Miniatures Painting Materials Cost Guide

Note: I use high-quality craft paints, and I have had great luck with Ceramcote paints, which I can find on sale for $.89, and which are only $1.50 full price. I find that the amount of pigment in them is almost as concentrated as expensive paints by Citadel/Games Workshop, Reaper, and Vallejho, which can run up to $4 per .5 ounce bottle. Ceramcote comes in 2 ounce bottles. You're paying about 4 times as much for official miniatures paint, for a quarter as much paint.

Do the math. If you find that using official miniatures paint is 16 times as good (or you have an unlimited budget), then it makes sense to buy them. They are slightly better, in my experience, but for me, it's just not worth the extra cost, and when you're first starting out, and you're still learning painting techniquest, you're really not going to see any difference.

Myself, I'd rather have many more colors from which to choose than to have just a few, but the following are the colors I'd buy first.

Tip: I like natural bristled brushes. I find that with proper care, they can last a very long time. If you're on a budget, camel hair will work fine, but if you can afford sable, I think it's worth the extra cost.

If you have an unlimited buget, Kolinsky sable brushes are the best, but they can cost up to $20 per brush, and I don't think they are worth it when you are first starting out.

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