How do you git gud?

[visual yarrow]

I am a newbie and do my best to learn as much as I can and practice a lot. Every project I try something new. Still, I don’t know how to get to the next level. I watch tutorials on YouTube, but not always able to apply it to the minis I have. My minis never fit those in the videos.

What is the best way to improve your technique? Where can I find things I can practice? Do you have any recommendations for a video? Any other tips?

[drifting glen]

learn some theory then try to aply it, usually getting good is mainly achieved by mastering basics like volumetric highlights, understanding of textures and shapes. I think i got rather good by searching for inspiration, then getting mini i really like and then applying little bit of paintjob that inspired me. For example i find really neat krieg guardsmen, tried to replicate nmm, failed but learned a lot, then few weeks later tried to replicate in better way and success - after month i mastered basics of nmm

cautious practise with retrospective thinking, asking better painters and ultimately enjoying hobby is a key

[cerulean orbit]

This might sound cliché but practice. Just taking your time and practicing on minis you enjoy and that brings you.
I don't often watch videos and when I do. It's because I want to paint a specific model and I'm looking for something to help me paint it.

It's a slow process but just taking your time and experimenting when you paint will help greatly.

For my painting journey, painting as much as I could helped me the most. Painting is a skill that needs to be practiced

[drifting glen]

passion bring greatness

also don’t be ashamed of being bad at something, we all ve been there

[formal wind]

I find YouTube helpful if I’m doing something specific. Just binge watching videos isn’t very helpful. You need to practice what you see for it to stick.

[trim cliff]

All of the above but particularly for practice: try to paint 1h every day

Ideally in the evening, as your brain will then process it during the night

[drifting glen]

i am against 1h painting every day, it is not sweatshop labor, it is hobby, i prefer to have my pace but each project i try something new

to my mind repetition is a way to burnout

also try new settings, it is difficult to learn how to paint holograms in sci-fi setting as well as you cant lear plate armor painting only aliens ect.

[formal wind]

Yeah I agree with somber butterflydude. Forcing yourself to paint when you really don’t want to isn’t gonna make you enjoy the hobby.

[urban shell]

You should paint regularly regardless, it doesn't have to be 1 hour every day, but paint often.

The important thing isn't just practice, there are people who have been painting and "just practicing" for decades and still aren't very good at painting. You need to find new techniques, theories, ideas, and excute on them, and keep doing that, try new stuff, push yourself, try more new stuff, go outside of your comfort zone all the time, use reference, copy other people's style or work who are better than you, and just keep pushing.

[harsh ivy]

redpiano’s advice is gold. I would just add: don’t look only at miniature painters for inspiration/reference. Look at canvas painters, muralists, movies, etc. And observe things in real life (especially light and shadows). Also I don’t think this can be overstated: don’t be afraid to try new things. Even if they don’t turn out as you thought/hoped, you’ll learn something.

[formal wind]

I’ve started observing a lot in real life, how light catches on to objects.

[elfin nova]

Also: share what you have when you have it, asking for people what would be great to practice for the next one? 'Cause we don't know where you stand right now, nor what you are aiming for. 😉

[visual yarrow]

I’m sorry I disappeared after opening this post. I’ll go over everything you wrote!

[visual yarrow]

I find it hard to find inspiration because I struggle to find the technique used in the minis I see online. The tutorials I find don’t fit the minis I have and it is a bit depressing to try and mimic something I don’t understand

[drifting glen]

thats why i said learn basics, almost any miniature done using same principals

[visual yarrow]

It takes me a lot of time to paint each mini. Several days each. I see what other people here are do and I want to learn all of those skills. I just don’t know how to learn it.
I do try to practice as much as I can

[formal wind]

I can usually not paint a mini in one day

Two minimum

[visual yarrow]

I don’t know why, but it feels like this is not the case. I did see many tutorials and try to apply what I have learned, but many just contradict each other. There are many options in this domain and the basic is unclear

[visual yarrow]

My quickest were two days. The usual is a week or two

[visual yarrow]

But which videos should I watch and then practice? What are techniques that are important for me to learn?

[formal wind]

Learn how to do a good basecoat first

You have to do that every mini you do

[visual yarrow]

I don’t have the time to do one hour each day. But I do it when I feel like I will enjoy it.
Do you have recommendations for specific techniques I should learn and practice?

[drifting glen]

in terms of order of importance - wet pallet, thinning paint, basecoating, brush control, mixing your own colour, NOT BEING AFRAID TO PUSH CONTRAST AND GO BRIGHT

[visual yarrow]

This is something I work on. I usually just paint randomly and mass everything up.
Any additional recommendations?

[visual yarrow]

Adding it to my list! Thank you!

[formal wind]

Paint with purpose. Sit down and try to learn something specific. I don’t do it every sessions but every now and again.

[drifting glen]

https://youtu.be/3tZcljtTvs4

https://youtu.be/7kiGU3FpET8

[formal wind]

I like Zumikito, his titles can be a bit click baity but he’s not as overly obnoxious as certain other painters.

[drifting glen]

https://youtu.be/ePNIkhQlm_M

https://youtu.be/5OjFChwujJM

https://youtu.be/OqlXC0r6rsM

consume this content

[formal wind]

Probably one at a time though

Watching all in a row and trying to remember everything won’t give you much

[trim cliff]

I think unless you want to go into speed painting, that is perfectly fine. I am currently painting a game and it takes me roughly 1 week per encounter which are usually single miniatures. And that is with having an airbrush that speeds up certain aspects and using speed paints for parts of the miniatures.

so it also depends on what is your goal and what keeps you motivated.
If it is to get stuff out fast, then you should look into slap chop.
If you want to get better at stuff, just paint and then ask ppl for feedback and they will try to tell you what you may want to improve and how.
It's really hard to know which technique to look up and look into if you don't know what it may do for you (or if it is something that ppl use as a broad term)

But as other's have said... don't be afraid to try stuff... even if it doesn't look great, you have learned something 🙂

[urban shell]

Okay, then figure out what kind of painter you want to be first

Do you want to be a pro, top tier, display painter

or do you want to paint decent miniatures for tabletop

or something in between

if you want the former, you need to be dedicated and invested in the hobby, painting often is going to be important.

If you just want to paint decent minis, then just start at the basics, basecoats, washes, highlights.

Move up to layering and glazes from there.

[visual yarrow]

Will do! Thank you!

[visual yarrow]

Is that a challenge? ;)

[visual yarrow]

I think that asking for feedback is a major thing I need to do more. I usually just go for it and ignore the fact that I have here a horde of experienced painter I can consult with.