Best book for a beginner on painting miniatures

[Archie]

Long story short, a young chap who works for me has expressed an interest in painting minis for his Dungeons and Dragons games. He's never done it before.

Which 'how to paint book' would you recommend for a total beginner?

Ideally one I can find, buy and have delivered in less than ten days (in time for his bday). I'm in the UK.

Cheers.

Stephen

[Hobgoblin]

I can't claim to have read Kev Dallimore's book, but his online guides to painting are very clear, and his 'layering up' approach is a good one for a beginner (no messing around with washes and and glazes, etc.) - as well as a very good one full stop.

[Cubs]

Yeah, to be honest, there's so much great advice free online, I'd just go there ... which I appreciate doesn't make for a great birthday present.

With modern models and their lovely deep crisp detailing, if I was starting out I'd probably go for one of the game colour paint sets and block-colour the model, then give it a nice deep wash. So maybe a beginner's paint set instead? Or a set of nice washes?

[zemjw]

Reaper do a Learning to Paint kit - link, which appears to be in stock in the UK just now.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

The 2008 How to Paint Citadel Miniatures book by Rick Preistley is one of the best for fantasy miniatures.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paint-Citadel-Miniatures-Rick-Priestley/dp/1841548715


You could also get Paul Stanley's book Modelling and Painting Fantasy Figures for Wargaming
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelling-Painting-Fantasy-Figures-Wargaming/dp/1785004956/ref=pd_sbs_2/260-9064702-3873459?pd_rd_w=4EKsq&pf_rd_p=c07415a0-09a7-4604-aaca-c3fcee246443&pf_rd_r=BB15Y99QPAWHA2MBWA6S&pd_rd_r=99d57a5e-4244-486a-83c6-b7f373b5948b&pd_rd_wg=s2Mdc&pd_rd_i=1785004956&psc=1

[Byrthnoth]

Painting Wargaming Figures by Javier Gomez (Pen & Sword) is decent. Similar to the Dallimore style (black undercoat, base + 2 highlights for the most part), not tied to a particular miniature range and covers historical and fantasy figures. Uses mainly Vallejo paint numbers when giving 'recipes' for specific guides, but discusses other paint lines as well. I don't know how it stacks up to the Foundry book, but it's considerably less dear and more widely available.

[NotifyGrout]

Reaper do a Learning to Paint kit - link, which appears to be in stock in the UK just now.

I would go with this. While it goes over how to duplicate the results depicted, it does a very good job in planting the seeds of basic skills so that they become natural with time.

[ced1106]

I'd also recommend starting painting with dungeon dressing and terrain, not mini's, particularly if he's cheap or wants an easy project first.

Treasure chests are on the easy side to paint, only need inexpensive craft paint (and brown and black craft paints will be useful later), won't look too out of place if he decides he doesn't like to paint and more miniatures, and you need them for RPG's, anyway.

[Shahbahraz]

Personally, I would steer clear of the Dallimore and Gomez books.  They are great books, but for a beginner, much too ambitious, and potentially off-putting. The series of painting tutorials from WSS are much better pitched.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MqSyG5HkjKseY5QLhS4dA

Have a look at the Lord of the White City tutorial.

[SotF]

Personally, I would steer clear of the Dallimore and Gomez books.  They are great books, but for a beginner, much too ambitious, and potentially off-putting. The series of painting tutorials from WSS are much better pitched.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MqSyG5HkjKseY5QLhS4dA

Have a look at the Lord of the White City tutorial.

I've missed that channel, anyone know what happened since she just seemed to vanish and I seem to remember a post somewhere about it coming back, but that never seemed to go anywhere