Who Are You Painting Miniatures For? 

My personal standard is when I look at it and say, "hey, that doesn't suck." I'm pretty good with that.

I have been painting minis for 30+ years. Am I the best or fastest painter? No. Am I at a level that I want to be ? No. Do my minis work for what I want? Hell yeah. Do I have a blast painting? Yes. Do I get to teach my kids and grandkids to paint Yes. I'm happy so that works for me. Great Video and much needed

False. I am painting for the Emperor. You have shown your true colours, bearded man.

The last 10 or so of your videos I've watched havent done much for my painting or gaming, besides the wet palette, but Good Lord if you havent motivated me to make a lot changes in my life in general via associating them to something I do a lot when I should be improving myself. Thanks a lot. Your videos are amazing and one could say life changing.

3 yr old son "Who it that?" Me "He's called Adam." Son "But he's not real, he's just in your phone!"

I rarely post reactions to videos but this was actually a big eye opener. and all I have to say is thank you. I'm definitely in a different mind set now that I saw this

Alert! Every painting-newbie please watch this video to avoid frustration!

I have been painting for 40+ years. I am not great, and I do not aspire to be. I love what I do and have fun doing it, and that is all that matters. Great video.

Very good advice, not only for painting but in life in general. If you do something in order to be congratulated or validated by others, then when others don't respond as you hoped, you'll surely hit despair. This is a process which relies 100% on external, uncontrolled behaviour, and so you're 100% at the mercy of things you don't control. Being that malleable will tear you down and stress you out of unpredictability. Everyone knows about all these stars who seem to have everything, money, fame, etc, and then surpisingly still manage to fall into huge depressions and crippling addictions. A lot of them were certainly following the same process of doing their thing only to be recognized and adulated by others. Then when it starts not happening anymore or not enough, they hit bottom. The view others have on you can only make you feel good temporarily, as well as money, drugs or any activity done for bad reasons, thinking it will make you happy on the long run. It doesn't, and you have to do it over and over again to feel that little bit of externally sourced satisfaction because everytime it will run out just afterwards. This is not living, this is trying to fill a void frantically without ever seeing the end of it. Most of us do it without being aware of it, but if you manage to be honnest with yourself and see your activites for what they are, in order to change them or the way you do them, you can begin to follow another path, your very own path, which is the one path that can make you really happy with your life.

This has become one of my favorite channels. 51 year old here and your advice and suggestions are on point. Thanks a bunch

Mentioning the pro painters was really great for me. Often I look at stuff like heavy metal paintjobs, then back to my work, then back to heavy metal stuff. I just feel inadequate at the end of the day. It helps to know that it's not really a competition, unless it is... but outside of awards it's not.

As usual, there's great advice in this video! The reality is that people will either be impressed with your painted miniatures or they won't but at *no point* should this be the focus of your efforts. Have fun and enjoy what you're doing; after all, that's what a hobby is supposed to be about. Savor that sense of satisfaction and happiness when you finish single miniatures as well as when you put that first fully painted squad on the table.

This is one of the many reasons i subbed. Often times the most important and maybe even obvious answer is the one we don't think of or don't want to hear. Love your content, glad you addressed this topic.

I started this hobby in December, and this channel has been one of my favorites, and it's because of videos like this. So relate-able! I got very frustrated early on because I just wanted my army painted already so I could play! So I did that; I rushed through 90% of my stormcast army and it didn't turn out as nice as I'd like. I couldn't edge highlight to save my life, so I didn't even try. After watching a few (dozen) painting tutorials, I slowed down and began painting 3 - 5 models at a time. I found models I like to paint, not models someone told me are competitive. Turns out I like Nurgle! NEVER would have thought that! I'm slowly working my way through the Deathguard half of DI, and my models look amazing. Thank you Atom, for videos of encouragement. I'm a very busy husband and father and painting is my daily release.

I might be wrong Atom, but I think that this can simply be the most juicy video in the entire history of the channel! It simply touches the bedrock of (for many) the most important aspect of the hobby - painting, all all the headache we get along with it:-)

As I've gotten older, and I've been painting figures for around 40 years now, in some ways my painting has improved, and in other ways it has declined. My ability to use techniques, tools, and products has greatly improved, while the steadiness of my hand, and eyesight has gotten worse! I look at some of the freehand work I did 20 years ago, and know that there is no way I could replicate that. But I look at the kind of haphazard dry-brushing, and the lack of a wash or highlighting, and see how I've improved. Am I better or worse? Probably neither, just different.

Another fantastic video. I always appreciate your presentation style and also how accurate you are when editting in the video link when you say "pa-chow".

