Start Simple: What You Really Need to Begin

Jumping into painting DnD miniatures can feel overwhelming at first. So many tools, paints, and techniques—it’s easy to overthink it. But the truth is, you don’t need a full art studio to start. A handful of quality brushes, a few essential colors, and a basic understanding of how to apply them go a long way. At RPG Guild, many community painters started with only three brushes and a few pots of acrylic paints for miniatures.

To avoid frustration, begin with miniatures that have clear, defined details. Avoid overly complex sculpts until you get the hang of brush control and layering. Choose a well-lit area, and take your time—speed doesn’t equal quality here. Instead of buying every tool at once, invest in a few good essentials and upgrade as you go.

Cleaning and Priming Your Miniatures Before Painting

Even the best resin miniatures need a little prep before your first brush stroke. The surface might have tiny residues or bits of leftover material from production. Cleaning them with warm water and a soft toothbrush helps remove them without damaging the details. Skipping this step can lead to paint peeling or not sticking evenly.

Once dry, the next move is priming. Primer gives your paint something to hold onto and shows details more clearly. Most painters choose a white, gray, or black base—each has a purpose. White makes colors pop, black adds shadow depth, and gray offers balance. Your choice affects how the painting DnD miniatures process will flow, so experiment and see what fits your style best.

Prepping = better coverage, smoother layering, and fewer touch-ups later.

Learn Key Techniques Without Getting Overwhelmed

Mastering a few core techniques early gives you the confidence to grow your skills. Dry brushing, layering, washing, and edge highlighting form the base of any miniature painting guide. These simple approaches help define detail and shape without needing an advanced skillset.

Dry brushing is perfect for texture, using just a bit of paint on the brush to catch raised edges. Washing adds shadows into crevices, quickly giving your models depth. Layering brings clean color transitions, while edge highlights make specific parts stand out.

If you’re wondering how to paint miniatures with limited time, these techniques save effort and deliver solid results. You can always expand into blending or glazing later, but these fundamentals are more than enough for your first projects.

Next, let’s talk about color choices—because picking the right shades can completely change the final result.

Picking the Right Colors and Paint Types

Choosing colors might seem creative, but it’s also practical. Think about how the figure will be used—enemy creature? Heroic NPC? The color scheme can help visually communicate a role. Start with a limited palette to keep things consistent and avoid overcomplicating your setup.

Using acrylic paints for miniatures is the standard among painters for a reason. They dry quickly, are easy to thin with water, and have great coverage. They also allow layering without disturbing the coat underneath. It’s helpful to organize your paint into categories: base colors, highlight colors, and shade tones.

Test your color combinations on paper or a spare mini before fully committing. And remember, it’s easier to brighten a color with highlights than to fix one that’s too loud.

Working in Stages: A Practical Painting Process

Instead of rushing the full model, breaking the process into stages is the most manageable way to approach RPG miniatures painting. Focus first on base coats—these set the overall color areas. Use thin layers to preserve the sculpt’s details and let each coat dry before adding more.

After base coats, apply washes for shadows and dry brush highlights on raised surfaces. This contrast adds visual interest quickly. From there, move on to detail areas—belts, weapons, eyes—using a fine brush and steady hand. Take short breaks often. This helps avoid fatigue and keeps your work clean.

Small sessions = better focus, better results, and fewer mistakes.

Keep this order: base coat > wash > highlight > details > final touch-ups. It keeps things consistent and manageable. Now that you have a structure, what tools help the most? Let’s cover that.

Tools and Brushes That Make a Difference

Not all brushes are equal, especially when painting miniatures. A cheap brush might fray fast and ruin your precision. Invest in three types: a large brush for base coating, a fine tip for detail work, and a mid-size brush for layering and washes. Keeping your tools clean after each use extends their lifespan and maintains accuracy.

Brushes aside, a good wet palette helps keep your paints moist longer, especially when working on larger projects. A hobby knife and tweezers are also useful when prepping models or fixing tiny issues before painting. And don’t forget about your workspace—good lighting and a comfortable chair are underrated essentials.

Right tools = fewer errors, cleaner results, and longer enjoyment of the process.

You’ve got the tools, paints, and techniques—what’s next? Time to fix common mistakes that beginners often face.

Troubleshooting Common Miniature Painting Mistakes

Even with a solid plan, mistakes happen—and that’s completely normal. Paint too thick? It can hide details. Always thin your paints with water until they flow smoothly. Forgot a wash? No problem—you can still apply one after the base layer. Accidentally painted outside the lines? Let it dry, and carefully paint over it.

When trying DnD figure painting for the first time, smudges, overpainting, or uneven coats are common. These aren’t failures; they’re learning points. The best way to improve is to spot these errors and know how to recover.

Here are three beginner issues to keep an eye on:

• Skipping primer = paint that won’t stick well
• Too much paint on the brush = loss of detail
• Rushing = uneven coats or messy finish

Identifying patterns in your work and tweaking your routine helps you improve faster.

Mistakes = growth opportunities when paired with correction and patience.

If you’re ready to try again or start a new figure, you’ll apply what you’ve learned with more confidence.