iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Glow-y His name is Degia, and he’s a Lector-Priest from Kemet Mer. There’s plenty of lore behind his world, drop a comment if you’re curious. Maybe an AMA about the world of Tellus? #fantasyart #dndart #stories #miniaturepainting #paintingminis #mythologicalart #worldbuilding #osl #degia #myart

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

No words. Just 🤩 Just a little bit of primer touch up, then it’s time to paint. #diorama #foamart #miniaturepainting #paintingminis #wip

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

When I re-primed him I had no idea the scale of the project I set in motion.

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Reposted by TJ

TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Re-primed this fella on whim. He’s been on my abandoned pile for two years. Now he’s my next project. #mythologicalart #annunbis #miniaturepainting #paintingminiatures #myart #wip #paintingminis #minipainting

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

If you’re interested, I have some background written on the whose tomb it is, the legendary Pharaoh Ari Patina, whose life and death reshaped a kingdom. #lore #dndfiction tinkersbench.substack.com/p/the-mark-o...

tinkersbench.substack.com

The Mark of Pharaoh Ari Patina

The tomb inscription reads, in essence: here is a dead pharaoh, leave them alone.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Progress on the tomb of Ari Patina. Most of the stone (foam) work is build up, now to wear and weather it down. #wipwednesday #diorama #fantasyart #mythologicalart #miniaturepainting #minipainting #75mm #paintingminiatures #paintingminis #myart #diorama

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Shameless plug: There’s always lore behind tomb scene. Link to it, first comment, would love some reads and maybe even feedback 🥹 #dndart #fantasyart #lore #worldbuilding #miniaturepainting

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Bid farewell to the stand-in figures. Tomorrow the main characters take the stage. The timing is right to study light placement not driven by leds, but rather by paint, a bit of cleverness, and feedback from fellow painters. Thoughts? #MiniaturePainting #DioramaWIP #HobbyProcess #MyArt #WIP

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Hell yeah. Lintel above the door needs texturing, but it’s a start and I’m so happy so far. And, get this, the hieroglyphics *mean* something. But that’ll stay secret for a while. #Miniatures #MiniaturePainting #MiniatureDiorama #CreativeProcess #FoamCraft #ModelMaking

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Bonus timelapse. Foam + tinfoil = stone texture ;)

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Here’s my new project. Figures are stand-ins, and I did way more work on the stone after that (brighter picture). Coming along, for my first diorama. But still way way way more to go. #MiniaturePainting #Diorama #Timelapse #LightingStudy #CreativeProcess

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Bonus satisfying timelapse :)

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Here’s a video log of last nights progress. The cleaver is coming along, and for a bunch of flat planes it’s been fun to paint. Still a ways to go, but cheers to a long weekend and plenty of creative time. #minipainting #paintingminiatures #wip #timelapseart #NMM #miniaturepainting #studionotes

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Yeah apparently you just swish it around!

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I’m only just now getting out of the habit of rubbing my brush on the bottom of the water cup. Somehow I missed the lesson on not doing that. Who knew? (Besides everybody else, it seems).

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Made some progress on Utico’s bronze weapons. Look how shiny 🤩 Seriously though, getting such good feedback from some experienced painters. Learning is a collective activity. #wip #miniaturepainting #minipainting #mythologicalart #paintingminis #myart #nmm

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Going mobile for hobby night at the local game shop 🤓 I’d say Utico is out to see the world, but he’ll be in a box for the travel part. Sorry bud :/ #hobbynight #minipainting #miniaturepainting #paintingminis #mythologicalart #toolkit

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Gentle plug for my hobby journal, if you’re curious about a longer form review of the past week, timelapses, and a sneak peak at my next project. open.substack.com/pub/tinkersb...

open.substack.com

Sittings 11 through 13 - Utico the Minotaur

Wading through the mid-way fog

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Before (our left) and after (our right) sittings 11-13. Means must shy of 2/3 of my self-imposed 21 sittings for Utico. Pushing through the mid-project slog. How do you stay motivated when you’re just chipping away at little details and shifts? #PaintingMinis #MiniaturePainting #WIP #MiniPainting

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Those posts and pictures were pretty bad.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

New paint day 🤩 I’m particular excited about the Kiwi Brown. Wait, am I posting about how amped I am for new brown paint? Actually it is pretty exciting to me. Kiwi Brown has this subtle green going on that’ll be helpful with the low mid-tones and shadows on bronze NMM. 🥝🥉 #AcrylicPaint #NMM