So very true about finishing a unit in a timely manner or you may not like how the first pieces turn out. I get bored of working on a particular scheme and will switch to something else then come back to an old scheme years later. Then I have to paint the way I did then to make sure the models match..... and remember how and what was used. I now keep a painting journal that records what paint I use, what styles were applied and what order everything is done.

if there wasn’t any painting, i would have never got into the hobby painting & lore is where i have my fun. i paint & read books for the same reason, it’s just some good relaxed fun

I needed that pep talk right now...much appreciated! Got some primer drying in the kitchen, a first in a few months. Also, thank you again for taking the time to chat and autograph at FnordCon.

Paint for the Paint God! Two thin coats for the Two Thin Coat Throne! I paint for my own amusement, and because I can't bear fielding an unpainted mini. I'm looking forward to trying out some of these new Contast Paints.

Took your advice, went to the model bench and worked for an hour. I paint military/historical Miniatures, 54mm +, so I’m going for “display” quality. Haven’t painted a fig in 3 years, just kinda wanted to try it again, without the pressure of the “competition” mindset. Thanks for these videos.

Once again, your insight into the mindset of this hobby is imaginative and insightful! A great video!

Tips i want to give to people regardless of painting level or skill 1: feeling low in confidence or ability? Grab a chaff unit like say a poxwalker, a tau drone, a gretchin or simple ork boy. Use a shade or just 1 color and see how it goes. 2: keep experimenting with colors and mixtures from the citadel range or other paint making companies. You can stumble onto amazing effects you never could make otherwise by just layering on the model or blending on the pallet. 3: use as little paint as possible and make it smoother by using hot water or boiled water for very good blending and smoothing paint. Remember each model is a lesson after completion. Go back and look at what you learned from it, do touch-ups if you feel brave or let them be as you made them to the quality standard of that time. Looking back can be inspiring to help you see your progress. Each model has to show you something you did well or did wrong. I keep my mistakes to remind me what went wrong. Good luck!

i've been binging these videos while priming/sub-assembling/painting my first set of adeptus mechanicus skitarii rangers for kill team. its been really relaxing to listen to him talk about great tips for this hobby - not just painting tips but things that can be applied to general life like this video. love these videos :)

I stopped with the hobby for 18 years. Only started again 2 years ago because I find modeling and painting relaxing. That's my entire reason. It's always nice to hear if someone likes what I did but I play too few games to show them off. As long as I'm happy doing my hobby I don't really mind.

I have only been painting for a few months and I have been getting great results and great feedback from friends. The method I use is: 1) started with slap chop and moved on to airbrushing zenithal prime (I wasn't as crazy about how slap chop looked, but was good practice for speedpainting 2) Army painter speed paints with edge highlighting and dry brushing with regular acrylics. If I can do it, so can you. I don't plan on getting better at painting via regular acrylics with wet blending techniques etc., as my goal is just to get them table top ready. P.S. Uncle Atom, you are one of my fav RU-vid channels. Keep up the great vids 🙂

I’m painting for me. Based on your table ready advice that is my mantra. Uncle Atom you da man. You are my muse for painting. Thank you for living.

I just very recently, as in the last month, got back into the hobby after around 15 years. My biggest focus has been to just paint for me. Improve my technique. And just have some fun. Even after a month I’ve been pretty happy that it seems that I am definitely better then I was so long ago. One major benefit that I’ve found for me is all the model painters that are on RU-vid giving advice. But that advice also comes with the statement that this is a fun hobby and how you paint is up to you. And you should paint for yourself. Thanks for another great video!

Thank you. This is why you're my go-to GW Guy and have been for years!

This is very true. I went through this long ago. But not anymore I enjoy painting for my self and building terrain for myself as well. Thankyou Uncle Atom!

Love your content It motivates me a lot

Really good choice and point to emphasise in this week's video. Delivered in that familiar Atom style (a good thing)!

I just took up miniature painting 4 months ago. I have a wife and 2 kids so time just isn't there for a lot of things. Blacksmithing, woodworking, oil painting, bonsai. No time for any of my old hobbies. The set up and clean up for those things were just too time consuming, but I still need some sort of artistic outlet. Miniature painting is great. It takes up very little space and I can be painting in less than 5 minutes and can be cleaned up just as fast. Someday I'll have time again. For now I'm really enjoying it and it keeps thing simple.

Much needed insights. Thanks, Atom.

I paint for my mom. We paint together. I know our time on Earth ticks away and we never know how long our clock is wound for, so I make sure to cherish every moment I have with her. Here's to mini painting!

