Table Top RPG Creators Corner — Charlotte Of ‘CharlottePaintingUK’

Welcome to the table.

I was able to sit down with Charlotte of CharlottePaintingUK to talk about tips for when you are starting out painting miniatures, podcasts, and brushes.

Anton Kromoff: Hello Charlotte, first we wanted to take a moment to thank you for speaking with us. Tell our audience a little about yourself.

Charlotte: I live in northern England and I’ve been painting miniatures for a few years, mostly just for fun, but I’ve also started doing some commission work more recently. I started painting while at university, where I’m about to graduate with a degree in biology and go on to a Ph.D. in medical research.

Anton: Can you tell us how you found yourself paying miniatures?

Charlotte: I started playing Dungeons & Dragons in my first year of university, and my friend painted a mini for my first character. I thought it looked awesome, so I put on some YouTube tutorials and had a go myself! There was something really satisfying from the start about bringing a mini to life, and now I have a growing collection for my group to use in our games.

Anton: Do you have a preferred media that plays while you paint or do you need it to be quiet?

Charlotte: I used to take the opportunity to catch up on TV shows while painting, but recently I’ve started listening to podcasts more. I get distracted quite easily, so just listening rather than watching something speeds up my painting! I’m interested in several science podcasts, but I especially enjoy listening to myths and folklore as well to give me some fantasy inspiration.

Anton: What Science and Folklore podcasts are your first to go to?

Charlotte: My favorites are CrowdScience from the BBC, and Lore by Aaron Mahnke.

Anton: What type of brushes do you like to use and why?

Charlotte: I’ve been painting on a budget, so for a long time I just bulk-bought cheap synthetic brushes from Amazon. They did the job and allowed me to learn, but now I have better control and take more care I got myself some da Vinci sable brushes. Their quality has definitely meant they last longer, and they feel really nice to paint with. I look forward to trying more brands in the future to settle on what suits me best.

Anton: We know you hate working with metallic paint. Do you have a favorite paint color?

Charlotte: I love working with reds, especially when I can go from a deep black-red up to something bright and vibrant. I generally choose Vallejo paints, but I like to use Citadel’s Mephiton Red because it really pops!

Anton: What has been your favorite miniature to paint so far?

Charlotte: Both my favorite and longest project has been Azael from Archvillain Games. He’s a massive devil with lots of character and intricate details. Painting him took a couple of weeks of regular painting sessions, and I was so happy with how he came out. I’m still really proud to have painted something to the absolute best of my ability, and the players in my D&D group are going to be terrified when he appears in our game!

Anton: Is there a miniature or model you have waiting but just can’t bring yourself to paint yet?

Charlotte: I’m generally quite strict with myself about trying to paint the minis I have before buying more – and I’m succeeding in the most part so far! I am looking to get some better quality models now that I feel more comfortable in my ability, soon I’d like to try painting a bust or two just for fun and to put on display.

Anton: What advice would you give someone new to the hobby or trying to find out if the hobby is right for them?

Charlotte: Unless you really want to paint only for display, paint your miniatures for something. It doesn’t matter if it’s for RPGs, tabletop games, board games, or anything else; there’s something great about painting a mini you can use, especially early on. Then it doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect, you still have something colourful that can be used.

I tend to find it increases immersion and enjoyment to have painted minis in a game, and it means you get to share your creations with others – who are just impressed to have something colourful at the table, as a general rule. It also gives good motivation to keep painting for whatever you need next, and there are lots of communities in all areas of the hobby that you can get involved with. The first miniatures I painted were a group of skeletons, and although I look at them now and cringe a bit, they still get used regularly in our games.

Anton: Thank you so so much for taking the time to talk to us. Please let our readers know where they can follow you.

Charlotte: I post all my finished miniatures on my Twitter and share my progress regularly on Instagram. I also sell some of my painted miniatures and accept commissions through Etsy