Using less paints Will Make You A Better Painter 

I’ll be honest, my husband sent me this and I rolled my eyes as sometimes I’m just not in the mood to watch a video on his hobbies. I’m so glad I pressed play. Incredible filming and editing and I am inspired by your (friend/girlfriend/wife?) and her wonderful results. I will definitely give this a go one day when I have time. Thank you for a lovely experience.

This was the first time I've watched a painting tutorial that was not only about the philosophy of paint and art, but was also itself truly a piece of art. This was a wonderful video and you are an amazing film maker on top of being an incredible painter. True artistry is not bound by the medium.

Thank you so much for not doing clickbait.

First 20 seconds of the video reminded me why I support you on Patreon.

The existentialists guide to minipainting... absolutely awesome video, gave me goosebumps and spending a holiday an the Faroe islands is now added to my bucket list.

Alex, this is such a beautiful video! It may be cheating to use the North Sea and the Faroe Islands as your background, but the results are breathtaking! A perfect illustration of limited palette in nature. Your videography skills are astonishing! That shot of a paper towel with blue mixes in front of the waves was genius. And I'm jealous of your wet blending skill--I just cannot get that technique to work for me. Thanks so much!

i rly like the color of the stairs

thats how i started as a kid. i didnt have much money and the friendly guy in the store sold me the 3 bottles. i still have the warzone minis i first painted

I love these videos that explore the interesting corners of the hobby. Beautiful! A principle I've encountered (but definitely not mastered): If you can't make the yellow more saturated, make the colours around it less, for the same effect. It's amazing how much interpretation our brains do relative to the physical colours that are actually present.

As someone who spent an entire decade on high seas, and has paintent quite a few of his projects while onboard, I'm glad you dragged your camera with you and spent some of your time painting and filming this exquisite journey.

I really enjoyed the sublime effect of how the ship's rolling over waves caused the background objects in the video to move; paint brushes, water in the wet palette, etc.

My word... The landscapes you were in are mind-blowing

Just when you think Alex couldn’t possibly make a calmer video. Thank you. Wonderful as always.

I think my favorite part of the mini is the orange bricks, with the blueish shadows, so natural looking!

What a visually and to be honest generally pleasing video - your model looks amazing. I especially like the color and texture of the stones. And I enjoy it when you have a special guest on your video. It's nice to see someone who is relativly new to the topic and she did a great job. I hope she had fun ^^

A new video from Alex is a guaranteed LIKE from me! I am mesmerized by the movement of the water and the paint tubes from the ship

Your cinematography draws me to your videos just as much as your painting and narration. The shot of the ocean waves, of Signe with soft sunlight across her face, you in front of the Highlands. Amazing work.

Well, that was intense. The minute you talked about vague memories about colour mixing in school I was slammed back into 1984 and my high school Art class. Lovely video as always Alex.

I love mixing when I paint miniatures. I use cyan, magenta and yellow + black and white. If I only painted unique minis I would always use just those colors, but the problem comes when you want to paint an army with the same colors but have no time to do it in one sitting. If you're not very experienced it can be hard to mix the colors the same every time and that's why I use more colors. So I normally use cmy + bw and the base important colors for my specific army. For example, the specific color for their plasmas, lenses and main armor colors when I do 40k.

Absolutely love the stone stairs! Those colours and textures are beautiful.

Seeing the sea and wild around you was so nice! Thanks for bringing us along, Alex. 😊

That mini came out great! Both actually! I have started mixing my own colours when painting spacemarines. So instead of having to use 5 different bottles of premixed colours to do it like the guides im using a standard blue and mixing it with a black and a white colour to make my shades/primary/highlights and glazes. Felt like ive grown as a painter by doing so and not just repeating a step by step.