Great video and topic, thank you Uncle Atom!

Amazing business book by Dan Sullivan applies here called The Gap And The Gain. Most people look at where they want to be and get frustrated with how far they have to go. A trick to happiness is instead have that goal, but focus on how far you have come so far. Easier said than done, but when you catch yourself in that gap and can remind yourself to look at the gain, it is super helpful.

Always feels good to hear a voice of reason on the internet once in a while.

Unkie Atom you are a superstar, I am going through a bit of a hobby burnout, was just about to load up DayZ on my PC and noticed this video and it has somewhat inspired me to get my next mini started. Thank you, as ever I love your content. Thanks for being such a great hobby hero.

You've helped me paint just for me & my ASOIAF miniatures. Just me & my game

Again great advice for painting, but I’ve also used this for my guitar and voice performances. Well done

I'm very blessed to have worked on electronics all my life and have the hands of a surgeon, however as a newbie to this painting minis thing learning the techniques and finding what works for me and what doesn't can be frustrating if it doesn't work how I want. I sometimes have to take a breath and realize that some of my pieces are still beautiful even if they aren't "perfect".

I started out in the mini game in 02 and can say from then to now my skills are leaps and bounds. Many thanks for your tips and others that have super charged my skill sets. Not yet a master but still a humble apprentice.

Such a valid video even for established painters. I was in a painting slump and just browsed competition level paint jobs that people were sharing online. It stopped me from painting rather than inspiring me. I'm now going to go back to my minis with a fresh perspective. Thanks guv.

Very well said and great point. Keep it up!

Thanks Uncle Atom, great video. Always looking forward :)

I love this video. Truly insightful hobby motivation.

I feel like this video needs to be shared about so much! I used to get stuck painting cause I wasnt good, or wasnt fast or any of those things, so I wouldn't get anything painted. Eventually I gotnaick of painting like this and now i paint till I'm happy, then stop. I paint so much more now than i ever did before, cause I love the doing for me, not others!

I remember my first unit a year ago, a 5 man squad of liberators. I loved them, thought I was an amazing painter. Never had dry brushing, and the only wash I used at the time was reikland flesh for the gold.looking back on them I see how “horrible” they were and how much improvement needed to be made. Fast forward and i am a significantly better painter then I was, but it took months to get there along with months of being scared to paint in fear of not having models on standard with my 20+ years experience friends. This was very helpful in keeping up my low motivation and all new painters need to see this

Great post. Such a great point. This hobby is a great relaxation for me. I enjoy painting- for my own appreciation & enjoyment. I like to try different things/ways of painting & try to improve a bit each figure/squad. As long as you are happy doing what you’re doing- that’s the important thing Thanks for a wonderful channel & a great hobby resource!

I was at a standstill painting my minis due to "personal goals" frustrations, and your suggestion about painting plastic ( spoons, sprues, etc.) was a huuuge pick me up to get moving on with my painting. Im painting for me, not everyone else. Excellent advice on this man!!!🤓🤓🤓🤓

Pro painter. I only paint for myself. But it's fun to show off. Also good luck, never turn down free advice on painting. It helps.

Couldn't agree more. This is the way to a peaceful mind.

Excellent advice, Sir! I really love the painting aspect of this hobby! I took my Tyranid models' color scheme from the Space Hulk board game Genestealers. Adapting them has been slower but very rewarding for me!

I’m painting so I don’t have to spend time with my family or do work around the house. It’s working pretty well so far! 😂

I think it helps to also take photos of your early work and keep them. It is cool to look back 10 years to a model long gone from your collection and see how you have progressed.

It's easy to let comparing your painting to others ruin your enjoyment of the process. I look at it this way I'm having fun painting my stuff and it's at the end of the day a hobby. I like to see a bit of progression in my painting however slow and I'm not hugely adept and will never win awards or anything but it's fun. Tabletop ready is good for me and people should always keep one or more of the early models they painted because when you compare them with your current stuff you see how much improvement you've actually made from when you began.

The most motivating videos to be found!

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us! Your videos are really giving me more energy for the hobby!

Sage painting and life advice, as always:)

I am an artist, and I needed this video. My models are good, but where I struggle is digital illustration. I'm a life long traditional artist, but would love to do illustrations for GW and Wizards and others, and I find that I am so impatient with it, I am no where near as good as those artists, I need to reign myself in, stop comparing myself to them, paint for me, and eventually, I'll get there.

