bit closer to you or any other professional miniature painter. And I am not expecting to get good just by watching one or 100 youtube videos, it is important to surround yourself with people which is better than you, to keep your foots on the ground and see where you can improve.
Yes! Having friends that miniature paint and are on a similar level really help, obviously IRL is better and painting with friends it always great, but even friends online, in a discord, etc..
My brother is an excellent artist in many mediums and we paint minis together, he is better than me, much better, but he was at a stagnant level above me, where he felt comfortable being good enough and fast enough to paint an army and be happy with it. But I was not. I was bad and slow, so he taught me a lot, gave me inspiration and I grew to be pretty good, but when I got too close to his level, he fled threatened, so he watched more videos, learned new techniques and pushed himself, and I did the same. It's a friendly competition. My minis now are far better than his minis from a year ago, that I felt were at an untouchable level. It's a cycle of positivity, it's fun and productive, we always push eachother rather than settling. Don't settle. Don't give up.
One of my favorite long form tutorial painters is of course, Mr Two Thin Coats, Duncan Rhodes. Every tutorial he does he treats it as if its your first time painting. He's really great for beginners.
brushstroke painting guides is pretty awesome too
@@joshuawiseman5629I agree, I love that channel
My personal philosophy was always to take inspiration from professionals but only compare myself to my previous work. Every project I start is a new lesson to be learned and new experiments to be tried. Great video!
Same. I watch paintvideos for inspiration and to learn a thing or two. Occassionally having a "that's way beyond my talent" moment but never letting that discourage me. I'm not trying to be the best, I'm just trying to get better at it
That's a great take.
I’m new to painting. I like to push my ability. I use to draw when young so understand shading but with paint it a different animal. I do like watching videos to get ideas. One of my friends told me to paint what I think it should look like it may not be the ideal color. The hardest thing I’m having is started to paint warhammer 40k and that is more uniform
Excellent video Zumikito.
This sums up a fundamental point when painting miniatures: Expectations and patience. I think that one of the great flaws in this information age is that the massive and fast consumption of content has given us a certain degree of anxiety to get things immediately or quickly. It is important that every painter knows how to ENJOY the process and not drown in looking for ways to speed it up.
As always excellent video my friend! :D
🤌
well, that, and with how expensive models are you do NOT want to mess them up...
Your one of the few channels that have a high level of technique but also provide a realistic perspective for painters who don't have the same skill level as yours. I'm always able to walk away with something useful to use in my next project. So thank you for being such a helpful resource
I started in 96, having never painted a model before. My first attempt was not anything like the picture.
I improved on my own with neatness but I still did not shade or highlight well. A store member showed me how to do that. I am a good painter now but can’t NMM or OSL yet.
I have been complimented by a few painters and asked how I got my results so that has been a great inspiration in itself.
Thank you for showing me in your video, it is a real honor and thank you for learning from my knowledge. You know I always try to give my best in every tutorial and teach all levels, from the one who has just arrived to the one who is looking to win a golden demon, both in technique and knowledge. I will continue to teach anyone who seeks to learn to paint and look for something more artistic in their miniatures. Again thanks for showing me in your video. I hope to see you soon at an event☺
Thank you for being my biggest source of inspiration in this hobby - both in skills and your great attitude!
Great video! This is one of the most topics to be adressed in this hobby. Not that long ago I felt myself bad, because I was comparing my work to many professional miniature painters. The lesson I have learnt from that is: "Never compare you to others, but to your past yourself".
While I definitely don’t paint to a professional level, having all the content and knowledge available has given me the tools for my first army to look pretty damn good. I’m very proud of them and it’s far beyond what I expected them to be.
I was expecting “Thin your paints” level but what I got was the higher standard of table top ready. That’s encouraged me to continue with the hobby and enjoy the process.
Unlike alot of others I also enjoy the building process which seems to be an unpopular opinion.
I think livestreams (and unedited archives of livestreams) really help set expectations. You can actually see ALL the steps and time things take, the mistakes, all of it. Really helpful for me to understand what these sorts of high end paint jobs actually take.
This is such a good topic, I wish there was more of this - most of us wanting to get better don't have a true grasp of what actually goes into mini painting at that high level because the tutorials are usually just short clips to show the basics of the process!
Hey! Thats my comment at the start of the video!