No matter it's this week's video or that one years ago: everytime I whatch one of your vids I somehow see multiple copies of you at different points yet at the same time, like 52 was a stopped zoetrope. Both mesmerising and intriguing no matter you look at one single animated Alex or the big picture of multiple ones coexisting inside the cylinder that is your now long hobby journey. Congrats on being you. Much love :)

Due to not wanting to spend 300$ on the exact paints I saw in peoples tutorials, I bought a few primary colors, white, and black. I of course have quite a few paints and especially contrast/express colors. But when it comes to needing a shade of green, or a shade of orange.. I just mix my colors instead of needing to buy 15-30 dollars on the paints needed to make the shades I'm using.

These kinds of videos are still my favourites on the channel Alex. Very insightful and really well made on such a consistant fashion too. So thank you for the awesome content once more ^^

I've been using just the primary colors for about 2 years now after you and ninjon made videos featuring the soflat color line. And I would have to say it made me a better painter since I had to make less decisions on choosing paints and making sure I buy the right bottles.

This is my little ones favourite bit about painting. She can quite happily sit for an hour or so just mixing up new colours and painting little swatches. Sometimes she doesn't even bother painting a picture with them, the swatches are the artwork. Going to give this a go on a few of my tree people.

Such a well shot video! The Faroe Islands' tourist board should definitely pay you some money because the stark beauty of the place has me desperate to visit!

Love me some 52 Miniatures ASMR hobby goodness.

Dear Alex, this video is art in its purest form. It is light. It is shadows. It is ambience. It is solitude. It is tranquility. It is philosophy. It is psychology. It is calm. It is soothing. It is inspiring. It is beautiful. Thank you, my friend, for taking me with you in your journey. Lots of love ❤️

One of your best videos! One of my favorite things is sitting down to paint a “fun” mini with a limited palette of single pigment paints after finishing a unit for my army. It keeps me creatively refreshed.

An intriguing hobby project to put on the to-do list

Beautiful video. I've been following photography channels for a while and how I wish you had one.

Man, I love your unique style of doing these videos. Creative, fresh and personal. Keep on like that!

That Yndrasta conversion looks so striking! Excellent paint job as well. Limited pallet has been something I've enjoyed trying out especially with smaller groups like my Necromunda team.

This is a great video and a wonderful growing exercise. The GW starter sets are great to limit your colors. They often lack a primary. Drives you nuts! For me this very exercise was used on the relic board game busts I have. I only used the Zorn palette. It helps you with mixing and blending and layering and learning contrast. Lovely work by the way!

This was a great discussion for not only miniatures, but any art using colour. Thanks for making this! One little English tip for the title: "fewer paints" not "less paints". The reasoning is a bit much for youtube comments, but just thought I'd throw it out there 🤘

A fantastic combination of theory and praxis, Alex. The photography touched me and between the commentary and the painting process... *chef kiss* And besides, it's perfect for a friend of mine who is struggling to find comfort in painting miniatures without having the need of more paints.

I’ve been using the Zorn color palette for a while now and so glad I moved to it. Initially, I went to the Zorn palette to save on paint costs. As I mixed and used colors in the color palette, I found the miniatures took on a more cinematic tone that I really fell in love with. The muted colors (which are seen in your video) really spoke to me. The more I used the Zorn palette, the more I embraced what it was giving me. I’m glad you mentioned the Zorn palette at the start of the video as your opening comments had me saying Zorn palette before you even mentioned it. The final aspect in using this style is it also unifies every color I put on my miniatures. From one figure/army to another, each takes on the familiar cinematic tones of everything I paint. From what I have done previously with the color palette to any future miniatures. Everything will work together on display shelf or on the table. For me… it is the way I will paint from here on out. I can’t escape, nor do I want to, the cinematic color/tone quality It delivers.

One thing I do find cool from your minis is that the slight inconsistency in mixing really does give it a very painterly look. Reminds me of Van Gogh paintings or the background of the Mona Lisa. Just more organic looking.

