Paint NMM on complex shapes by doing this one simple thing first!

One of the most common issues I see in miniature painting is inconsistency between big and small volumes.

It usually happens when we focus on details too early. We tend to get caught up in rendering every small detail while forgetting to see the overall shape of the volume. When that happens, the miniature stops reading clearly, and the light placement starts to feel inconsistent.

This becomes especially obvious when painting NMM. Because metallics are so much more complex in how they interact with the light.

A way around this is to simplify early.

When I look at a complex shape like an arm and shoulder, I reduce it to basic forms. A sphere for the shoulder. A cylinder for the arm. Once I understand how light behaves on those shapes, placing reflections becomes much easier. The smaller elements can then follow that logic and compliment the larger shape.

It’s a small shift in how you think about the surface, but it makes a big difference in how readable the miniature becomes.

In my latest Patreon lesson, I walk through this process using a Necromunda model with fairly complex NMM. We look at how to place reflections on the large forms first, and how the smaller details naturally fall into place afterwards.

If NMM has ever felt inconsistent or hard to control, this way of thinking might help.

Check out the full lesson on my page now!
// Malte