To update on the old comment: im now a lot better as i found a fast, easy style that works for me. I basically start with a grey or grey-blue primer, zenithal highlight with grey seer, wash the mini in agrax earthshade, drybrush with pure white and colour in with contrast. I may drybrush brighter colours if the contrast mutes the underlying drybrush too much and ill use metalics where needed.
This method works for me and supercharged my motivation to paint. Its no substitute for a truely great mini paint job like what Zumikito can do, but i like it :).
Thank you for the video, i hope it helps many people!
I just started painting and it's not easy, but I don't intend to give up.
Thank you so much for the excellent video that motivates me to continue and improve.
You got this!
Keep going and push yourself!
Definitely the video I needed. I've been painting for two years now and thought I was making significant improvements but when I saw the faces for my Drukhari I felt I did an awful job so I've pretty discouraged. Seeing this video though has encouraged the hell of out of me though.
Great video! Psychology is a big part of the hobby journey. One thing I’ve learned is that, as much as we may try to emulate other painters, we all have a unique style. It’s something I enjoy seeing at every level. It helps me embrace my work when I’m feeling discouraged. Remember: “no one paints exactly like you”!
Hey man, as a returning Warhammer hobbyist, ive found your tutorials some of the best on TH-cam as well as the most inspiring. Viewers can choose to respond to your content how they want but im glad youre raising the bar for all of us. When I watch your tutorials I get excited by miniatures and I only want to paint more to try each new technique! Please keep making amazing content!
I like the fact your videos are short and sweet. If I don’t understand something, I will search for it. Having the whole process in one video just makes me fall asleep. Realistic expectations is the key to enjoyment
I have seen countless tutorials, my results fail to reach those levels but I am improving at a steady rythim and seeing more tutorials just inspires me and widens my mind. I think they are needed and without them one could no improve. As you say, just compare with your past self, and discouraged people out there trust me, it is an amazing feeling.
I’m very new to Painting miniatures (started just a month or two ago). Have only painted 3 minis to completion and 5 more are almost done. I’ve watched a crap ton of tutorials from various people and I’m looking to constantly improve, but also need more painting time. Right now I’m only able to paint 1 day a week and that alone can be frustrating, but at least it’s something vs not painting at all. There is so much to learn (volumetric lighting, OSL, brush control at that small level is still a struggle, etc) that alone can be overwhelming. But, I’m sticking with it. Putting progress up on IG, was going to do a TH-cam channel to track my progress and improvements, but it’s a lot of work and I do quite a bit for my macro photography channel. So, I just march on. Definitely need a 3D printer though.
The best thing about this video and the message it conveys is that this is applicable to OUR ENTIRE LIVES. The biggest problem people face today, in regards to their mental health issues related to variety of topics they feel bad about, are rooted in this simple "issue": PEOPLE COMPARE THEMSELVES TO OTHERS AND THEIR LIVES. From young girls getting discouraged about their looks when comparing to instagram models, hobbyists giving up because they can't be like pro hobbyists online, to people thinking they lives are shit because they don't drive cars or own houses like people in movies or in "reality shows", it is all the same. People were generally a lot happier with who they were and what they had before TV and Internet showed them "what they are lacking". I'm not even gonna go in the direction of psychology of consumerism... ("you will only be happy if you get/become 'THIS').
Stop comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself yesterday.
If you use others as INSPIRATION to give you direction and guidance how to become better version of YOURSELF every day, competing with who you were yesterday or a week ago, then you will never feel like you are failing or that you are not good enough. I can look up to Michael Jordan for his work rate, application, no-giving-up mentality, discipline... and use all that to make myself better. Will I ever become him? No, but I don't have to. I just need to be better today than yesterday, taking satisfaction that I'm improving while enjoying what I'm doing.
You r so right…. The videos will help to learn and understand techniques, but the best comparisons at your disposal is yourself…
Compare your last mini with the one you just did…. Look for improvements you tried! Today you made a conscious effort to do a better skin tone. Compare skin tones.. New blend on some armor? … compare armor blends… thats your most rewarding and encouraging comparisons…
Your video about painting with intent really helped me break through what I felt was a wall in my painting journey. I've started getting/printing models for specific skills (like a squig loon boss to work on my glazing) and realizing that some models just don't work with certain techniques (like nighthaunt grimy, worn metal and nmm or stormcast and skin).
