Left-Handed Minis

Small figures,big adventures

Painted miniatures, tabletop game nights, and the occasional painting tip from a lefty who's still learning as he goes.

Hobby tips

All tips →
Start here

Your first mini: the minimum setup that actually matters

Two brushes, a handful of paints, primer, water, paper towel and decent light. Everything else can wait.
Painting

Tabletop-first painting: contrast beats perfect blends

Paint for the distance the mini will actually be seen from. Readable beats smooth.
Photography

Budget mini photography: make the paint job look like it does in person

Your minis don't suck, your lighting does. Construction paper, a daylight bulb, a mug and a timer fix most of it.
Prep, storage & workflow

Priming in batches with a rattlecan

Cheap hardware-store primer, the right color for the game, and a whole army done in one session so future you can just paint.

Jim smiling at the table, holding up a painted mini above a Marvel United board full of painted heroes
Me with my first minis
About

Hi, I'm Jim!

I'm a tech professional by day, an amateur miniature painter by night, and a dad all the time. My painting journey began in 2023 after a paint-and-take session at SDCC sparked my interest. Since then, I've focused on bringing characters from board games like Marvel United and X-Men to life with color and creativity.

I live in Cary, NC, with my wonderful wife, two energetic young daughters, and our sweet old rescue poodle. Painting miniatures has become a fulfilling way to unwind, challenge myself, and add a personal touch to our favorite games.

lefthandedminis@gmail.com

Gear I use

Some of these are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the hobby (and the coffee) going. Much appreciated!

Marvel United: X-MenWhere a lot of these heroes came from View on Amazon →
Seen in Longshot, Logan & Nimrod, Shadow King and 7 more
Portable airbrush spray boothPriming and airbrushing indoors View on Amazon →
Seen in The Joker, Ghost Rider, Shadow King and 2 more
Glendan 10" photo light boxEven light for mini photos View on Amazon →
Seen in My mini photo setup (a whole second hobby), Foam vs. velvet backdrops, Shooting minis on a 2013 Canon and 1 more
Krydrufi V1 2.0 modular painting stationThe modular painting kit that lets me paint at the kitchen table, with brush cleaner and holders built in15% off at Krydrufi with code lefthanded View on Krydrufi →View on Amazon →
Seen in Squires keep dying, I keep painting, Highlight night on the Grenadiers, Batman, Saturday morning WIP

See all the gear →