How to Paint Your First D&D Miniature: A Beginner's Guide

Have you ever looked at a beautifully painted Dungeons & Dragons miniature and wondered how to achieve something similar yourself?

The good news is that you don't need to be an artist, own dozens of paints or spend a fortune on equipment to get started. With a few basic supplies and some patience, you can turn an unpainted miniature into a character or monster ready for your next tabletop adventure.

Whether you're painting your first adventurer, a terrifying dragon or a creature for your Dungeon Master to unleash on the party, this guide will walk you through the process step by step.

At MiniHalla, we believe tabletop gaming should be accessible to everyone. That includes enjoying the creative side of the hobby without feeling that you need expensive equipment or years of experience.

Let's get painting!

1. What do you need to paint a miniature?

You can get started with a surprisingly small collection of supplies.

Essential equipment

• A miniature: Choose a character or creature you like. A model with clearly defined details is a good choice for your first project.
• A suitable primer: Primer helps your paint adhere to the miniature's surface.
• A few acrylic hobby paints: Start with three or four colours that suit your chosen model, plus a dark shade and a lighter colour for highlights.
• A small round brush: A general-purpose detail brush is ideal for most areas.
• A fine brush: Useful for smaller details when you're ready to tackle them.
• A palette: Use this to mix colours and thin your paints.
• Clean water and paper towel: Handy for cleaning brushes and removing excess paint.
• A suitable varnish: An optional finishing step that can help protect the painted miniature.

You don't need every colour available. Start with a small selection and expand your collection as you discover which colours and techniques you enjoy.

2. Prepare your miniature

Before opening your paints, take a moment to inspect your miniature.

Depending on the model and how it was produced, you may need to remove small printing supports, tidy minor imperfections or assemble separate parts.

Use suitable tools carefully, particularly around thin weapons, fingers, horns and other delicate details.

If your miniature is resin printed, make sure it has been properly washed and fully cured according to the resin and printer manufacturer's instructions before painting. Follow appropriate safety precautions when handling uncured resin.

Remove any loose dust or debris, and allow the model to dry completely before moving on.

Top tip: Don't rush this stage. A little preparation can make the painting process much easier.

For more advice on handling and looking after your figures, see our Miniature Care Guide.

3. Apply primer

Primer provides a suitable surface for your paint to grip and helps create a consistent starting point.

You can use a suitable brush-on primer or a miniature-compatible spray primer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application, ventilation, temperature and drying time.

Common primer colours include:

• Black: Useful for darker colour schemes and deep shadows.
• Grey: A versatile middle ground for many models.
• White: Helpful when you want brighter colours, although it can make missed areas more noticeable.

Apply thin, even coats. Too much primer can obscure the fine details that make miniatures interesting.

Allow the primer to dry fully before painting.

4. Apply your base colours

Base coating means painting the main colours onto the different parts of your miniature.

For example, a fantasy adventurer might have:

• Brown leather boots and belts.
• Blue or red clothing.
• Metallic armour or weapons.
• A flesh tone for exposed skin.
• A different colour for the base.

You don't need to match any particular official colour scheme. Choose colours you like and have fun experimenting.

The secret to better base coats

Avoid applying thick paint straight from the pot. Instead, mix a little paint on your palette and thin it with a small amount of water or the appropriate medium, following the paint manufacturer's guidance.

Aim for paint that flows smoothly while still covering the surface.

Apply a thin coat, allow it to dry, and add another if necessary. Several thin coats generally preserve detail better than one thick coat.

Don't worry if the miniature looks a little flat at this point. We'll add depth next.

5. Add shadows with a wash

A wash, also called a shade, is a more fluid paint designed to settle into recesses and help define details.

It can make a surprisingly big difference, particularly on textured areas such as chainmail, scales, fur, leather and stone.

Choose a suitable shade for your colours, then apply it carefully. Let it settle into the creases and recessed details.

Avoid allowing large pools to dry on flat surfaces, as they can leave unwanted marks.

Allow the wash to dry completely before continuing.

Beginner tip: If you're painting a dragon, a shade can help separate individual scales. On a warrior's armour, it can make the details stand out more clearly.

6. Bring the details back with highlights

Highlights help raised areas catch the light and make your miniature look more three-dimensional.

There are two beginner-friendly techniques to try.

Drybrushing

Dip a brush into a lighter paint, then remove most of the paint onto a paper towel or palette. Lightly brush across raised surfaces. The remaining paint catches the higher details.

This works particularly well on scales, fur, stone, chainmail and textured terrain.

Layering

Apply a slightly lighter colour to selected raised areas, leaving the darker colour visible in the recesses. This gives you more control over where the highlights appear.

You don't need to highlight every tiny detail. Start with the most noticeable raised areas and see how the miniature looks from normal tabletop distance.

7. Paint the small details

Now you can add the finishing touches.

Depending on your model, these might include:

• Eyes and facial features.
• Sword blades and metal fittings.
• Belts, buckles and pouches.
• Gems, magical effects or glowing runes.
• Claws, teeth, horns or dragon scales.
• The miniature's base.

Take your time and work in small sections. Rest your hands on a stable surface if that helps you control the brush.

If a detail doesn't go quite to plan, don't panic. Let the paint dry and carefully correct the area with the original colour.

And remember: you can leave extremely fine details until you're more confident. A miniature can look fantastic on the gaming table without every tiny feature being perfect.

8. Finish and protect your miniature

Once you're happy with the paintwork, allow the miniature to dry fully.

You can then apply a suitable miniature varnish if you want additional protection against handling. Choose a finish that suits your preferences:

• Matt: A less reflective, natural-looking finish.
• Satin: A gentle sheen.
• Gloss: A noticeably shiny finish, sometimes useful for selected effects.

Follow the product instructions and test an unfamiliar varnish on a spare model or inconspicuous area first.

Check that any adhesive or assembly work is also fully set before handling the miniature extensively.

Your first painted miniature is complete!

9. What should you paint next?

Once you've finished your first figure, you might want to try something a little different.

A few ideas include:

• A player character with more detailed clothing and equipment.
• A monster with textured skin, fur or scales.
• A dragon with contrasting colours along its wings and body.
• A collection of matching figures for your next campaign.
• Terrain pieces and buildings to bring your encounters to life.

You can browse our Player Characters, Monsters, Dragons and Terrain collections to find inspiration for your next project.

If you're unsure how large a model you need, our Miniature Scale Guide can help you understand the sizes used for tabletop gaming.

10. Don't aim for perfect — aim for progress

Your first miniature probably won't look exactly as you imagined, and that's absolutely fine.

Every model teaches you something. You'll learn how paint behaves, how different colours work together, and which techniques you enjoy most.

Take a photograph of your first miniature. When you look back after painting a few more, you'll be able to see how much you've improved.

Most importantly, enjoy the process. Whether you paint a whole army, a single D&D character or a mighty dragon for your next campaign, the hobby is about making something you can be proud of.

Ready for your next adventure?

Explore MiniHalla's range of affordable tabletop miniatures and find a character, creature or monster to bring to life with your own colour scheme.

MiniHalla — Amazing Miniatures. Brilliant Prices.