Miniature Paint: Beginner's Guide 2026 | Mr Resin

Hey there, maker! If you're reading this, you're probably itching to add some color to those resin figures you've got lying around. You want to go from that monotonous grey to something spectacular, right? Don't worry, I've got you covered. 😉

The good news is that the secret to getting started is no mystery at all: acrylic paints specifically designed for miniature painting, a decent primer, and a couple of good brushes. Trust me, with that you've already got 90% of what you need to give your minis an impressive personality.

Your adventure in the world of color starts here

As a 3D printing fan, I know perfectly well that there's nothing quite like watching your wargame characters or your own creations come to life brushstroke by brushstroke. It's that final touch that transforms a cool print into a piece you can truly be proud of.

With this beginner's guide, we're going to bust all the myths around miniature painting. I want you to forget about that overwhelming feeling that you need special talent or an expensive setup. Not at all.

We're going to focus on what really matters so you get off to a great start and, most importantly, so you have a fantastic time doing it. Together we'll discover why using paints specifically designed for miniatures changes the game entirely, and which materials you absolutely need on day one.

My golden tip: Don't overcomplicate things at the start. Take it easy, focus on the basics, and celebrate every small win. I promise you, painting your first miniature is a feeling you'll never forget.

If you're not sure where to start looking, take a peek at Vallejo paints for miniatures. They're a standard in this hobby, super popular and, in my experience, absolutely brilliant for beginners. They're easy to use and the range of colors they offer is incredible.

So, if you're feeling ready, grab your brushes and let's kick off this creative journey! 🚀

Why using specific acrylic paint is your best ally

One of the questions I get asked most often is: "Hey Mr Resin, can I use cheap craft store acrylics for my minis?" And my answer is always the same, straight to the point: if you want results you can be proud of, you need paint specifically designed for miniatures. End of story!

Think of it this way: it's like comparing instant machine coffee with a freshly ground specialty coffee. They're both coffee, sure, but the experience and the end result are like night and day.

Miniature paints, like the Vallejo ranges I love so much, have two secrets that make all the difference: an ultra-fine pigment and a high density.

The magic is in the pigment

This combination is pure alchemy. Thanks to those ultra-fine pigments, you can apply incredibly thin layers that cover beautifully, but —and here's the great part— they preserve every last detail that you worked so hard to bring out with your resin printer. Every wrinkle, every rivet, every texture... it's all still there, visible and crisp.

What happens with cheap craft paints? They use much coarser and less dense pigments. When you apply them, you risk "burying" the details, leaving a grainy texture and a rough finish. Trust me, it's the fastest shortcut to frustration.

On top of that, modeling ranges are designed with the ideal consistency for brush or airbrush, they thin with incredible ease, and their color palettes are tailored to those fantasy, science fiction, or historical model worlds we love so much.

Investing in quality paints isn't an expense, it's a shortcut. It will save you hours of frustration, layers of paint you'll have to strip off, and above all, it will motivate you to keep painting when you see great results from day one.

A hobby connected to 3D printing

3D printing has completely changed the rules of the game. Interestingly, industry studies suggest that around 65% of new modelers in Spain start out with 3D printed miniatures. This demonstrates the total connection that exists between printing and painting.

That's precisely why it's so important to use paints that are up to the level of detail we achieve with our 3D printers. Fast-drying acrylics, like Vallejo Xpress Color, are perfect for this. If you want to know more, you can discover the latest trends in the hobby world here.

In short: choosing a good paint isn't a professional's indulgence. It's the foundation for enjoying the process and making your minis look the way they deserve.

Decoding the miniature painter's arsenal

When you take your first steps into the world of miniature painting, it's easy to feel a little lost. Suddenly, you hear talk of 'Base', 'Layer', 'Wash' or 'Xpress' and it sounds like someone's speaking a foreign language. Don't worry, it's happened to all of us. I promise you it's much simpler than it seems.

Imagine that each type of paint is a different tool in your toolbox. You wouldn't use a hammer to drive in a screw, right? Well, with paints it's exactly the same. Each pot is designed for a specific job, and once you understand what each one is for, you'll start painting faster and with results that will surprise you.

Types: Base, Layer, Wash, Contrast, Metallics...

To make it crystal clear, let's use an analogy that works brilliantly for me: building a house.