Nurgle and his piss poor painting requirements welcomes all
I’d argue Necrons are even lower skill requiring, mine look ok and I’ve never painted before in any capacity
Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You captured in 9 very critical minutes that we all have to start somewhere, we have to practice, practice, and practice. We look to others for inspiration, guidance, and even ideas. And you make it clear that (back to my first point): we must START at the beginning, little knowledge = baby steps and with time, effort and patience we can (hopefully) be ALMOST as good as you and the other masters! Keep it up my friend, you are like a light/beacon for us lost souls...
I really needed somebody to tell me this. Thanks for bringing this up.
I find that looking at other's work motivates me to paint more and gets me excited to paint my stuff too.
I'm just happy if I can finally figure out how to properly thin my paints
Your videos are packed with useful information in easy to understand chunks. I never really stopped to think about the amount of time a pro painter puts into a mini, having that information included when you look at that amazing insta photo would go along way to setting realistic expectations!
I literally started painting my first mini's this weekend after watching hours of professional painters and whilst I knew I wouldn't be able to match the results guys like yourself get straight off I imagine I would be a thousand times worse if I hadn't had the amount of reference that I have been exposed to. Not only am I really happy with my results but I know how much better I can be with practice and time, its a fantastic hobby and I am so glad that people like yourself inspired me to start and helped me develop some knowledge.
I think the thing is that it's not just the 30+ hours that a professional spends on a model, its the thousands maybe tens of thousands of hours they invested in building skills, knowledge and developing an eye that create the finished results.
A big problem for me is my brain has been trained for years for instant gratification. You just don't get that in painting. I will happily play videogames for 6 hours a day sometimes, but if I try to do that with painting I get discouraged by what I perceive to be a lack of progress. But my perception is warped because I'm not spending nearly as much time as I think I am.
I think your videos are some of the clearest and easiest to follow for me. I've watched some other painting techniques and got mixed/bad results. But from your videos I've gotten the best results, so keep them coming!
When I got back into painting minis (I had last been doing them in the 90s) I started with Squigs. I thought they were ridiculously over the top ten, and they still are. The best thing is, especially the smaller ones, are blobby things with teeth. If you're not that skilled, they still will look like blobby things with teeth.
After painting lots and lots of "bitey skittles" (I didn't see the point in making them all orange, and this way the rainbow tastes you) and watching videos and trying techniques, I'm getting to where I think my work is ok. I even entered a mini in a local contest and won second.
I'm a little late to comment, but thank you so much for this video. I was fortunate enough to find a channel early in my painting journey that uploaded unedited painting session videos - the videos would be of just one part of the model, not the entirety. Although that particular channel hasnt been updated in 6 years, it was really eye opening to see the artist make a mistake and fix it on the spot & just how much time it took to paint just one part of a model. I was also able to diagnose and fix all my issues with how i was using my wet palette, brush angle, grip, etc.
Thank you for this video ! I've be fascinated by W40K for a while now but only recently decided that I wanted to paint minis. I don't plan to play the actual game with them, I just like miniatures and crafts. You video actually made me less anxious of starting this whole process, when you see all the amazing work from talented artists online it can be really daunting.
I've been literally too scared to pick up a brush in 5 years because I can't handle the quest for perfection
Yea… wasn’t till I saw you show that one time something took you 7 layers did I realize how many layers things could take… also the key info like wicking the brush… use of medium… some of this stuff is hidden gems. Thanks for uncovering them. 😊
Solid stuff. Agree completely. Lowering expectations and adjusting targets to current skill level was when most satisfaction and the largest skill boost happened in my own painting career. Am sure this would work for most people as well. In the end it is all about putting time into it, everything will come somewhere along the road. Better to focus on maintaining motivation and keep going. Cheers!
Recently I've realized that I am quite proud of my minis, I can do different styles, etc. And then I also realized one tiny thing - I've been painting for 5 years. Most of this time I felt inadequate about my minis compared to some amazing ones on the internet. Discouraged too. What you need to take from that feeling is force yourself to improve, that's it. You paint a mini, look up similar minis online, and you see a mini so much better than yours you almost cry in rage. Next time you incorporate some things from that paint job into yours, and it already looks a bit better. Years and years later - well, now you look at some of the minis online and go: "I can do better)".
I'm the same. I was admiring a swarm of rats I painted for dnd, and it occurred to me that I've been painting minis for like six different tabletop games for seven years.
I just started painting a few weeks ago and I watched many hours of tutorials before I began. And I'm glad you made this video, because people starting out shouldn't think that they could get results right away. They need to practice the skills and learn and shouldn't have crazy expectations
I am motivated by the spite of trying and get as good as the people I watch and I continue watching people better than me so I can steal their techniques and get better
First time painting miniatures and they are actually coming out way beyond my expectations, I take these videos and me surprising myself as motivation.