I have been painting for years As I got older I stopped validating myself by what others think and tripping over my own ego. I have probably painted around 2,000+ minis, boats planes, buildings. I have the first model I painted in the early sixties The quality of work over the years gets better. Now we have access to masses of models, paints supplies. You never stop learning. I guess I love painting. Started 56 years ago. I learn a lot from videos like this one. I just do the best job I can and if someone else likes it and they seem to enjoy my work I smile.

Heres a good one! Breath of fresh air from the last video.

I enjoyed this video, I have always take point as long as I am happy with my paint job on my model, I am happy. That is all, It great when other people like the paint job too.

Choosing a level of detail and a style and consistently sticking to it regardless of your skill level is pretty important.

I think my initial hesitancy when I started painting was the phrase “How to”. I saw thing everywhere saying, “this is how you paint these models” or “Use these colors when painting this miniature”.

I have two levels of painting: One is for roleplaying where I really try to capture the figure The other is for wargamming. These figures based four to a stand and are seen from four feet away and I'm more concerned with their position on the table than the layers of shading. A trick I use: have a few well painted figures sprinked in the 200+ figure army. When a visitor comes in and is impressed by the volume, I "randomly" pick up a figure or two. What he doesn't know...

Great video, thank you.

Покрас миниатюр для меня это способ погрузиться в вселенную, которую я собираю. Когда на столе я вижу покрашенные миниатюры, я словно попадаю в мир, который мы так кропотливо реконструируем во время игры. По сему, наверное, я крашу для себя, для того, что-бы быть внутри этой вселенной, не быть всего лишь наблюдателем. Я в хобби не так уж давно. Всего 3 года, но всегда старался красить, конверсить миниатюры. Всегда приятно видеть на столе покрашенные миниатюры. Давно уже смотрю ваш канал, и вы выводите на размышление очень правильные вещи.

The RU-vid videos showing the proper techniques are out there, so anyone can actually get better at painting, but personally, I really don't "want" to waste time doing hundreds of layers and blends. A base coat, a wash and a few layered highlights is all I'm willing to commit.

I am a slow butt painter but I like the results I get and practicing on cheap reaper miniatures helped me alot. What I can say is practice a lot on all types of miniatures and with as many different colors as you can

Thanks for the reminder Uncle Adam. Sometimes I can forget why I'm painting my models in the mists of getting caught up in work or family life. I got into the hobby for fun and to play games. This is my reminder that it's suppose to stay fun. Thanks again!

Omg, this is so relatable.Thank you. I wish this video had different subtitles in a bunch of languages so I could show all my foreign friends.

Best advice ever. As a teacher I often find myself worried about young ones being more concerned about what people think of themselves than what they really are. Sadly, with the rise of the social media that way of thinking is not a teenage thing anymore, and more and more adults keep falling into the same trap. It doesn´t matter if you paint, sing, train at the gym or whatever: do it because you want to become better than you are now. Do it because you want to improve, not because other people´s opinions about you.

I have spent months on one mini and dont regret it. I learned a lot during that time. with practice I get faster. I also read tons of stuff about color, light, and technique and try to simplify it down to something I can handle until learned. Its all about my vision of the model and making the game fun for other people- even if I lose.

Thanks so much for this.

Great video atom, wished I heard it a long time ago...I’m more of a modeler never really got too far into the painting aspect of the hobby. Unfortunately life hit me in a way where I can no longer model the way I was once capable of. A few models I recently actually sent to Sam were made at my pinnacle of perfectionism and also getting it done...ism...if that makes sense...and I feel they were some of my best works. All other projects I had I am finding are either halfway done or not even started in compared to how I initially planned them to be...perfectionism is both a gift and a curse...but patience is certainly a virtue...as Kurt Cobain once wrote, “take your time, hurry up, choice is yours but don’t be late”...trust me those words are more important to me now than ever before and what you say here makes perfect sense with that. At the end of it all? If you’re satisfied with what you’ve done? Realistically that’s all that matters...again, great LIFE advice among hobby advice... love your channel love your thoughts. Many thanks!

I won some local painting competitions last year and now I aim to be painting to a good enough standard as fast as possible.

What an excellent video!

Very well said, sir.

Wise words as always.

Wise words. very wise, it took me a while to learn it.

