Miniature Painting Made Easy - Hardcover books

April progress report
4 months ago – Fri, Apr 10, 2026 at 04:55:28 AM

Hello everyone!

The last couple of months have been very productive and I've been able to finish many different elements of the project. Let's quickly review them!

Volume 1

Final layout done, missing translation and final printing adjustments.

The now infamous 99% theory chapter is finally 100% done (I added the last few photos and details that were missing), all the tutorials were already done as you may know from prior updates, and now the techniques and basing chapters as well as the index and everything else are completed too.

The book was initially planned to have around 72 pages, but there were simply too many sections that we (David Arroba and myself) felt needed more detail to explain everything in an accessible, easy to understand way, and we ended up including a few slightly more advanced concepts and techniques that we feel may be very useful for everyone.

The final length of the book is a whooping 104 pages.

Volume 2

Final layout done, missing translation and final printing adjustments.

Volume 3

• Done: 17/24 tutorials
• WIP: layout for 2 tutorials (photos and text 100% ready), text editing for two short theory chapters.
• Missing: layout, photos and text editing for 5 tutorials; final review + integration (index, foreword, chapter headers); translation and final printing adjustments.

Overall progress in numbers*

• Text editing: 92%
• Photo editing: 90%
• Layout: 88%

*Tutorials only: after we reach 100% here I'll need to finalise indexes, chapter headers, translation and final print prep, but I don't have a good way of estimating that numerically.

Now time for some progress images for those more visually inclined, I hope you enjoy them!

And that's it for now! Without checking I think this update is even longer than the previous, which is only fair because it documents a slightly longer period. I hope you liked it! I found a process to capture the images for the update that allows for better quality without taking particularly long to load or export the files, so I'll be using that from now on, although I'm not entirely sure it will show through due to Kickstarter compressing the images down anyways.

From this point on I'll distribute my time between translating (as you may have noticed, Volume 1's pages are in still Spanish at this point, as that was easier for David Arroba to approve when I completed each section of the editing and layout), and the rest of the tutorials that I still need to edit and layout, and I'll be back with another update once I have something meaningful to show and some interesting news to share.

Thank you for your continued patience and support,

Helio

January progress report
7 months ago – Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 04:35:27 AM

Hello there!

Over the last few weeks I've made some significant progress, so it's time to show you. Overall, and as it's sadly become a theme for this project, it's been a little bit slower than I'd hoped, but I find it's very meaningful nonetheless!

Volume 1

Done: Theory, 12/12 tutorials.

WIP: Basing, brush and airbrush techniques.

Missing:  final review + integration (index, foreword).

Very little progress on this end I'm afraid, just a few edits on the basing chapter and the brush technique chapters but nothing final yet. I'm trying to work with the painter in charge of it to speed it up, I'm not completely sure what the issue is just yet, but we will resolve it in the best possible way in the coming weeks. 

Volume 2

• Done: 24/24 tutorials, index, review.
• WIP: chapter headers (6 half pages in total, separating each "family" of tutorials by theme explaining the general approach to speedpainting of that particular family).
• Missing: NOTHING!

This one is almost done except for finishing up the chapter headers! As you'll find in the images below, even the small circles with the paint colours have been filled out, which as it turns out was a fairly time intensive task. As soon as I'm done with the chapter headers, I'll send it over to the printer for final printing adjustments and we should be good to go.

Volume 3

• Done: 9/24 tutorials
• WIP: layout for 7 tutorials (photos and text 100% ready), layout and photo editing for 1 tutorial (text 100% ready), text editing for two short theory chapters.
• Missing: layout, photos and text editing for 7 tutorials; final review +integration (index, foreword).

This one is the most delayed one at the moment, but also the one that is progressing faster. I've already worked through the majority of the trickiest tutorials, only 3 of the 7 that are missing are a little bit tricky while the other 4 should be quite straightforward to edit.

Overall progress in numbers (tutorials only*)

• Text editing: 87%
• Photo editing: 85%
• Layout: 75%

While we haven't speed up as much as I would have liked with the incorporation of Adrián to help me with the layout, we've ironed out a lot of kinks in the process so it's possible we will indeed speed up a little bit in the next few weeks.