This is a great topic! I really enjoy painting minis, but I have too much else going on in my life to devote gobs of time to really noodling over every model. As someone who has an art degree, but couldn't pursue it to support a family, I have mixed emotions about following pro artists. I would feel the need to try and get my stuff to that level, and it's just not going to happen. But so many of the youtube painting community are really really good and I feel like the constant tips and tricks will help me do something cool from mini to mini. I will probably never feel bold enough to enter my work into a comp, but I was never very competitive to begin with, so I'm ok with showing off my work to my friends and impressing them. And they give me plenty enough praise (even when it's not the best work, lol).
I hear you! I recently decided to paint a few models to my best possible level no matter the time and loved the result way too many hours later, well knowing I still suck compared to the really good painters. It also gave me an idea about the time needed to apply all the skills and thus enabling me to choose a lower quality than my maximum for the vast majority of the figures. Certain pieces get the love (I have painted most of my players figures as good as I possibly can), and the rest are 'decent'.
But, when you push yourself you also increase skill and speed, thus improving the overall level of your work, so the occasional burst of attempting perfection is still key to me :o)
@@jenschristensen1774 Agreed. Putting the time into the one or two pieces that can really benefit from the work will make the army of 50 minis you painted to about 75-80% satisfaction not sting as much. I should probably invest in a few busts or other non-warhammer type figures to cleanse the palette and be a change of pace to the assembly line style of painting.
Good video. I like the examples you used at the end, I've used some very similar ones helping train people in martial arts. And you can't play a guitar like Jimmy Hendrix the first time you pick up a guitar.
Motivating someone is helping them turn "I can't do that" Into "I can't do that yet" And I think you do it admirably.
Good points on expactations however I learned most from Vince Venturella videos because he shows what happens on the palette and steps taken between brush strokes. If not for that I would have never known to wick off excess moisture from the brush after dipping it in paint. So while I appreciate your content I would not mind longer videos with more explanation of what happens in the background.
Vince is one cool dude.
Excellent video. You touched on a key point that I think gets missed a lot... TIME. I wish it were common practice to post the amount of time spent on a mini when sharing online. It would help keep your expectations realistic while also setting a target to achieve
I sure cannot paint like you and so many other great artists, but I love watching what you can do and it inspires me to get better. Who cares if I can't reach your level ? I'm not trying to be the Michelangelo of miniature painting
I treat painting minis like a bad break up, the first mini is equivalent to that rebound you banged.
Nice video, my Method for keeping me encouraged and keep on improving is comparing me to myself, what I mean is I keep every single mini I made thus far to track my progress and to see the areas that I have to improve on or which I managed well.
Great video!
I know what you're talking about. I've been (and sometimes I go back..) there. I started by doing some ww2 scale models, then went into mini painting. In both cases, I was looking at pro painters like "wow, I want to do this!" and.. started trying. With little to no effect on doing things as good as they did. After time, I found i am doing progress actually, by scrolling my own insta (which I treat like gallery for myself so I don't have to keep pictures on my phone) and that keeps me motivated.
I wrote quite a lot 😅 So, if I can give anyone who keeps himself away from painting it is- don't compare yourself to pro painters, just like Zumikito said. Make your own pictures and look at them. Over time you will see how far you went from first mini to the one you did lately!
Really motivational video mate!!! Of course all of us want to paint like Sergio Calvo does, but we have to know that we are not professional painters that spend 8 hours per day during year to achieve this painting level.
Thanks for this nice video!
Thank you very much for your words, I will continue sharing my knowledge and looking for new ways to teach, new materials, finishes, colors ... so that you do not get tired of learning and improving.
As someone who is literally about to paint their first mini, i needed this video. Thank you sir
This topic hits home. Now when I think about it, I've actually caught myself quickly scrolling past a mini painter's post on Instagram as if to skip it. I guess when you see so much of it, instead of inspiring it can become quite anxiety driving.