• Base Paints (The Foundation): These are the paints you start with. They have an incredible amount of pigment, which means they cover the primer with a solid, opaque colour in one or two thin coats. They are the perfect foundation on which you will build everything else.
• Layer Paints (The Bricks): Once you have your base, it's time to add volume. 'Layer' paints are slightly more translucent than 'Base' paints, and that's a good thing. It allows you to apply thin coats over the base colour to gradually build up highlights and colour transitions, like laying bricks one by one.
• Washes (The Rain): This is where the real magic begins! Washes are super-liquid paints, almost like an ink. When applied, the paint flows on its own into the recesses and crevices of the miniature. Like rain, it pools in the gaps and creates deep shadows almost automatically. It's a foolproof trick for adding instant depth!
• Contrast or 'Xpress' (The Prefab House): These paints are a brilliant invention, especially if you are just starting out or if you have an entire army to paint and not a lifetime to do it. With a single brushstroke of an 'Xpress' type paint you get the base colour, shadows in the recesses, and a first highlight on the raised areas. All in one!
• Metallic Paints (The Shiny Plumbing): To make armour look like steel or treasure shine like gold, you need metallic paints. They contain tiny metal particles that reflect light, creating a very convincing metallic effect. The finishing touch for swords, engines, or pipes.

Understanding these five categories is the first major step towards stopping "smearing" figures and starting to actually "paint" them.

Vallejo ranges for beginners: Model, Game and Xpress Color

One of the brands I recommend for beginners due to its quality-to-price ratio is Vallejo. So you don't get lost among their pots, here is a quick cheat sheet to know which range to use at each stage.

With this table, you already have a clear guide to choosing your first paints and starting to experiment without fear of making mistakes.

Of course, there's no point in having the best paints if you then apply them with a poor-quality brush. If you want to get it right from the start, I recommend taking a look at my guide on the best brushes for painting miniatures.

Basic supplies for painting miniatures

To start painting your minis, you don't need to spend a fortune or set up a professional studio at home. Not at all! The key, and I say this from experience, is getting a few good tools that make your work easier right from the start.

With a basic but well-chosen kit, you have more than enough to get started and see real results. I always say it comes down to four things: brushes, a palette, water, and primer. Let's look at each one.

Brushes: your sacred tool

If there's one area where you shouldn't cut corners, it's here. A good brush is the difference between getting frustrated and enjoying the process. Don't overthink it — you don't need a collection of fifty; three or four well-chosen brushes are more than enough to get started.

My recommendation for your first miniature brushes kit would be:

• A detail brush (size 0 or 1): Your best friend for painting eyes, outlining edges, and finishing those little details that bring a mini to life.
• A standard brush (size 2): This is your workhorse. You'll use it for base colour layers and larger areas. It's the one that will take the most punishment, without a doubt.
• An old brush or one for drybrushing: Don't sacrifice a good brush for this technique — that's a crime. A larger one with bristles already splayed from use is exactly what you need.

In my experience, Kolinsky sable hair brushes hold much more paint than synthetic ones, which means you dip the brush less often and waste less time. If you're curious, you can find out more about the materials that make a difference in the hobby here.

The wet palette: your new secret weapon

This is one of those tricks that, once you try it, changes everything and you wonder how you ever painted without it. A wet palette is a game-changer, as it keeps your paint fresh and at the perfect consistency for hours. Or even days!

Keep it simple! You can make one at home in two minutes. Grab a flat container (a regular airtight food container works great), line it with a layer of damp kitchen paper, and cover it with a piece of baking paper. That's it! Your wet palette is ready for action.

Water and paper: the essential accessories

In addition to brushes and the palette, there are a couple of things you probably already have at home that are absolutely essential:

• Two cups of water: And why two? Simple: one for the first "dirty" rinse where you remove the bulk of the paint, and another with clean water for the final rinse. This keeps your colours pure and your brushes will last much longer.
• Kitchen paper: Essential. You'll use it constantly to dry your brushes after cleaning them and, above all, to remove excess paint before touching the miniature.

Priming: the foundation of a good paint job

Last but equally important, we have primer. For me, using Vallejo primer is a sacred step, non-negotiable. It's what prepares the resin so the paint adheres properly, creating a smooth and uniform surface to work on.

You can apply it with a brush, with an airbrush if you're looking for an ultra-fine finish, or use a spray if you want to prime several figures in one go and save time.

With this "starter pack", I can assure you that you have everything you need to dive headfirst into the incredible world of miniature painting.

First steps: primer → base coat → shading → highlighting

Let's get to it, maker! The moment has finally come to bring that figure sitting on your desk to life. And don't stress, we're not going to tackle any super complex techniques. I'm going to show you a step-by-step method, very straightforward and one that will blow your mind with results from the very first mini.