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Setting up a palette, one of my favorite parts of painting. A small, comforting ritual. Check out what I’m working, and a sneak peek of what’s next, here: tinyurl.com/Journal-Tink... #ASMRArt #SlowArt #PainterAtWork #VisualASMR #ProcessArt #MiniaturePainting #MiniatureArt #Timelapse

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Ten days with Utico the Minotaur, halfway to my usual 21-day painting mark-new post on Substack with thoughts and timelapses. open.substack.com/pub/tinkersb... #MiniaturePainting #SlowCraft #StudioNotes #QuietMaking #NarrativeArt #UticoTheMinotaur #ASMRArt #PaintingMiniatures #MyArt

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Working on Utico’s leather elements. Finishing my layering here with contrasting hashes of black and white. Next I’ll apply glazes enough to snap it back to something coherent, but not go so heavy handed that I obliterate hashes/texture. Wish me luck :) #TinyArt #WorkInProgress #MiniaturePainting

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

This is where I paint. Here, after sunset, hobby lights stand in for sunlight, brushes are worn down, and - sometimes - a figure inspires me to write a story. I post casual updates here, long-form updates are at tinkersbench.substack.com #QuietMaking #MiniaturePainting #VanGogh #CreativeSpace

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

It’s resin. Resin is better for high detail work, but damn is it tougher to work with.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Minotaur is a loot studio STL file I printed off at home. They put out some great stuff!

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Stepped away from social media while settling into a new job. But I didn’t stop painting. Here’s my current WIP. Still a long way to go, but having a lot of fun with Utico. Also a picture of my redesigned #CozyWorkshop set up #MiniaturePainting #VanGogh #TinyArt #Figurepainting #WorkInProgress

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

That’s so kind of you to aim for my work! I’m still pretty early in my journey too. The only bit of unsolicited bit of advice I’ll give is to paint as often as you can! Even if it’s only for 20 minutes.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Thank you much! Challenging project, for sure. But such an amazing model.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

What a difference a week makes! Been busy enough to have a hard time keeping up on social media, but not so busy that I stopped painting. #prioroties #wip #paintingminis ##miniatureartist #miniart #3dprinted #miniatures #miniaturepainter #airbrush #minipainting #miniatures #busts #myart #art

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Prime time! Eight figs I’ve always wanted to paint. This set will be fun practice before working on a couple competition pieces. There’s fur, wings, skin (with room for tattoos), metals - all the fun stuff and all the tough stuff. #timelapse #miniaturepainting #minipainting #myart #airbrush #art

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Featuring, as my mixing brush, my original #1 - the first brush I bought for painting mini’s. Glad I can still put it to good use.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Testing out some paints (a new job treat) with a new technique. Skin tones blended from primary colors instead of pre-blended hues. Not bad for a first go. And the paints themselves… They say ‘right tool for the right job’ and in this case this feels like a spot on tool. #acrylic #myart #colors

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Here’s the priming sesh. Airbrush was being finicky, then the bad seam between her arm and shoulder started giving me problems, which aren’t over yet. Will tackle the fix tonight. Hoping a little targeted sanding is all I need. *crosses fingers*

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Priming progress! Layer lines on her cheek? They’ll be covered by her hair, so fine. The sloppy mess on her shoulder? That’s gotta be resanded and primed again. It’s a visible part of the model. #process #art #perfectionism #myart #miniatures #minipainting #miniaturepainting #fantasyart #fairy

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Vince Venturella had a great video about it that demystified it a bit, but no joke I’m nervous about it.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Can’t take credit for it, but it helps couch to refer back to. Especially during the ugly stage when it’s just so hard for the brain to keep everything straight.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I feel that struggle. I’m going tin try gauzy fabric sometime soon, which is painted over pretty finished skin which is scary.

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Osl can be scary, for sure. It you got this. And all the more reason to push it if you want it out for display

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Nice. A little owl practice never hurts either

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Oh nice, so close! A little bit though, that could be a nice pop

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TJ @tinkersbench.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

And that’s the balance we’re caught between. You of course know your work and style best! If dark is the vibe then stick to it, and save the time haha. Maybe the pop details should be reserved for elsewhere?

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