Zumikito, this is probably the video I liked the most in your channel. I've liked many (most) of them, I really like them, but this one touched me because more or less that has been my story. I started painting nearly 30 years ago, with ZERO resources (no Internet back then), and after a couple hours of group class from a good painter. After that, it was all self-teaching, and learning by mistake. Very painful. And expensive, at a time where I could not afford the hobby. So, I stopped for some years. Like 10 or so…
I retook the hobby like 15 years ago, after spending 5 years painting on-and-off, maybe one mini a year or less. With the Internet, it was easier, but… then I discovered how much I sucked at painting (which was good, was a reason to practice and improve) and I set an unachievable standard for my minis: the one I watched on the videos, webpages, conventions, etc. So I stopped again. For another 10 years more or less.
It was a few years ago that I decided that my minis are for me, that I wanted to paint them the best I can, and that I was going to put an effort to improve, using channels like yours to learn techniques and for having good sources of tips, but NEVER to set MY standard. I'm not going to paint like you, EVER, period. I'm not a pro, I'm way too old now to even think about it, and I would not enjoy miniature painting unless it's a hobby and not my job.
And now I'm happy! My miniature painting has improved incredibly, I'm far from what I would like to obtain, but I'm getting there step by step, I like the minis I paint and I'm aware that I will NEVER be even NEAR to the people whose videos I watch. Not by a long shot. And I'm OK with that, because my new targets, my new standards, are not unrealistic: my new objective is just paint a bit better on each miniature. Just a bit. Maybe trying a technique I didn't dare to use before for fear of ruining the mini, maybe trying a new effect, maybe just doing some technique in a different way, etc. That, for me, is "improving" and it's enough.
After being aware that with the amount resources (time, money, mainly) and the amount of ability (including sight, hand-steadiness, and plain painting talent) I have at my disposal, I will never reach the levels of the people whose work I admire. And it's OK, the important thing for me is to paint a tiny bit better and ENJOY painting, rather than being frustrated because I'm not as good as people as Zumikito 😂
Thanks for the video, really, and sorry for this brick of a comment 🙄
Great video, I'd argue there is no one at fault as it's a skill, every time you repeat the task it gets better. I've been practicing Ultramarine symbols and 7 models in and I'm getting there.
This is a subject i could chat a lot with you about.
I try my best to show all my actions in videos because as you said, it is important.
Thanks for sharing man.
I appreciate this video, I have a squad of chaos with a variety of factions and I just seem to have got myself in a rut just adding grey.. I have taken a few pains of the table and taken a step back to try not over do it
I had to learn from the hard, i was not thinning my paints enough after painting my first 6 or 7 model. im now considering repainting those first minis
I wrote an article on this topic. Goal setting is crucial. Fantastic video, mate!
I just bought the Recruit edition and Paints+Tools set last month, i painted the Space Marines Blood Angel colors and i just mixed and matched with the Necrons, and surprisingly, they turned out _really decent_ considering i literally just started painting
i think i'm gonna like this hobby
I never realized how lucky I am to still have an innocent view of my abilities and work. I can never be negative no matter how many times I screw up or do a scheme I don't like. I just paint to have fun and make something I can be proud of. I'll eventually get better, but I can easily admit I don't want to be amazing or anything like that, maybe not even box art quality. I want to take a model, tell a story, and be happy with what I did. I've had hit or miss attempts on models, but the difference really is how much time you want to put into it. There are no shortcut to quality, except in cases of yellow.....that evil evil color.......
This is the healthiest most supportive video. This was like Bob Ross status.
Old video, but want to state you became my favorite miniature TH-camr, although I watched others long before you.
Lord Zumikito, it is thanks to you now I'm more confident of painting 1/35th figures! I normally paint WW2 model kits so after watching your videos I gained alot of tips and techniques that allow me to up my game! Hail Lord Zumikito, guardian of the sacred beard!
Watching this after just getting into Warhammer from a friend and watching a few lore videos and thinking about buying and painting my first miniature since I’m experienced with Gunpla, but never painted anything smaller than a 1/144th other than doing my darndest with MG pilot figures, this is reassuring.
every time I see how great these guys paint minis. it motivates me to keep going because I'm the kind of guy who is determined to get better because any human that can do this means I can too. in time. some people are too soft. and aren't built to compete against themselves to get better. lazy thinking
Very nice video :)
I was having this issue the other day when I was watching a video, however I was able to compare the amount of time I've actually been painting to the person I was watching and in my mind set my goal to be "I want to try and be that good" I may never be a professional but the I feel like if I try and practice I'll improve. I used to be nervous about wet blending, now I try to do it on at least one part of a mini no matter how big or small the section so I can get better at it.
I love your Nurgling plushy sitting there vibin' in the background!
