Welcome back to Painted Perspectives, a series where we talk to miniature hobbyists from across the community about how they paint, what inspires them, and how they found their place in the hobby. There’s no single right way to approach miniature painting, and this series celebrates the many different paths people take to get there.
“Minis that look like they belong in antique store or your Grandma’s china cabinet.”
That’s how Sasha, known in the community as Space Meowrines, describes her miniature painting style, and one look at her work makes it immediately clear what she means.
Sasha is a relatively recent arrival to miniature painting, picking up her first brush in late 2024 after discovering the world of Warhammer through Space Marine 2. Since then, she’s developed a distinctive approach that turns Space Marines and Dreadnoughts into canvases for flowers, intricate patterns, and colours inspired by everything from antique china to fabric.
For Sasha, experimenting is a big part of the fun. We caught up with her to talk about finding inspiration in unexpected places, learning to freehand, overcoming the fear of getting things wrong, and why sometimes a teacup really is the beginning of a great paint scheme.
How and when did you first get into miniature painting and what was painting your first mini like?
Space Meowrines: I got into miniature painting in November of 2024. I played Space Marine 2 and became obsessed with the art style. A friend recommended that I check out the miniatures, so I visited my local Warhammer store where they gave me my first model to paint in store and I was hooked immediately. It felt incredibly relaxing and quieted my mind in a way other hobbies hadn’t. It was such an immersive experience, like painting a character into existence.
Since you started miniature painting, what's kept you engaged in the hobby?
Space Meowrines: Experimenting with new styles and techniques is what keeps me engaged. Looking for inspiration in odd places like old antiques, dishes and fabric patterns. Seeing a beautiful pattern on a tea cup instantly makes me want to translate it onto a miniature.
What sort of miniatures/models do you most enjoy painting?
Space Meowrines: I love painting Space Marines and Dreadnoughts as they offer a lot of room for creativity and feel like a blank canvas.
Are there techniques or colours you keep coming back to regardless of how your work evolves?
Space Meowrines: There are definitely some paint colours I use in most of the minis I paint, like Fiery Vermilion, Ancient Stone, and Crystal Blue.
This year I set a goal to work on my freehanding more and that’s been something I’ve tried to include in most of the models I’ve worked on.
What mistakes have taught you the most and is there anything you still struggle with?
Space Meowrines: When I first started, I didn’t thin my paints at all, which made my first minis look uneven and messy. It was frustrating when they didn’t match what I had in mind. I still don’t think I thin paints “perfectly,” but I’ve improved a lot.
Another big mistake was assembling models without test-fitting the pieces first. Learning how parts fit together before fixing them in place forever not only helped me avoid stray glue marks but also opened up more posing options.
I still have so much to learn in the technique department. I’m working on glazing and blending which is a major struggle for me. As well as not comparing my miniatures to others as that takes a lot of the joy out of painting.
What do you wish you'd known about miniature painting when you started?
Space Meowrines: I wish I’d known there’s no “wrong” way to paint. Not every miniature has to turn out “perfect” to be worthy of painting, and it’s okay if people don’t like your style. Don’t let negativity limit your creativity.
You can always strip the model and start over if you’re really not happy with it. Early on the cost of the minis made experimenting feel too risky. But now I know I can just hit the reset button and that removes fear and opens up a lot more creative freedom.
Favourite colour scheme to paint
Black and flowers
What do you listen to while painting?
Music and audiobooks
Brush you can't live without
Da Vinci 36 series size 0
Favourite product from The Army Painter
Fiery Vermilion paint - probably my most used paint
Most unconventional place you find inspiration for your paint schemes
Dishes and tea cups
