How to Start Painting Miniature Figures in 2025 - A Complete Guide for Beginners

How to Start Miniature Painting in 2025 — A Complete Beginner's Guide

Miniature painting is a hobby that is experiencing its biggest boom ever in 2025. More and more people are reaching for miniatures — both collectible and those intended for wargaming, RPGs, or shelf display. If you're just starting out or thinking about getting started, this guide will walk you through all the stages: from choosing your first miniature to the finishers and tools that are truly worth having.

🎨 Why start painting miniatures?

  • It's a relaxing form of creative work
  • It greatly develops precision and patience
  • It allows you to create something unique and entirely your own
  • It's a great hobby for fantasy, sci-fi, and wargaming fans
  • Painted miniatures have higher collector's value

2025 brings even better materials, resins, and paints, and the growing community of miniature painters makes it easier than ever to learn the basics.

1. Choosing your first miniature — how to start?

Beginners often choose overly complex models. It's best to start with miniatures that are:

  • 32 mm – easiest to paint
  • with clear details
  • without overly thin elements
  • made from good quality resin

Printallica.eu miniatures — for example, from the Valhalla Clash – Norse Legends or Black Bird Miniatures series — are perfect for this, as their details are sharp and take paint ideally.

2. What to buy to start? — Your first painting kit

You don't need a fortune to get started. Here are the basic tools for beginners:

✔ Brushes (2–3 pieces)

  • size 0 or 1 – for details
  • size 2 – for larger surfaces
  • a drybrush

✔ Acrylic paints

Most popular brands: Vallejo, Citadel, AK 3rd Gen, Army Painter Warpaints.

✔ Primer

  • white – for light, pastel models
  • black – for dark models
  • grey – most versatile

✔ Additional tools

  • craft knife
  • files or sandpaper
  • super glue
  • wet palette
  • matte varnish for finishing

3. Preparing the miniature — key to a perfect result

1. Washing the miniature

New resin models may have mold release residue. Wash them in warm water with dish soap, using a soft brush.

2. Removing mold lines

Use a craft knife, files, or sandpaper to smooth the edges of the model.

3. Gluing and assembly

Dry-fit the parts first, then apply glue.

4. Applying primer

Apply thin coats from a distance of 20–30 cm. Best primers in 2025: Vallejo Surface Primer, Citadel Spray, AK Primer.

4. First painting — step by step

Step 1: Basecoats

Apply a thin, even layer of paint. Never apply paint that is too thick — dilute it slightly with water.

Step 2: Shadows (wash / shading)

Washes automatically add depth. Most popular colors:

  • brown – skin
  • black – armor, fabrics
  • sepia – bones, wood

In 2025, Speedpaints 2.0 and Contrast Paints are particularly popular.

Step 3: Highlights

Simplest techniques for beginners:

  • edge highlighting
  • drybrush
  • layering

Step 4: Details

This stage gives the miniature character. Paint elements such as:

  • eyes
  • buckles
  • metallic details
  • fabric textures

Step 5: Varnish

Protect the model with varnish:

  • matte – most popular
  • satin – delicate sheen
  • glossy – metallic elements

5. Bases and plinths — beauty is in the details

A base can add up to 30% attractiveness to a model. Use sand, pebbles, static grass, pigments, or cork. In 2025, "cinematic bases" imitating snow, lava, fog, or ash are fashionable.

6. Common beginner mistakes

  • Too thick layers of paint — dilute your paints.
  • Painting without primer — will degrade quality and durability.
  • Too difficult a model to start with — begin with simple 32 mm miniatures.
  • Cheap brushes — have at least one good one for details.
  • Poor lighting — use a lamp with cool light.

7. How long does it take to learn miniature painting?

Miniature painting is a process of gradual development:

  • 1 week – first painted miniature
  • 1 month – solid basics
  • 3–6 months – tabletop+ level
  • 12 months – competition miniatures

8. Which miniatures to choose for learning in 2025?

The best miniatures to start with:

  • 32 mm – easiest scale
  • 75 mm – great for learning shading
  • Resin miniatures – sharp details, ideal for painting

On Printallica.eu, you'll find miniatures in themes of:

9. Summary — how to start today?

To start miniature painting in 2025, you only need to:

  1. Choose a simple 32–75 mm miniature
  2. Buy a basic set of tools
  3. Prepare the model (wash, prime, assemble)
  4. Perform: basecoat → wash → highlight → details
  5. Protect with varnish

This hobby develops creativity, relaxes, and brings immense satisfaction — and each subsequent miniature will be better and better.

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