*Tutorials only: Please keep in mind when this reaches 100% I will still need some time to finalise the order of the tutorials, prepare the indexes, and a few more details before I can send the books to the printer. However, I don't have a good way of estimating that numerically and I feel this is nonetheless a great estimate to give you a rough idea of where the project sits at currently for those who would rather receive information numerically.

And now let's see a few images from the layout we've recently completed. I hope you are as excited about them as I am, especially about volume 2 which is almost done now!

I think this has been the largest update in terms of new layout in a while, which makes me very happy to be honest. I still have quite a lot of work ahead of me before I can finish the books, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I've found a good rhythm that is working out almost as well as I expected even if a little bit slower than I'd hoped.

Thank you for your continued patience and support, and see you in the next update, sooner rather than later if everything goes according to plan!

Helio

November progress report
9 months ago – Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 09:16:04 AM

Hello everyone!

The last two months have been really productive for the progress of the project, and I'd like to share with you where we are standing at the moment and what to expect moving forward. Not everything is going as well as I expected, but overall I've made a lot of progress. Let's get into it.

Refunds

I believe I've already mentioned this a number of times, but I ought to write it as plainly as possible: at this stage of the project, I can't issue refunds. I have already committed the vast majority of it to paying artists, campaign ads, Kickstarter fees, and other project expenses, and the remaining funds are 100% reserved for the printing and logistics of the physical books. Issuing any refunds at this stage would risk the financial feasibility of the printing and that is something I simply can't and won't do.

Now on to the actual progress, on a simplified format that I hope will be easier to understand than before.

Volume 1

Done: Theory, 12/12 tutorials

WIP: Basing, brush and airbrush techniques.

Missing:  final review + integration (index, foreword)

The painter is working on the three missing chapters and expects to have all the text ready for me to edit and review next week. That will leave us with layout and maybe some additional photos to illustrate some techniques missing, in any case very close to the finish line. However, this has suffered a number of delays by now so I can't really promise anything until I have received all the materials.

Volume 2

• Done: 21/24 tutorials
• WIP: layout for 3 tutorials (photos and text editing 100% ready), small formatting details of 21 tutorials
• Missing: final review +integration (index, foreword)

I sent Adrián, the graphic designer I hired, all the text and photos to complete the layout of the missing tutorials and the details of the other 21. I expect this to be finished between next week and the week after that. This should have been completed earlier, as a matter of fact I was waiting for the delivery before publishing the update, but he's unfortunately suffered some problems with prior commitments from before I hired him so I've had to wait for him to be done, he will be able to dedicate a lot more time to our books starting next week.

Volume 3

• Done: 5/24 tutorials
• WIP: layout for 5 tutorials (photos and text 100% ready), layout and text editing for 7 tutorials (photos 100% ready), text editing for two short theory chapters
• Missing: layout, photos and text editing for 7 tutorials; final review +integration (index, foreword)

Just as above, Adrián has the text and photos for the 5 WIP tutorials, he will work on those immediately after he's done with volume 2. Given my past experience with him doing the layout for Volume 1 tutorials, this should go fairly quickly. Out of everything else, I'm only worried about 4 specific tutorials which will be tricky to edit, everything else should be relatively straightforward for me to edit.

Overall progress in numbers (tutorials only*)

• Text editing: 77%
• Photo editing: 77%
• Layout: 63%

While that 63% may feel a little bleak, I am confident this will advance a lot faster now thanks to the work of Adrián, he works a lot faster than I do and even if he didn't just the fact that it's two pairs of hands working at the same time instead of just one gives me hope that I will be able to bring you great news pretty soon.

*Tutorials only: Please keep in mind when this reaches 100% I will still need some time to finalise the order of the tutorials, prepare the indexes, and a few more details before I can send the books to the printer. However, I don't have a good way of estimating that numerically and I feel this is nonetheless a great estimate to give you a rough idea of where the project sits at currently for those who would rather receive information numerically.