I think the largest point made is the time invested. I batch paint and spend 2 hours on each standard regular mini for basic troops. Hero’s/commanders and centrepiece more for sure, but I would never spend 30+ hours on one model. I work fulltime and have kids, dogs, etc. so I’m happy with my standard!
Also- thank god for explaining not all the steps are included in each painting tutorial. I’ve watched many and whenever it shows “the next step”, I notice a large variation of extra shading, blending, washing, highlighting etc done. I get that many may not watch every minute, but I also feel that some pro painters don’t wanna share all their secrets. And why should they..some things are best valued when you discover them yourself!
Also there are techniques that look really cool on instragram or in youtube videos that the professional shout from the rooftops about but look like complete ass on the tabletop if you pick up the miniature and look at it. The biggest one is Non-Metallic Metals, they look great in a display case or in photos where you're viewing them from one angle but the moment someone actually picks up your miniature and turns it in their fingers...it looks really jank.
So yes, learn NMM if you're focused on soley putting up pictures on Instagram/online or making youtube thumbnails or if you really want to learn the process, otherwise if you're focusing on getting an army 'tabletop ready' just stick to TMM.
Also source highlighting with coloured light (like say you're painting a miniature as if they're in torchlight but not holding a torch) can look really weird and out of place on the table for the same reason, the moment the miniature is turned, the illusion is ruined.
Practice, practice and practice again! I've started painting a year ago and it was... Not awfull, but quite bad. Now, a year after, it is still very far from perfection, but my Emperor's Children already collect lots of likes and a lot of newbies ask me: How did you do that? Also with the help of your content, so thank you!)
Coming back to the hobby after 13 years out. It's a whole new world and I have had to drop my expectations massively. The equipment, the ranges, the skill has all increased ten fold.
Or at least it's super visible now.
For me, finding motivation in general, will be the bigger challenge. Even your first mini you showed, seems better than others I've seen. I don't even know if i have fine motor skills to do that. I have no issue buying figures that are prepainted, which saves money in the long run. But not too much if I'm going to buy scenery. I'm not terribly worried about that. I just want to fovus on making dynamic dioramas instead of gluing them in resin or fixing them to a scene permanently. I see this as an outlet for PTSD better than gaming. Which is my goal in this.
I think for expectations the best thing that you can do is take pictures of each mini you do and revisit them to see how far you have gone. I remember struggling with power weapons and being frustrated that I couldn't thin my paint properly into a glaze. While I'm not amazing at power weapons now, I'm much better than I was before. Like the illusion of a shinning sword works at table distance. This being in stark contrast of my first attempt which was basically a checkerboard with blue and white.
I never get discouraged by looking at your stuff or other professionals work. I know i may never get as good as the best but i enjoy displaying the ones i put all my effort in because i am proud of them. I have learned alot from tutorials. There is a painter on youtube called Sorastro. I had the same minis and paints from two of his videos and tried to literally copy exactly what he was doing. Not only did i want my mini to look like his but it was a fantastic learning experience. My minis turned out great because his tutorials were so well done. Now i paint stuff and not look at videos. Im no where near Zumokitos level though. The best thing to realize is you will get better even if at first it doesn't seem like it. Not all of us will make it to the top but that's ok. Just keep going and enjoy the hobby.
PS If you make 30 minute painting videos i will watch them
Painting like many things requires time doing (training) with increased difficulty (stress/load). If you do the same gym workout you'll get better at doing that but will plateau. If you want to get better you have to push gradually against your limits to raise the ceiling.
There is a huge problem in the hobby that many rarely get to see in person the miniatures they see on Instagram. They are heavily curated, shot from the perfect angle that shows the model at its best and (often) corrected in post - and painted by artists with incredible skill and no time pressure to complete. You have to be happy with what you're doing and the progress you're making. If you're not improving , a common one is "I can't paint faces" or "I can't do eyes" then get 10 heads and paint them one after another - you will get better but you have to be out of your comfort zone to move forward. Often (and I find myself here frequently) I'm painting on automatic rather than deliberately pushing each bit to be the best I can do. This isn't wrong but often competition painting/art is confused with army painting and the two should not be compared.
One thing you personally could do to help, is give an impression of how long it took you to do something. Where you've struggled and corrected mistakes over and over. This doesn't need to be real time, but a series where you dub over you painting in real-time sped up that shows the struggle, might help others see what is really needed to achieve your high standard. Document the mistakes - paint was took thick, didn't wait for the previous layer to dry, not being neat enough, wrong paint/brush choice (pushing on with a brush that has lost its shape etc etc).
