Setting Up Your Painting Area

This section was originally lumped into the Tools article, but your workspace isn't really a tool and the subject deserves it's own discussion.

This is my painting space at home

The first thing you want to set up is a suitable painting area. It should be a place where you can work undisturbed and leave your miniatures safely while you wait for a wash to dry or get a bite to eat. If you have a dedicated hobby room, that is the best option, otherwise a quiet corner in a little used room will work.

The Work Surface

Find a good table that won't wobble while you paint. This is important because I sometimes lay my figures on the table and brace my elbows against the table edge when I'm trying to paint fine details. If you only have a card table or such, push it into a corner so that it's braced on two sides. Don't paint on anything you can't afford to spill paint on or cut into. We all try to be careful, but everyone spills paint or cuts too deep with that X-acto every now and then. This means that the brand new dining room table is probably a bad idea.

Lighting

Lighting is critical. If you don't have enough light, you're simply going to miss details and unpainted areas. You should have a good source of natural light available. This will make your colors appear as they will on the tabletop. If natural light isn't available, find a good adjustable desk lamp that has a natural-light (blue) bulb installed. Using normal light bulbs is fine, but your models will look different in the daytime as normal bulbs tend to have a yellow or orange tint, whereas natural light is more blue tinted. This can cause a big difference in the appearance of your models and can lead you to notice errors that you might not have otherwise seen. Better light will save you time! Also, consider how close your lamps are situated to your painting area. If they're too close, they'll get in the way and dry paint out very quickly.

Other Considerations

Other things you will need are a clean glass of water to rinse your brushes in, a cup to hold your brushes, some newspaper as a ground cloth, and a palette. I usually use a white ceramic cooking dish for my palette because it's pure white and non-absorbant, but anything that will allow you to mix paint and wipe off brushes will work.

Lastly, consider the general cleanliness of your area. It may not matter if you live alone, but if you're married, have a roommate, or a significant other, then keeping your workstation clean and presentable goes a long way to making them leave you alone.

Notes

Last updated	6/26/08
Author	Michael Kan
Pre-requisites	None
Related Articles	Essential Tools Brushes