How to Paint Bases for miniatures - Beginners Guide

How to Paint Miniature Bases (Beginner’s Guide to Basing Miniatures)

Learn how to paint realistic miniature bases step-by-step using simple materials. This beginner-friendly guide covers sand basing, drybrushing, washes, and adding static grass to create natural-looking terrain for Warhammer and other miniatures.

Basing miniatures is the final step in bringing a model to life. It adds texture, colour, and environment, helping to tell a story and unify an entire army on the tabletop.

I have been using variations of this basing method for over 25 years, adapting it to create a wide range of landscapes.

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Paints and tools:

Basing materials and tools:

• Sand (this was from the beach)
• Hi-Tack PVA Glue (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• Army Painter Static Grass (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• Old medium sized brushes
• Old Small drybrush

Paints requied:

• Abaddon Black
• Mechanicum Standard Grey
• Dawnstone
• Athonian Camoshade
• Karak Stone
• Screaming Skull

Step 1 – Applying the Sand

The process begins by applying texture to the base. This is done by covering the base with PVA glue using an old brush, before dipping it into sand to achieve an even coating. I prefer to use Hi-Tack PVA glue because, unlike many craft glues, it does not reactivate when exposed to water once it has dried. This makes a significant difference when painting later stages. After applying the sand, the base should be left to dry thoroughly, ideally overnight, to ensure the texture is fully set.

Step 2 – Basecoating

Once the sand is dry, the entire base is painted with Abaddon Black. I apply the paint in small patches rather than trying to cover everything at once. After this, I rinse the brush and use it wet to help move the paint around the base. The water allows the paint to flow through the sand by capillary action, ensuring that all the gaps between the grains are covered. At this stage, it is important to allow the paint to dry completely before moving on.

Step 3 – First Drybrush

With the basecoat finished, the texture can be brought out through drybrushing. Mechanicum Standard Grey is applied first, followed by a lighter drybrush of Dawnstone. These layers begin to pick out the raised areas of the sand and give the base depth and structure. Drybrushing is a fairly rough technique that will quickly wear out brushes, so it is best to use older ones for this stage.

Step 4 – Adding Some Colour

At this point, the base will look quite neutral, so the next step is to introduce some colour variation. This is achieved by applying Athonian Camoshade over the entire base. The wash adds a subtle green tone, giving the ground a slightly damp or mossy appearance and helping it look more natural.

Step 5 – Finishing the Highlights

Once the wash has dried, the highlights are refined further with additional drybrushing. A light drybrush of Karak Stone is applied first, followed by a very light application of Screaming Skull. These final highlights help to define the texture and bring out the detail in the sand. It is important to be restrained here, as over-highlighting can make the base appear too bright and lose some of its realism.

Step 6 – Adding Additional Textures

With the main painting complete, extra texture can be added to the base. Small patches of PVA glue are applied, and static grass is sprinkled onto these areas. Once the glue has dried, any excess grass can be brushed away using a clean, dry brush. I also like to lightly drybrush the grass with Screaming Skull, which helps to tone down the brighter greens and blend it more naturally into the base. For larger bases, I often use Gamer Grass Dry Tufts (Amazon Affiliate Link) instead, as they create a more varied and realistic appearance.

Step 7 – Edging the Base

The final step is to paint the rim of the base. I typically use Abaddon Black, as a clean black edge helps to frame the miniature without drawing attention away from it. This gives the base a neat, finished appearance and helps keep the focus on the model itself.

While I prefer black for most of my miniatures, the rim colour can be adjusted to suit your army or environment. Some painters like to match the rim to the battlefield theme, but in general, a darker edge tends to be less distracting and more versatile across different models.

Final Thoughts

I generally prefer to keep my bases slightly darker than the miniature itself, ensuring that the model remains the main focal point. The base should support the miniature visually and contribute to its story without overpowering it. While the colours used in this guide create a natural earthy look, they can easily be adjusted from the wash stage onwards to produce different environments and effects.

Related Guides

• Skeletons, Skulls and Bone

• Weather Beaten Armour

• Cloth - Red

• Advanced basing (coming soon)

Start here: Warhammer Painting Made Simple

Discussion

How do you paint your bases? I would be very interested to hear what has worked for you, let me know in the comments.

Happy hobbying!

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