This is an important video. In not just miniature painting, but any skill that requires time to improve.
I like listening to the music that reflects the world that painted minis come from. A good example of this is me painting my escher gang from Necromunda while listening to Necromunda underhive wars music- somehow it helps to create an atmosphere of immersion in the world of the game, thus making painting more focused.
Zumikito is the problem. GET HIM!
Seriously, thanks for another great vid!
I’m not expecting myself to be amazing but the advice still helps me to stay positive. I’m probably the least artistic person I know and I’m still proud of what I’ve done so far despite my mini’s not looking great
This happened to me shortly after I started painting. On my third board game I followed Sorastro’s guide for the Journeys in Middle Earth game. When doing Legolas he started his skin with green then used highlights for the actual skin tone. I tried this and it looked like an Orc with paint on his face. It really demoralized me and unfortunately after painting for a year I still cannot highlight without making the highlights look off but overall I am still improving and I did learn other useful techniques from his series I was able to replicate
Hello! I've learned drybrushing is huge when highlighting because it only applies a small amount of the color you want and if done correctly it should help make your highlights go from visible different shades of paint to a slightly brighter or darker gradient
Just using certain techniques will improve your painting even if you don't have them mastered. Priming in black brought the quality of my minis way up. Same with dry brushing, and Armor washes. Since Lyla explained the color shading pyramid concept, I've been dying to try some more feathering, stippling, and wet blending. When you are learning, you make do with the paints and supplies you have on hand. As you improve, your resources, tools, techniques, and paint supply expand with you. The more you try, the more you learn, the more time you invest, the better you get. I just need to be more consistent.
for the sake of motivation i highly recommend to not go back and repaint your minis (apparently some people do that), if you leave your minis as they are you will be able to very easily see the progress you made, for me its very easy because on my first mini I overdid with the wash and my 'beautiful' ultramarine has a bunch of dark spots everywhere on his armor while my latest minis are beautiful (insert obama meme)
point being, have some proof of what you did in the past so you can compare yourself to yourself and see how much you've improved, whether it be the actual mini or just a photo if you really want to repaint it
oh also try to look for tutorials that dont use the same mini you have, it will be much easier to not compare a profesional paintjob with yours if the minis are different (obviously doesnt work if you are looking for tutorials on painting specific factions/minis etc but it works if you are looking to learn a new technique or some trick)
When I was beginner what helped me the most was watching a full start to finish video and trying to copy everything the painter did. I ordered all the same paints and focused on trying to copy everything. It took away so much decision making and freed up brain space to focus on basics. I learned so much about getting paint from pallet to brush to model
nah that's simply too expensive and you wont really learn anything
@@josecarlosxyz I actually learned a ton though?
I just wanted to say that you are a great minipainting channell because you make short but very informational content. Thank you.
Zumikito, for me your work is super inspiring and I always find myself painting after watching your videos
Late to the party, but luckily I just discovered you in my feed! (Subscribed!)
I just wanted to weigh in and say that I wouldn't be half the mini painter without pros like you making these videos showcasing your work and techniques.
Yeah, I can't paint nearly as good, but much like Goku with a strong opponent I relish in the challenge and it inspires me to push my abilities past my current limit.
A lot of people need to realize that unless you have some unknown talent you've never tapped into, you are not going to compare until you put in the time to learn these techniques fully, and practice their applications.
Tldr: I disagree that it's professional painters' faults, moreso that starter painters tend to have unbalanced expectations and think that watching a bunch of videos will automatically make them better. Nothing (not even raw talent) can replace hard work and practice.
For me I never thought I could paint anything that looked good but just getting paint on a model was exciting because a badly painted mini still looked better than a gray one. Now I don't get to paint much but when I do I'm excited to try new skills and I see a small improvement little by little
You inspire me to do my best. You show me what's achievable with practice and hardwork. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and videos. They are very helpful.
Didn't realize how much I needed this. I'm gonna go try to fix my warband.
Thanks you so much for your miniatures painting motivation ! It's exactly what happend to me.
French painters in formation !
