Speed painting your RPG miniatures can be a great way to get them ready for the tabletop without spending hours on each one. In this article I’ll share three tips that will help you speed paint your miniatures in under 10 minutes!

I’ve been a commission miniature painter for many years. By providing my painting services to others, I’ve picked up some tricks to speed up my workflow. The key is understanding when to be efficient and quick, and when to be careful. It’s a fine balance.

In my experience, I know that when it comes to painting miniatures for other people, you do need to be careful not to sacrifice quality for the sake of speed. However, if you’re painting your own RPG miniatures for personal use, then you can afford to be a little more relaxed about the process.

READ MORE TIPS FOR PAINTING MODELS, QUICKLY

Continue reading to see my quick tips for painting your RPG models faster and get them ready for the tabletop in no time!

Why Speed Paint Miniatures?

There are a few reasons why you might want to speed paint your miniatures for RPGs. First, it can save you time, which is always valuable when you’re trying to get a game ready to play. Second, it can help you get into the creative flow state and actually enjoy painting your miniatures. And finally, it can help you learn new techniques and color combinations more quickly.

If you’re new to painting miniatures, then speed painting can be a great way to start. It can help you learn the basics of miniature painting quicker, and give you some practice with the process.

For those who don’t think they’ll enjoy painting their models, learning how to paint faster can also be helpful. If you can get the job done in a shorter amount of time, it can make the painting process less daunting and more manageable. And as we all know, painted models also perform better in a campaign…right?

What You’ll Need to Paint Your Tabletop RPG Miniatures

In order to speed paint your miniatures, you’ll need a few basic supplies. These include:

A basic miniature painting starter set like this one is a great way to begin the hobby

Now that you have your supplies gathered, it’s time to get started.

Top 3 Tips for Speed Painting RPG Models for Tabletop Games

  1. Use a bigger brush
  2. Use a simple color scheme (5 colors or less)
  3. Learn to “dip” your miniatures in a contrast enhancing wash or shade

1. Use a bigger brush

When it comes to speed painting miniatures, using a bigger brush can be a big help. A bigger brush means that you can cover more surface area with each stroke, which will help you finish the painting process quicker. Here is a guide for choosing your ideal brush for miniature painting.

In order to get the most out of your brush, make sure to load it up with plenty of paint. This will help you avoid making multiple trips to your palette or paint tray. And if you’re using a water-based paint, make sure to add a few drops of water to your brush before loading it up with paint. This will help keep the paint from drying out on your brush while you’re painting.

2. Use a simple color scheme (5 colors or less)

When it comes to speed painting, using a simple color scheme can be a big help. By keeping your color palette limited to 5 colors or less, you’ll be able to mix together different combinations quickly and easily. This will help you finish your painting process faster.

If you’re new to miniature painting, I would recommend starting with a basic color scheme of dark gray, an off-white, and one or two other colors. Once you’re comfortable with the process, you can start adding in additional colors. But for now, keep it simple!

3. Learn to “dip” your miniatures in a contrast enhancing wash or shade

A finished model that looks good on a tabletop has good contrast–that is, the model appears to have volume, e.g., 3D shape, and texture (raised and recesses) is clearly visible.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to paint your RPG miniatures with good contrast is to “dip” them in a contrast enhancing wash or shade. This is a process where you paint your model in your base colors, then quickly apply a layer of dark, translucent color over the entire miniature. This will “shade” the recesses and help define the textured details on a model.

There are commercially available “quick shade” solutions that can make this process even easier. You can learn more about my favorite shading solution and how to use it here.

There are many ways to dip your miniature, but the most common method is to put a puddle of the shading solution on your palette or paint tray. Then, you simply dip your miniature into the puddle, raising the model and shaking off the excess shade. If done correctly you’ll have successfully coated the entire model in the wash where it’ll settle only in the crevices on the model’s surface.

For more in-depth tutorials, painting hacks, and lessons for painting miniatures, you can check out this lessons and tips page.

Quick Thought About the Easiest Models to Paint

There are a few models that are relatively easy to paint and will look great on the tabletop. These include:

-Humanoids: Humanoids, such as elves, dwarves, and humans, are some of the easiest models to paint. They typically have simple shapes and are easy to shade and highlight.

-Fantasy Creatures: Most fantasy creatures, such as orcs, goblins, and dragons, have easily distinguishable features that make them quick and easy to paint.

-Zombies: Zombies are a great option for beginner painters, as they typically have a relatively simple color scheme and don’t require a lot of detail work.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! These are just a few tips to help you speed paint your RPG miniatures. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to get your models painted quickly and easily. So get out there and start painting!

Do you have any questions, comments? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below 😀