Now, for those who'd rather see a few images of what I've been able to complete in the past several weeks, here's some previews of the latest layout:

I've chosen to depart from the previous style of rendered layouts that I used to share, as those take me quite some time to prepare and I'm not sure they really make much of a difference, I think I'd rather devote that time to more editing instead. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter in the comments!

Last but not least, I want to acknowledge the frustration expressed by many of you in the comment section. At this point in the project, there's very little I can do about it other than press on and continue working to deliver the books as soon as possible, and try to convey the progress of the project clearly and more often than I've done.

What I will say to all of you is this: I have never intentionally lied or said something that wasn't true. I have been overconfident at times, overwhelmed at others, sometimes I may have oversimplified something for the sake of clarity which could be interpreted in different ways, many times I've not disclosed what or who exactly was holding the project back because I didn't want anyone other than myself to be personally involved or attacked by someone else as I explained in another update, and probably plenty of other things that hinder the clarity of my communication with all of you that I don't know how to put into words due to English not being my first language.

In any case, I want you all to know that I remain 100% committed to delivering the books to each and everyone of you, to the best of my abilities and reaching the best possible quality I can, and I will continue to work on the project until I have achieved just that.

As always, thank you for your kindness and support, and see you in the next update, hopefully soon and bearing good news.

Helio

Q3 progress report
11 months ago – Mon, Sep 15, 2025 at 04:06:02 AM

Hello everyone!

Over the last few months I've been working on more editing, layout, and endless revisions. Today I'd like to share some of that progress with you all. Let's get into it:

Volume 1 is now pretty close to being done. We had already finished the theory section some time ago, and now the 12 tutorials are complete. The only missing part is the explanation of the brush and airbrush techniques and a small basing chapter, as well as a small introduction to each section which I will write once everything else is done to ensure everything is referenced in the correct order as it appears in the final version of the book.

Below you can find a few pages from some of the tutorials found in volume 1, the only detail they are missing is the correct page numbering but save that they are 100% done.

Changes moving forward

I've come to terms with the fact that I can't do the entire layout by myself. It would simply take too much time and I've already abused your patience beyond reason.

In past occasions I've had very strong reservations to bring someone else on board to help with layout, as I believed it would take me almost as long or even longer to prepare the materials and briefs for them to do the layout properly and then review and correct it as it would to simply do the layout myself. I've since tried outsourcing the layout of a few tutorials and I have to say I'm very happy with the work done by Adrián, the same graphic designer who designed pretty much everything else for Colorful Kraken Studio.

Some of his layout decisions are definitely different than I would have made, but his experience as both a graphic designer and miniature painter show through and the visual quality of his work matches my expectations for what the books should look like, so I will continue to work with him to speed up the process.

The pages you've seen above are the result of this collaboration, I hope you like them as much as I do!

Now we are moving forward with tutorials from Volumes 2 and 3, I hope to have something worth showing in that regard soon. 

Note about US shipping

The current political climate and logistic situation is uncertain, but I don't anticipate this should be too difficult to overcome. While many courier companies are currently not shipping to the US, my plan was always to freight ship all the US bound books together in a large shipping container, then distribute them from within the US using an american shipping company. While we may have to face payment of some additional customs and duties charges compared to my initial plan, it should still be fairly doable to ship everyone in the US their corresponding rewards. In any case, we will cross that bridge when we get there, as the current situation may still change a lot.

Last but not least, I want to reassure you of my commitment to this project, to finishing these books and to deliver them to each and everyone of you as soon as I possibly can, maintaining the highest quality I can possibly achieve.

Thank you again for your kindness and support,

Helio

Q2 progress report
over 1 year ago – Fri, May 16, 2025 at 11:02:05 AM

Hello everyone!

Time for a much needed update. We are moving forward!

Design, layout and editing

I've spent the last couple of months almost fully focused on Volume 1. The theory chapters are 95% done, we are only missing a couple of graphics and photos of models to illustrate certain sections, but the text and the bulk of the layout is done. At the moment, I'm working on  the editing and layout of the 12 tutorials contained in the book, and David and Jaime are working on refining the explanation of each technique used on the tutorials.