I initially was discouraged when my minis didn't turn out nearly as well as the professionals' did. One night a bad primer application had bricked any and all will to paint as I just botched the very, very beginning of the process. Then, I found a tool that works, that being brush-on primer from the Army Painter, which allowed more control in my priming application process, and allowed me to paint without botching another miniature (I am broke and havs a smol army, so I really didnt wanna waste an entire assault intercessor squad on learning to prime with a rattle can). So after this botched mini, I stopped, and spent days just.. watching paint tutorials, watching what they do, how they do it, and autoplay eventually brought me to Duncan's 6 Tips video, which showed me his first mini, and how beginner it was. That show of his first little firstborn marine reminded me that we all start bad, and can eventually work our way up to the TH-cam Pro Standard that we idolize. It also helped me realize that I also was doing better with my careful attention to detail and my patience than some pros did at their own very beginning. This realization helped inspire me and keep me in the "I'll get there, and where I'm at isn't bad." mindset, because my fervent consumption of these miniature painting videos has got me learning things before I apply them, allowing my brain to streamline the learning process by having a basic understanding before refining my technique of things that can't be shown, only felt. My second miniature is a pretty decent Ultramarine, the paints not thinned, but not nearly as thick as what I would have done had I not been shown that the paints really do thicken and darken out a lot as they dry.
Aaaaaand now I am starting a Militarum army as a detail painter, ironic.
I won best painted army yesterday!
This really makes me happy, because I did not have much time painting my necrons. I only have like 30min for a warrior including base.
The result was that i was painting all minis more or less only with effects.
It worked.
I really enjoy your channel. It's the best for me for miniature painting. A lot of know-hows, very well presented in short videos, with a sense of humor. Not childish like Miniacs (like when he paints drunk as if we were still in high school) or giving up your soul for the youtube algorithms gods (squidmar). This video is on point, I was wondering the same in the last weeks. Why I still don't manage to make very smooth gradients? Is it lack of practice? and so on. I am now also watching videos from Vince Venturella to gain more knowledge but it requires more time. I have done a five days painting workshops this summer and despite the teacher being not very pedagogue, I learned a lot. From the students, from the teacher, from getting feedback, from trying new paints, from trying new brush sizes, from seeing others paint, from forcing my self to use techniques I was not comfortable with etc. I think there is a limit to what youtube can offer and I encourage people to find workshops to learn in person. Maybe you want to organize such workshops in the future :-) ?
I think on the lowering your expectations, you also should have added in, "what are planning on doing with your minis" if it's just you and a couple of friends once a week or once a week then it doesn't need to be this epic studio production show piece. If you doing local games, then yea it should look a bit better, clean edges nice flow but again, not studio stuff. World tournaments and and master championship stuff, then yes you need your stuff to be on point. But most is just play with family and a friend a time or two.
I paint Star Wars Legion minis and the more you practice the better you get. But you are right having the basics helps. I was a model railroader and a painted model cars when I was young.
Great video thank you for being humble, a lot of people don't get into the hobby because they scared or self conscious about their abilities. This video needs to be seen by everyone either loosing interest or coming into the hobby.
Yesterday I painted my first miniature and I did it knowing that the final result wasn't going to be like the miniatures that I usually see on TH-cam. My miniature is far from perfect, a decent attempt at best, but I'm content with what I accomplished and I'll keep practicing.
This is why the old painting forums were in some ways better than modern algorithms driven social media. You got to see minis from a range of skill levels, while still getting information about different techniques and styles, and perhaps most importantly, you'd see people's mistakes too, or concepts that just didn't work out. With the way modern social media works, if it isn't mind blowing, it doesn't drive engagement, so it doesn't ever reach you. There were downsides too, but I do miss jumping on a forum and seeing someone's weird daemonette/ork conversion idea, a 3 colour painting challenge, and a cutting edge experimental non-metallic-metal technique side by side.
Fuck that, comparing your work to others is a waste of time. Enjoy what you've finished, be proud of it, and later on you can be proud of how far you've come when you keep on painting.
I always liked warhammer 40k and always wanted to get into the models and painting. I have never took the step to try because I always felt I would never even get close to how you paint. After years of watching videos just wishing I could take the step to at least try....you have giving me the motivation to try.
If the me 10 years ago would see how I paint now, he would poop his pants, because it seemed unattainable at that point. Lower your expactations and go for it tiger!
Your first mini looks like mine, and honestly, I'm pretty happy with mine, I see others and I'm all like "oh cool" but truly I like mine because I actually try, and i enjoy it, and that's all that truly matters.
yep same even though my minis are more bug like and less food (human) shaped XP