Painting Miniatures in Summer: A Practical Guide

Painting Miniatures in Summer: A Practical Guide

Introduction

Summer brings extra free time—but also challenges like high temperatures and humidity that can affect your miniature painting sessions, especially for Warhammer models. This practical guide, based on the 10 best hobby blogs and forums, delivers techniques and tips adapted to the summer season: from workspace setup to materials, effective techniques, and painting workflows.

 

1. Adapting your painting space for summer heat

1.1 Managing temperature and humidity

Ideal painting conditions sit around 15–27 °C and 40–60% humidity. Above that range, primers and varnishes can become cloudy or frosted (known as “blooming”).
Painters on Reddit recommend using a cold water thermos to cool your palette, a misting spray bottle or humidifier, or even a portable AC unit.

1.2 Prefer airbrush over spray cans

Spray cans are more affected by humidity (over 60%). Forums often suggest using a compressor with a moisture trap or spraying outside in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are milder.

2. Choosing summer-appropriate tools

2.1 Wet palette: a must

To prevent paint from drying too fast, a wet palette (with distilled water and matte medium) is ideal. It helps maintain paint consistency, makes glazing easier, and reduces waste from constant remixing.

2.2 Invest in quality brushes

A good size 1 Kolinsky sable brush is highly versatile. Clean it thoroughly and reshape the tip after every session—especially in hot weather—to preserve the bristles.

3. Miniature painting techniques for summer

3.1 Basecoating, washes, and glazes

Start with a neutral undercoat (grey or black), then add washes to enhance shadows.
Glazing—using very thin, transparent layers—helps achieve smooth transitions and is ideal when heat makes blending trickier.

3.2 Drybrushing and contrast paints

Drybrushing adds fast highlights and texture (great for armor or terrain). Contrast paints are excellent for speed painting—they flow easily into recesses and work well on zenithal-primed models.

4. Efficient painting workflow: batch painting

4.1 Paint in batches

Organize your time by painting several miniatures at once. Apply the same color step to all models (e.g., red, then gold), reducing handling time and exposure to heat.

4.2 Speed up drying

Use a hairdryer on a low setting or a small fan to help paint layers dry faster without warping or cracking your work.

5. Storing and protecting miniatures in summer

5.1 Prevent resin and plastic warping

Never leave resin or plastic minis in direct sunlight or high heat (>30°C). Store them in a cool, dry place, ideally with silica gel packets to control moisture.

5.2 Finish with care: varnishing

Ensure your model is completely dry before applying varnish. If you get frosting or a cloudy finish, carefully brush on a fresh matte coat in a temperature-controlled space.

6. Advanced tips for hobbyists

6.1 Weathering and scenic bases

For realism, use pigment powders, flocking, fine sand, or texture paste to give your bases a seasonal feel—desert for summer, mossy for forest, etc.

6.2 Kitbashing and conversions

Customize your Warhammer armies with simple swaps: repositioning limbs, adding banner poles, or carving in custom detail. Pin parts for sturdiness when dealing with resin.

7. Inspiration from the community

7.1 Tutorials and glossary

Communities like ReaperMini or QuarterToThree offer beginner tutorials (layering, edge highlighting, glazing, drybrushing) and painting glossaries to help you master terminology.

7.2 Competitions and Golden Demon

Use Golden Demon winners as inspiration—professional-level techniques include OSL (object source lighting), LED integration, and cinematic bases. Summer is a great time to improve and plan your next competition piece.

Conclusion

Staying productive with your miniature painting during summer requires adjusting your workspace, using heat-friendly tools, and following efficient painting methods. Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or aiming for Golden Demon standards, these tips will keep your hobby fun and frustration-free all summer long.

Sources

Older post Newer post

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

BACK TO THE BLOG