How to paint visually interesting undead miniatures - Miniature painting guide

Painting undead is not easy, even if you've mastered painting dead flesh. I've collected my thoughts on the subject of painting miniature zombies and other undead.

Miniature painting commission services

Article updated: 2021.08.25

Miniature painting commission services: If you don't like to paint, don't have the time or don't have the patience, there are others who can help you. You don't have to wonder "who would paint my wargame or boardgame minis for me?" any more, just check these commission painters. I've listed the commission miniature painting services by area.

• DMOZ Database of Painting Services

Guidelines

• From the Warp: How to find a good artist for commission work: Guidelines for ordering commissions.
• From the Warp: How to find a good client for commission work: Guidelines for those who take commissions.
• Spikey Bits: Cheap is Not Enough! Painting Studio Study: Review and comparison of miniatures related services.
• How To Commission A Painting: Although it's a guide to painting pictures, but I feel most of it is useful for commissioning miniature paintings too. (2020.03.29: The article is offline.)
  
  • the article on Archive.org
• Atom Smasher (from Tabletop Minions): Finding a Commission Painter: Video about commission painters.
• Sarkadi Sándor (Kaba) (from Gates of Hell - The Beardy and the Fluffy): Kabaman's personal opinion about Hungarian commission painters (in Hungarian): Guidelines article in Hungarian.
  • English version by Google Translate

Before you order your miniatures to be painted, decide on your miniature related philosophies, and check with the painter to do the miniature according to your wishes: Games Nexus: Painting miniatures - Design concepts

Miniature painting related definitions

Article updated: 2016.07.29

I've gathered some definitions that are useful to know when you paint miniatures.

Miniatures - Painting miniatures - Acrylic paints

These are the most important things you need to know if you use acrylic paints for painting your models.

Miniatures - Painting miniatures - Basics

Article updated: 2020.10.30

These are basic tips for miniature painting.

Contents

The basics

Holding miniatures while painting

Primer and undercoat

Paints

Painting

Miniatures - Painting miniatures - Resources

Article updated: 2020.04.23

This is a collection of articles about painting miniatures. I've collected the resources and painting tutorials I've found interesting.

Article updated: 2018.01.23

I've gathered some painting tips you might find useful. The material from this article has been moved to other painting related articles.

Article updated: 2020.03.26

This is a collection of articles about painting miniature terrain and miniature vehicles. I've collected the resources, terrain and vehicle tutorials I've found interesting.

Rahdox sc1 v1 for Project: ELITE range from Drawlab Entertainment painted as a Rock Churn for Imperial Space

I painted a Rahdox miniature as a juvenile Rock Churn, to be used as a pet by the Gaunt pirates, for the Imperial Space games. I made photos, and took notes of the painting progess.

Plague Gen 3 Mutants miniatures for Warpath from Mantic Games painted as a Gaunt Pirates for Imperial Space

I painted a team of Plague Gen 3 Mutants miniatures from Warpath as Gaunt Pirates, for the Forlorn Stars (Imperial Space) games. I made photos, and took notes of the painting progess.

Painting light effects - Miniature painting guide

I've collected the resources on painting light effects on miniatures.

Painting light effects: Object Source Lighting (OSL) - Miniature painting guide for OSL painting

Article updated: 2021.04.08

OSL painting guide: This is a quick tutorial on how to paint OSL, that is creating light effects from object source lighting (OSL). OSL painting can be achieved by drybrushing, glazing or using an airbrush.

When light shines on an area, if that light is stronger than the surrounding light, the colour area will become lighter, and unless the light is white, it will also change colour. This is how you paint the glow effect on miniatures.

There are a couple of different ways to achieve the object source lighting (OSL) effect, I try to explain them in the article.

Contents

Methods for creating OSL on miniatures

How to paint OSL on miniatures

How to paint OSL on miniatures with drybrushing

How to paint OSL on miniatures with glazing

How to paint OSL on miniatures with an airbrush

Frequently asked questions about object source lighting

Resources - Painting light sources: Object source lighting

Before you start painting your models, you have to come up with a design concept for them.

There are several questions you need to answer. Most painters just start painting and figure these out through the years, but it will take you less repaints if you plan ahead.

Appearance - Uniform & camouflage

Appearance - Gun barrels

Basing miniatures

Shadows

Highlights

Painting miniatures - Design concepts - Appearance - Gun barrels

Article updated: 2017.09.09

In wargames the miniatures depict the people who fight battles. It depends on your philosophy how do they appear on the table.

The appearance of the gun barrel can be important for some modellers.

In wargames the miniatures depict the people who fight battles. It depends on your philosophy how do they appear on the table.

The appearance of the miniature will be most important if the character you are trying to paint wears uniform or camouflage.

Painting miniatures - Design concepts - Basing miniatures

Article updated: 2020.10.09

For this article I've gathered the several ways you can base your miniatures, and the several philosophies regarding basing.

For further information on miniature base types:

• Games Nexus: Base types for miniature basing: A list of miniature base types to base your miniatures
• Basing miniatures - Miniature hobby guide