Painters Arsenal

Painters Arsenal: miniature painting tutorial cards from artists worldwide

A collection of step-by-step painting recipes from miniature painters around the world, printed onto cards you keep at your painting station

What is inside a booster

Each booster contains eight cards. Seven of those are recipe cards, each one a step-by-step painting tutorial from an artist: a specific colour scheme, a specific material, or a specific technique applied to a specific miniature. The eighth card is a short reader that explains how the booster works and how to follow a recipe at the desk.

The cards are designed for painters who want to try something new without working through hours of video. The paints, the dilution, and the order of layers are visible at a glance, so you can take the card straight to your wet palette and start mixing.

Painting techniques used on the cards

The cards are written so you can follow them even if a technique is new to you. If you want a refresher before picking up your brush, here is a short guide to the techniques the cards reference, with the right paint dilution and a quick step-by-step.

Base colour

To achieve a smooth base coat in miniature painting, thin your acrylic paints to a 3:1 or 2:1 paint-to-water ratio, depending on the paint brand.

Using a Redgrass wet palette keeps the paint at a consistent consistency and prevents it from drying out too quickly. The paint flows smoothly and does not cover up fine details on the miniature. Two thin layers are usually enough for even coverage without hiding intricate features. This method ensures the primer is properly covered while preserving the miniature’s details, providing a strong foundation for further painting and detailing.

Blending

Blending creates smooth transitions between colours or shades, adding depth and realism. There are two main methods: layering and wet blending.

• Layering. Apply thin, semi-transparent layers of paint to build up a gradient. Start with a base coat, then mix a lighter or darker shade and apply it over the base colour in thin, controlled layers. Gradually add more layers, focusing on highlights and shadows until the transition appears smooth. Thinning the paint to a 3:2 paint-to-water ratio on a wet palette helps control flow and ensures smooth coverage without hiding fine details.
• Wet blending. This direct method requires you to work quickly. Apply the base colour, and while it is still wet, introduce a second colour where you want the transition. Use a clean brush to mix the two colours directly on the miniature, adjusting until you create a smooth gradient. Wet blending works best on larger surfaces and curved areas like cloaks and muscles.

Tip. For both techniques, a wet palette helps maintain paint consistency and prevents it from drying too quickly.

Glaze

Glazing is a miniature painting technique where you apply thin, translucent layers of paint over a base colour to subtly alter its hue, value, or saturation. The method enhances depth and richness, allowing for smooth transitions and nuanced shading on your models.

1. Prepare the glaze. Mix a small amount of paint with a glazing medium or water to achieve a translucent consistency. The ratio varies depending on the desired effect and the paint’s opacity. We recommend at least a 1:2 paint-to-water ratio.
2. Use a wet palette. A wet palette helps maintain the glaze’s consistency and prevents it from drying out too quickly, providing better control during application.
3. Load the brush. Dip your brush into the glaze mixture, then remove excess by lightly dabbing it on a paper towel. The brush should be damp, not overloaded.
4. Apply the glaze. Gently brush the glaze over the area you wish to modify, using smooth, even strokes. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying additional layers to gradually build up the desired intensity.

Tip. Glazing is a subtle technique that often requires multiple layers to achieve the desired effect. Patience is key.

Wash and recess

Washing is a miniature painting technique that enhances depth by applying a thin, pigmented solution over the model, allowing it to flow into recesses and crevices. The wash settles into low areas and accentuates shadows and details, creating natural shading.

1. Prepare the wash. While many commercial washes are ready to use, you can create your own by diluting acrylic paint with water or medium to a thin consistency. We recommend a 1:3 paint-to-water ratio.
2. Apply the wash. Using a brush such as our size 2, liberally apply the wash over the targeted areas, allowing it to flow into recesses. For controlled shading, focus the application specifically on the crevices.
3. Manage excess wash. Watch for pooling, where excess wash accumulates undesirably. Use a clean brush to wick away surplus wash from raised surfaces or areas where it does not belong.
4. Allow to dry. Let the wash dry completely before proceeding with additional painting steps. This ensures the shading effect is preserved and prevents smudging.

Tip. Gravity affects how the wash settles. Position your model so that the wash flows into the desired areas, enhancing natural shadowing.

Dry brushing

Dry brushing highlights raised details to enhance depth and texture. Choose a flat, stiff brush, such as our size 4 dry brush. Use paint straight from the pot without dilution. After dipping the brush lightly, remove excess paint until it feels almost dry. Then lightly brush over raised areas, gradually building up highlights to achieve natural, subtle results.

Stippling

Stippling involves applying tiny dots of paint to create texture, shading, or smooth colour transitions. It is excellent for simulating wear, creating realistic textures, and achieving subtle blends. Use the tip of a fine brush, such as our size 2/0, to apply small dots gently. Keep your paint consistency slightly diluted, not too thick or too watery, for precise control.

Edge highlight

Edge highlighting applies lighter shades of paint to the edges of your model to create contrast and emphasise its contours, adding depth and definition.

To achieve clean edge highlights, use a fine, sharp-tipped brush that holds its point well such as our size 2/0 brush. Prepare your paint on a Redgrass wet palette and dilute it to a 3:1 or 3:2 paint-to-water ratio depending on the paint’s thickness. This maintains smooth flow and control without losing opacity.

Load the brush by dipping it into the paint and removing excess on a paper towel. Instead of using the tip, run the side of the brush along the edge for more stability and consistent lines. For tighter spots, carefully use the tip with a steady hand.

Tools that pair well with the cards

The cards reference paints, brushes, and a wet palette. The tools below are the ones the recipes are written against, so the dilutions and timings hold up.

Everlasting Wet Palette v2

The recipes assume a wet palette so the paint stays workable through layering and glazing. The Everlasting v2 holds the dilution the cards specify and keeps the colours fresh between sessions, which is the point at which most beginners give up on glazes.

RGG360 Painting Handle v2

Edge highlights and glazes both depend on a steady angle of attack. The RGG360 lets you rotate the miniature in your hand without putting it down, so you can follow the contours the way the cards describe rather than the way the model happens to be glued to a base.

Redgrass R9 Desk Lamp

A recipe is only as accurate as the light you mix the colours under. The R9 is a high CRI daylight lamp built for close, colour-critical work, and is what the artists used when they painted the originals on the cards.