I am not quiet about my nerdiness. Those of you who know me are well aware of my fascination with the weirdness and innate intrigue of that which lies in the dark, and how I illustrate the strange and macabre in the form of miniatures. For the uninitiated, “miniatures” are, essentially, little plastic (sometimes metal) men and monsters. They are intricate items, requiring careful attention to assemble and a steady hand to paint. Most often these miniatures can be found on a game table in someone’s basement, whether it be to recreate historical battles or prowl through the gothic ruins of a science-fiction world borne from a British man’s wildest dreams. To outsiders, painting miniatures and playing games might seem childish. This is a facile and frankly short-sighted interpretation of the hobby. Miniatures are a perfect creative outlet, a crucible in which all forms of art collide in a beautiful—often grim and grimy—mess. 

Though the hobby’s crux rests in the realm of paintbrushes and X-Acto knives, one need not look far to find an extensive collection of writings, traditional artwork, and original sculptings, the breadth of which is truly immense. What starts as a simple inch-tall soldier on a twenty-eight millimeter-wide round base suddenly blossoms into a world overflowing with artistry and talent. I’d like to share with you a handful of artists that I believe embody this sentiment, all three exemplifying what miniature hobbying can truly be by embracing this melting pot of media. 

First among them is Ana Polančśak, better known by her pseudonym “Gardens of Hecate” (@gardensofhecate on Instagram). Polančśak’s star has risen rapidly over the last half decade due to her sculpting. An avid collaborator, Polančśak has worked with groups such as Ramshackle Games, SmashBash, and Meridian Miniatures to produce miniatures of a deeply distinct character. Drawing her inspiration from southeastern European and Slavic folklore, retrofuturism, and early Warhammer Fantasy Battles art, Polančśak has played a part in creating several worlds, designing characters for The Doomed, a skirmish game (a combat-based game using small teams of operatives) by Chris McDowall, and also writing the rules and story for her own skirmish game, Planet Grobnik. Polančśak has become a staple of the community and a foundational figure for the ever-evolving grimdark stylings of several creators, including myself. The grimdark aesthetic is built upon horror, despair, and decay, all synthesized into a small package constructed and painted to reflect this theming. Polančśak has achieved mastery over the style, and her odd and discomforting character designs continue to serve as wonderful inspiration for my own work, and I aspire to one day possess a comparable level of sculpting prowess.

Another of these prolific figures is Matt Ross, known by his pseudonym “Totally Not Panicking” (@totally_not_panicking on Instagram). Ross is the creator of SmashBash, a yearly kitbashing and sculpting competition meant to encourage hobbyists to flex their creative muscles. Kitbashing is a wonderful part of the hobby wherein one takes parts from various kits, or self-sculpted parts,  and combines them to create something new. Ross is a veritable master of this craft, utilizing his taste in oddities and boundless imaginative vision to construct visually rich pieces. One need not gaze for long to find minute details in his work that raise bountiful questions, which soon blend together to paint a wicked portrait of some unknown and forgotten tale. Ross is a virtuoso of grimdark visual storytelling. His pieces depict brutal and pointless war through scars and weathering, while their slouched shoulders and weary expressions remind any viewers of the subject’s humanity. Ross’ almost carefree approach to his art, along with his insane and free-flying imagination, are the very things that set me on my current hobby journey four years ago, and I can’t wait to see how his work will continue to evolve with time. 

The last creators I’ll touch on are Steve and Dellon, the two halves of Hill Giant Games (@hillgiantgames on Instagram). These two are skilled painters and sculptors in their own right, but their true talents lie in game design. Preferring to tell fun and captivating stories on the game table, Steve and Dellon arrived on the scene in spring 2023 with a kitbashing competition and a few simple rulesets for people to mess around with. Earlier this year Hill Giant launched their first full game, Cauldron, a game of swamp-based shenanigans and small-scale combat. The game was an instant hit, with the former digital-exclusive now out on a limited print run. The rules are not particularly complex, and the game requires very little tactical skill to play—but that’s the point. Cauldron is very flavorful and is designed to suit narrative play; within those bounds, the rules work just as intended. Such simple rules and writing offer an excellent basis for building extensive narratives. It’s an awfully enjoyable game, and a great entryway for individuals wanting to jump into the hobby. 

These three—technically four—artists are but a minute sample of what the wider miniature hobby community has to offer. Cole Stephens (@colecifer_xxviii), Laurence B. (@baharroth_the_cry_of_old_paint), and the wonderful Mutant Modifier (@mutant_modifier) are all excellent artists as well, sculpting and kitbashing their way through life and producing some truly breathtaking work along the way. Tanner Simpson (@simpsominiatures) and Andrew Nierenhausen (@the_hobby_dungeon) are unceasing in their devotion to the craft of game writing, pumping out fun and oftentimes silly new games for our enjoyment. Lastly, Martin McCoy (@martin.mccoy.art) is an extremely talented artist, working as the lead graphic designer for the wonderful 28mag and designing his own whimsical role-playing game, Mosscairn. Even better, Martin is based right here in the River City. 

Whether you sculpt, paint, write, or you just love to play fun games, the world of miniatures just might be the right place for you—I know it certainly is for me. There’s a plethora of talented artists out there to discover, all of whom bring their own unique take on the hobby to the table. Despite the general trend of the community toward depicting blood, war, and general grimdarkness, it truly is made up of some of the most wonderful people. Even if we step away and take a new course in life, the narrative remains. The stories we tell and the emotions we pour forth through our work endure, forever immortalized in an unassuming, small vessel.