We have decided to structure the book in two main chapters. The first is the vast majority of the theory, along with explanations for all the tools and materials required and how to prepare your miniatures for painting, and the second is the actual tutorials.

The second chapter is divided into four levels, each level introduces the required techniques first and then shows the tutorials to paint three miniatures to that standard. Then the next level introduces a few new techniques and the corresponding tutorials, and so on.

Here are a few pages (95% done, may still get minor changes) of the book:

I've also advanced a little bit with Volumes 2 and 3, I will show the progress on those soon.

Pledge manager

I've seen comments from many of you requesting that I launch the pledge manager, and others questioning the existence of the late pledge option. I'd like to clarify a couple of things here that I hope will make sense:

About the late pledge, none of the late backers are being charged at this point. They are giving a pre-authorisation for a future charge once the late pledge closes and they provide their address for shipping and such. This is also the reason why they do not have access to the website whereas you as Kickstarter backers do, they have not paid anything, but instead simply agreed to pay at a later date.

As for the pledge manager, there's two things stopping me from launching it:

• First and foremost, even though it wouldn't take a lot of work, it would still take some work and that would slow me down a little bit from completing the actual books, which I feel is the most important task at this point in time. In my opinion, it makes more sense to take the time to fully set up the pledge manager once the books are in the printer for pre-press review.
• Secondly, if I were a backer, I would feel more comfortable if the pledge manager was sent closer to the shipping date, rather than as soon as possible. I wouldn't want to feel the shipping of the project is imminent if it wasn't, if that makes sense. I realise this is entirely personal and subjective and not everyone has to feel the same way.

Having said this, if there's strong agreement in the comments of this update that it would be a good idea to launch the pledge manager so you can lock your orders and provide your shipping addresses, I can set some time aside in the next couple of weeks and do that. Please let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do about it.

My thinking about the massive delay

I know many of you are frustrated with the delays and the scarce communication on my side. I am too, and I'm sorry. I would like to offer you some explanation as to why this project is taking me longer than I expected.

I've worked on other projects and other books and most of them have been delivered either on time or at the very least suffered much shorter delays. However, in those projects I was "just" the project manager, whereas here I'm also responsible for the vast majority of the layout, editing and administration of the project and this has taken a serious toll on me and my capacity to plan ahead.

And what I feel is the most important reason, other projects that I've worked on were not educational in nature, and the same can be said about other miniature books that are out there. The editing, review, correction, and feedback processes in general are taking me a lot longer than I anticipated because these books are not about the artists and their painting styles, but rather about YOU learning them. 

What this means is that I can't simply take what each artist sent me, do a nice looking layout and be done with it. I need to edit it to use consistent language, make it as easy to understand and follow as possible, have the original author review it so we can make sure it conveys what they wanted to teach, edit their corrections if they had any, review it again... and when I'm not sure about the end result, send it to folks with different levels of experience who can review it on their own and let me know whether it makes sense or something needs further clarification.

At this point, I don't know whether this is beyond what I initially promised, simply what everyone expected, or something in between. What I do know for sure is that I'm extremely proud of each and every tutorial that we've finished up to this point, and I want to maintain the same standard throughout all three books and all tutorials in them. This does mean it's taking me a long time to finish each tutorial, but it's not a consistent time because it depends a lot on the clarity of the original explanation from each artist.

Final note

Many times over the past year and a half I've felt a sense of helplessness when I've had troubles receiving materials from some artists involved in the project. Many times I've felt like I should just tell you X or Y person is not sending me their materials and so I'm removing them from the books. However, time and time again I've come to the decision of not pointing anyone out. I don't feel comfortable doing that, and I feel the ultimate responsibility lies with me alone. I will certainly not work with some folks ever again, that's for sure, but I will never publicly call out anyone. I'm sure each individual person had their reasons for their delays.

In any case, I just want you to know that I remain committed to finishing this book collection as soon as I possibly can, to the highest quality I can achieve.

Thank you for your continued patience and support,

Helio