I bet the staff was like "whats with all this hardware"? :)

Love all 52 Minitures stuff. Thanks for sharing your journey. 👏👍

Great video, as usual. The experiment reminds me of my time as a student and later as a doctoral student. No money for colours but desire and motivation. It increased my creativity and improvisation skills enormously.

Fantastic work.

Funnily enough, I was in a simullar predicament, As Im a civilian mariner, I work on boats. Last time I forgot my hobby stuff, so I chose to go to a local art shop. Lucky for me they had a two warhammer figures in that "introduction" (tidning?) So I picked it up along with four horrible craft paints and a prime can and off I went. Needles to say your results are miles better than mine. But it was fun! Amazing video as always.

Really lovely explanation, difficult topic but beginner friendly

Every one of these videos absolutely whips

I consume a lot of videos on RU-vid. This is very likely the best one I have ever seen. Thank you Alex ❤

Just a great Video!! The cape turned out amazing, as did the stairs!! And that Kroot is AMAZING as well!!

I too, suffer from a bit of analysis paralysis when trying to choose paints, so this process is definitely going to be something I try! As always, thanks Alex!

I love how you translate hobby into a the story of your trip. Cooking, Cars, Gardening, I would listen all with your style.

This video is a piece of art in itself. Nice work.

I actually did try a limited pallet, it was for a speed painting competition, my paints where this dark brown, olive skin tone and a vary white mint green. Managed to get second place.

Lovely video again Alex - limiting the palette makes you feel quite "arty" I find, I love it 😊

Great Video as usual. Painted Abaddon in the same way about 1 or 2 years ago. Really had a blast with this "challenge".

Wow, what a great video. I clicked on this not expecting to even watch the whole thing, but found myself sad when it was over. Captivating to say the least.

this might be one of the best videos you made...and for a second mini, that kroot looks awsome.

Stunning as always! You truly bring an artists eye to film making.

Beautiful and inspiring paintjob and video - as always!

Love the vids. If you want to try another limited palette exercise, try going for the yellow, cyan, magenta, instead of yellow, blue, red. It will give you a broader range of potential colours and it's fun to reprogram your brain's colour theory a bit.

What a great and inspiring video! Your camera work and editing is something to aspire to and I am so glad you are sharing your talent with us!

I pretty much did exactly this when I started painting miniatures again , set of 8 Vallejo black, white, silver, gold, yellow, blue, red and green, the only paints I didn't use was the green and gold , I painted 5 different Warhammer units before buying any more paint specifically for miniatures

Beautiful mini, glad you got an opportunity to expense a trip!

My watercolor teacher encouraged us to use limited palettes because it does give your piece coherence.

Beautiful scenery, Alex. Thanks for sharing those with us. For the last six months now, I've ditched all my 'hobby paints' in favour of Golden SoFlat, Schmincke Primacryl heavy body, and a handful of Kimera and inks. I find mixing so natural now, I couldn't go back to 200+ shades in a Vallejo or AK range. It's definitely made me a better painter.

This is how I've been painting for years. It makes every model a fun puzzle and I have more in common to talk to my canvas-based art friends about. Great video!!

Fantastic video! The concept is something I've been trying recently, and you convey it in such a beautiful way! Major kudos!

Man i love your videos. Also, this is definitely the hobby shake up i need right now. Thank you!

Inspiring as always!

Ahhh I love ur videos, it’s so relaxing to watch 😌

The swaying of the water in the wet palette at 1:10 is so mesmerising.

I was in the local warhammer store buying some brown paint for my Deathwing. The clerk got really excited, telling me I needed some of this for the base, and then that for the first coat, and then the other for the wash, and then and then and then I cut him off and said "no I just need one bottle of brown paint."

Truly amazing. Thank you for making this video.

What a fantastic topic, wonderful video idea with the travel and the mini looks fantastic. Only gripe would be the blade, but the armor and the stairs are simply stunning! I loved it

This is too good to be real, what an amazing video

That is one awesome intro, well done! Really love your style of video and narration!

