Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Lukas Kuhn, also known as chewie_painting.
Here at DakkaDakka, we know him well and greatly appreciate his work. He truly brought our Order of Repentance miniature to life, and we were absolutely blown away.
Currently, he’s hard at work on one of the Stormpride Sisters models, and we can’t wait to see the result. You can also catch more of his stunning works, along with his painting process, on his Twitch and Patreon channels.
Let’s dive in and uncover all of his secrets!
DakkaDakka Team: Your work inspires modelers and players alike, and you have your own fan base. We've all seen your successes, and we're curious: how much time does it take to go from painting your first miniature to reaching your current level?
Lukas Kuhn: Hmm, probably very individual. I've seen painters start off strong and paint amazingly well within months, with input from Patreon/YouTube tutorials. But since you're asking me: I started around age 13, took a longer break between 17-22, and have been painting regularly—about 2 hours a day—since then.
DakakDakka Team: Could you tell us about your very first painted miniature? Did it turn out well right from the start?
Lukas Kuhn: Ha, obviously the first mini did not turn out well, especially looking at it today (it was some Eldar model), but I remember it was fun and, more importantly, I was proud of it :)
DakakDakka Team: You know, there are so many gadgets out there for painting minis these days—special glasses, holders, airbrushes, and all that stuff. Do you use any of those yourself? Do you think they actually help, or are they more just for fun?
Lukas Kuhn: I'm very basic when it comes to stuff like that. I like acrylic paint and mix it with water. No handle, no glasses. I do use an airbrush for time reasons, and I recommend good brushes! The essentials are more important to me than too much equipment.
DakakDakka Team: Do you have any DIY tools or hacks that you use? Maybe some secret tips you'd like to share?
Lukas Kuhn: Psst, keep it a secret: for decals, don't cut them out from the sheet. Turn them around, hold them against a light source, and put water on the back of the decal you want—same for the front. No more cutting :)
DakakDakka Team: What advice would you give to beginners who are just starting to paint miniatures?
Lukas Kuhn: Paint stuff you like, that's easy. Success stories are important. Be open to feedback, get inspiration from YouTube, and Patreon :)
DakakDakka Team: What was your first impression of our miniatures when you started working on them?
Lukas Kuhn: I found them to be very accurate and detailed, more on the realism side of modeling rather than bulky. So, compared to others, "accurate and detailed" would describe them best.
DakakDakka Team: Ever had one of those "eureka" moments while painting, where something just clicked and took your skills to the next level?
Lukas Kuhn: Underpainting—the whole topic of using colors in the shades—changed a lot in my painting style.
DakakDakka Team: We all know that to make a miniature really stand out on social media, you need to take a great photo. How do you usually go about photographing your work? Any tips or tricks you can share for getting the best shots?
Lukas Kuhn: I've learned you don't need a great camera. Pictures from the phone are also fine, BUT good light (multiple sources) and a smooth background in simple tones like white, black, or grey are more important in my opinion.
DakakDakka Team: Thank you so much, Lukas, for sharing your wisdom and techniques with us. It’s been inspiring to hear about your journey. We’re sure the community will benefit from your tips and eagerly look forward to seeing more of your incredible work!
Comments