I have now painted ten Space Marines. They are not good. They are also, to me, extremely satisfying to look at — because you made it, and it exists now, and it didn’t before.
The Process
My process, which is not optimal but is mine:
- Prime in grey. More forgiving than white (shows every flaw) or black (eats contrast paints).
- Contrast paints for the base layer. One thin coat. Settles into recesses automatically.
- Drybrush highlights. Load a stiff brush, wipe most of it off, drag across raised surfaces.
- Pick out details. Eyes, bolter casings, purity seals.
- Bases. Brown texture paste, drybrushed lighter, static grass.
What I Learned About Patience
Miniature painting is slower than it looks. A squad of ten took me four evenings. But the time is the point. When I’m painting, I’m not thinking about anything else. It’s a specific kind of focus I find genuinely refreshing.
Mistakes Made
Too much paint on the brush. Painting tired. Not thinning metallics enough. Rushing drying. The right amount of paint is less than you think — a lot less.