u/Xander452

I have been painting as a hobby since 2021, have been trying to paint reguarly, but i hardly feel like i have made any significant progress, and while i do finish minis, when looking at them, i don't think they look great at all.
Other times i finish the minis because i have no idea how to continue painting on them, and thus just deem them "finished", despite looking "flat".

I am colorblind, but i don't want to use that as a "crutch" and excuse for painting badly.
But it does give me challenges throughout the painting hobby, there is no denying that.

I do try to improve, but most of the times, i fail to understand the techniques of the way to use them and thus lack that part still.
So i ask around and i watch videos and i still fail to comprehend the techinique, so i feel so stupid about it.

I know comparisson is the thief of joy, but i can't help myself from doing it, when i look at such amazing paintjobs by everyone.

I do still enjoy painting in the moment, when everything is still just putting the paint on the mini, it's a fun process fo making a grey mini "come to life", but i am never happy with the end result.

Is there any way to be happy with the end result?
Some way to help change my mindset to become a more positive one ?
or is it a case of it not being the right hobby for me ?

I hope this is allowed as a post in here, but if it isn't, i apologize for that.
This has been something that has been eating away on me and i felt today was the time to ask about it.
I've included some of the minis i have painted over the years as a reference point.

The minis in the photos are as follows in order.

• 1. "Gun wizard": Kitbash of different parts (painted here in 2026)
  • Torso and hat is from Frostgrave Wizard 1 kit
  • Both arms and the thompson is from Bolt Action US Ranger Sprue
  • the paper and hand is from Bolt Action Waffen SS sprue
• 2. Combine soldier 3D printed and supplied by Twisted Pinnacle 3D Printing under license from Big Mr Tong 3D (painted in 2025)
• 3. Reaper Miniatures: Damaris, Duskwarden Heroine SKU: 44054 (painted in 2024)
• 4. infernus marine from warhammer 40k (painted in 2023)

For context, this is the Artillerie-Schlepper VA601(b) vehicle that warlord sells.
Since i wasn't going to use it in an actual game of bolt action, that also gave me ample opportunity to add more stuff to the vehicle, using a lot of bits from leftover sprues.
Also included 2 photos of the painted driver.

Was fun to do the camo, fairly straight forward as well, also trying to be better at weathering.
A friend also informed me that i have attached panther wheels as stowage, but i still think it looks neat as stowage.
Still unsure where the commander hatch is on the tank, the crew are momentarily attached with blu tack

Since i was planning to play Zona Alfa, i wanted to convert it to essentially be "s.t.a.l.k.e.r. but tabletop" these 2 minis screamed monolith soldiers.
I hope i did okay, i am colorblind just fyi.

Also hope this fall in line with the rules of the subreddit.