What an amazing and beautiful journey. Thank you for sharing it with us. 🙏

I love the outcome. I also really love the idea of having less little paints on my desk. Especially since always seem to be missing something.

Mesmerazing spectacle, even more than usually. Thank you very much as always!

I do try to limit myself to a few colors when painting any given miniature, but I generally limit myself to six colors, not just 3. Sometimes I manage it with just four. I love your setting and scenery, but I can't imagine trying to paint on a boat!

i tend to prefer using five colors plus black and white. i found that mixing paint can sometimes be more convenient when you have access to both of the most common primary color systems with the red, blue, yellow system as well as the cyan, magenta, yellow system.

What an amazing conversion! Also great video as usual

Painting minis is not an art for everyone. There are a lot of us, that consider it rather craft than art, and there is nothing bad with this attitude, as long as it gives us pleasure. It is great, that there are people discovering all the different sides of the hobby though. Thanks for doing that and encouraging to do so, or just showing us, so we don't have to do it ourselves.

Very happy I watched this!

This video was recommended to me randomly by YT. I'm following a few of the mini painting channels, but I don't think I stumbled across yours before. But anyway... sir... you just got another subscriber! Just WOW.... That was VERY inspirational. I've been painting minis for a year+ now and I was actually looking for ways to improve my skills to another level. On top of that - yesterday I've been talking to a guy who wants to sell not the best glued and assembled SCE half of the Dominion box cheap! Coincidentally - a perfect way to get minis to actually train on. Thank you for making that video :) Also: the views on Faroe Islands - stunning :O Great video montage!

Love your Videos, they are calming and charming.

you continue to almost motivate out of hobby apathy. another great video... thanx dude.

Love your naration. To see a new video is always bliss 😊

The beginning of this video is the first time I’ve ever been so happy that I dropped out of art school 😅

It's a classic and quite old consideration. The more the artistic approach, the more "elitist" it is. Just because it requires even more time, understanding and competence. So it pushes the painter to find more original ideas and solutions, like using art theory, even when not really bothering about art as a theory, just applying the theory. For economic reasons, I tend not having too much paints, and yes, I also use a lot of mix with my own paintings, so I'm not surprised of the result. Again, buying more, to have already the "right" color available is also less time consuming, and most of the mini painters don't have that much time. Anyway, a good balance is always needed, but thanks for this video. By the way, very intriguing landscapes on your video!

Thank you for sharing. This was very inspirational, especially to someone still pretty new to painting.

Stunning backdrop and commentary, as usual. I appreciate your each of your videos, Alex. But this topic is one that has been on my mind for the past few months. I recently did all the Eternals from the Dominion box as living statues. It was an incredible journey with some super enjoyable results and some less desirable ones as well (to say the least). Your Yndrasta is superb and I really like the modifications you made to the model.

A classic Alex, thoughtful vid, but that said it's one of your best. The land and seascapes of the Faroes were a relaxing visual treat but the exploration of our fundamental tools made such good sense and genuinely shifted the hobby perspective. This was not colouring in toy soldiers! Alex, I love the way you get me thinking

Really cool. 👍

Thank you for this exquisite video.

Another great video. I found this especially inspiring. My first minis I ever painted were from the Massive Darkness Boardgame and all I had were some Golden Artist Acryllics. Ultramarine, Cadmium (Lt), Pyrrole red, Burnt Umber, Pthalo Gr, Titanium white and Carbon black. Even after a Lot of thinning, it went on pretty thick. But I am still pretty satisfied with what I was able to do with the palette I had to work with at my in-laws'. I've been rethinking my approach to mini painting lately and you have given me some real food for thought with this one. Thank you once again and please, keep them coming.

Though-provoking as always, thank you Alex

This video sums up why I tell everybody, GW is actively harming its customers painting success to make money.

This video was art in itself. Forever in awe of you, Alex.

I think the expense of miniatures puts alot of people off experimenting with painting. But it is an essential part of learning and growing as a painter.