One of the bigger hurdles I've had to get over is seeing the handful of models that I'm really proud of that I painted two years ago. Due to various circumstances I was away from the hobby from then until this Spring (And a small bit last Fall) and see how blegh stuff I paint now is when compared to the models I painted two years ago. I don't think I've wholly gotten over that, but something I've started to do is I just put the model down on my desk and look at it when sitting normally about two feet away. Does it look fine? If yeah, then great, I've done fine. I get so stuck on how things look when under lamp being viewed inches away or being viewed from a photo when light blaring on it putting every single little mistake front and center that I forget that nobody will ever see the mini like that. That's mainly for troops tho. HQs, elites, and special stuff I do try to make perfect under the spotlight. For example I'm doing Black Templars now and the Initiates I make "good enough" while I put a lot of effort into the Sword Brothers as they can also be used as Chapter/Company Champions or even an Emperor's Champion so I want them to look the part of a fancy and well-painted centerpiece.

I'm my own worst critic. I never think what I paint is good enough BUT I enjoy painting and working on my skills and learning new things. Tip: Buy little metal agitator balls, put them in your paint bottles and shake them like crazy before using them. I had no idea my paints weren't mixed properly until someone told me to do this. It makes a huge~ difference for beginners.

I've been painting for almost 20 years and this is a great video for any skill level. It is easy to get down on yourself when scrolling through IG or the most recent competition. The pursuit of your self-improvement shouldn't be viewed through a lens affected by the latest award winning entry by the top ten painters in the world. Those painters have likely spent a lifetime in the fine arts. Focus on just improving one aspect of your painting and look back at what you did a week ago or a year ago.

Just painted my first thing. Super happy with the results. But, I know it's not as great as others. I know not to expect mine to be the best, but I want to get better. I will probably keep that first figure on display on my bookshelf forever as a reminder of where I started.

I am a working artist in my day job....if you think your good 'enough' your not moving forward, the chase for perfection is an impossible search but the education you get whilst searching is the important part, same as everything in life.

As an educated artist I can tell all of you that it never stops, practicing learning paying attention to you process it never stops. I’m working on my painting skills since I can walk and I still learn new stuff every day I’m getting better with every project I start and finish. Never give up, paint for what you like. If someone likes it is the famous cherry on the top.

Thanks for this!

I recommend a starting mini painter paint metal minis, because you can easily strip a paint job you hate with acetone, while plastic minis will melt with acetone. You can clean paint off plastic minis with something like Simple Green or Awesome cleaners. But that takes more time and care, and the video I saw on those was not tested on all plastics used for minis.

This is such a great video serie ... Sometimes its like you teach lifelessons, not talking about painting.

We need Tabletop Minions stickers for our paint boxes!

A plain black base can throw off the look of what you are painting so always think of the base as the piece that ties the model together. Because the base also tells a story or setting that your model is in.

I've been painting figs for almost 20 years and I dropped in on the topic of practice etc in an earlier vid. One trick I used to improve was painting spare/scrap parts. I've worked at it a lot and was even good enough to win a couple 3rd place awards in competitve painting. It took me a long time and there is always room for improvement. I've even painted stuff for friends. But for my regular stuff in my armies/collection is for me. It all looks good and I'm happy with it, but apart from some centerpiece heroes, I doubt ANY of it would pass muster in a comp and that's fine. What you've said here is pretty much exactly what I've told others. "Painting for you" is the real leaping point in the hobby. Because it will be a more positive and constructive motivator going forward

Can you do, or have you already done, a video on getting into small publisher wargames? We kind of end up as demo guys. How do we promote the game or find opponents?

A metaphor for living your life in an authentic way.

I started to paint for myself. I like miniature everything and wanted to learn how to create something in miniature. Then my attention turned to my nephews, I paint minis to inspire their imaginations and creativity.

As with some other videos I am way way late. On top of this advice always always be encouraging that they take the time and love of the game to paint in the first place. When I made my first big location change in my life a fellow gamer was going to GW Gamesday and entering the golden demon. I told him he would come home with one and his reply was no. His tabletop work blew away what everyone else did but he did not brag and was always sharing what and how to either replicate his work or just give ideas how to improve our own style. Anyway fast forward and few month and I pick up the White Dwarf to see won and see my fellow game buddy's name and models at #1 for best 40k squad and #3 in the open competition. But I will mostly remember him for being one of the best in never criticize another persons work and in that when it comes down to we are grown ass adults playing with admittedly fancy toy soldiers and we are here to have fun, socialize, have fun and winning the game comes secondary to that.. So even if you think your work sucks you will improve and there will always be a better painter. God knows I look at some older models from the RT days that still survive vs. what I do now are even starker than our hosts.

This advice applies to allllllllll forms of art. I used to draw fantasy concepts and illustrations and it got to a point where I had to stop because I was too concerned with impressing people who would give me a job and not myself. I even started mini painting as a hobby to help with having something that I could just do for myself and my dnd group