This is the ABC of painting miniatures for beginners. Trust me, once you've got the hang of it, you'll have a solid foundation for any project. Let's go!

Step 1: Cleaning and Priming

Before a single drop of paint touches your figure, wash it thoroughly to remove any resin residue or dirt. Once dry, grab a good Vallejo primer and apply a thin, even coat. But watch out! It's much better to apply several thin coats than one thick coat that buries all the detail.

Primer colour matters (a lot):

• Black: Your best friend if you're going for deep, dramatic shadows. It also does a better job of hiding small mistakes.
• White: Perfect if you want your colours to pop and shine with their own light.
• Grey: The wild card. A fantastic middle ground that works with almost any colour.

If you want to master this step, make sure you read my article on priming miniatures, where I share all my tips and tricks.

Step 2: Base Colours

With the primer dry, the fun part arrives: getting your hands dirty with base colours. Grab your 'Base' paints or the most opaque ones you have and start covering the main areas. Is the armour metallic? Go in with your metallic colour. Is the cloak red? Then reach for the red.

For now, forget about highlights and shadows. Your only mission is to lay down a clean, solid colour coverage on each part of the figure. If that means applying two thin coats, go for it!

Step 3: Shading with a Wash

And now, the magic moment. Grab a 'Wash' (a dark wash from Vallejo is a safe bet) and apply it generously all over the area you've just painted. Go for it!

You're going to see how the ink flows on its own into the gaps, cracks, and recesses, creating shadows almost automatically. This is the trick that gives your figure depth in the blink of an eye. That said, let it dry completely before moving on.

Step 4: Highlights and Light Effects

Once the washing is fully dry, you'll notice the base color has darkened quite a bit. It's time to bring the brightness back. Pick up the same base color you used in step 2 and apply it again, but this time with a lighter touch.

Paint only on the raised areas, flat surfaces, and edges that would catch the most light. Let the darkened color from the washing stay in the shadows. And voilà! You've just created your first light and shadow contrast. Your miniature now has volume.

With these four steps, you already have a winning workflow.

Recommended starter kit to keep you sane

You walk into the store, whether physical or online, and you're faced with an endless wall of paint pots. Sound familiar? It's the beginner painter's paralysis — that moment when the sheer number of options knocks you flat. But don't worry, that's exactly why I'm here.

If you could only buy one thing to get started, my recommendation is clear: grab a good starter set. Forget about buying individual colors at the beginning. These kits are designed by people who know their stuff, to give you exactly what you need.

The power of a good starter kit

I've tried many, but if I had to bet on one, it would without a doubt be the Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set. It's no coincidence that it's a daily staple for those just getting into this hobby.

This set is a genuine Swiss army knife. It comes with 16 essential colors that, with a bit of mixing practice, can get you almost any shade you can think of. You've got primary colors, black, white, skin tones, browns, and even metallics. It's, literally, everything you need for your first minis.

Maker-to-maker tip: Start with a set like this. As you paint, you'll notice which colors run out first. Those are the ones you use the most. That's when it makes sense to start buying individual pots of those shades! Nobody needs 200 colors on day one.

Beyond the basic set

Another fantastic option are the paint sets for beginners that already come with a little of everything. Some don't just include base colors — they also come with a wash (wash), so you can dive straight into shading techniques from minute one.

The great advantage of these kits is that they save you from overthinking. Someone has already done the hard work for you, selecting the most versatile colors and paint types to get you started.

And since we're talking about colors, if the topic sparks your interest and you want to better understand how to create palettes that make your minis stand out, head over to my article on color theory for miniatures. It'll give you a solid foundation so your choices always work in your favor.

Conclusion: Grab your brushes and enjoy!

And with that, we've reached the end of the guide. As you can see, painting miniatures has far less mystery to it than it seems. The key to success isn't having a surgeon's steady hand — it's diving in without fear and, above all, enjoying every brushstroke.

Don't obsess over your first mini being perfect. Trust me, even the most seasoned painters started with a first space marine covered in blobs. The only thing that matters right now is that you pick up your brushes, your paints, and bring that figure to life — the one that's been staring at you from the shelf.

If you stick to the essentials —priming, base coat, shading and highlighting— you've already got 90% of the work done to make your minis look spectacular. The rest is pure practice and experimentation.

I hope this guide has given you that little push you needed to get started. Now it's your turn! Stop by the store to check out the starter sets and the rest of the materials — I can't wait to see the amazing things you're going to create.