Miniatures aren’t viewed like illustrations — they’re seen at arm’s length, under varied lighting, often while you’re focused on gameplay. Because of that, miniatures require exaggeration to read clearly on the tabletop. For male minis, exaggeration is usually accepted without question: broader shoulders, stronger jaw, thicker hands, chunkier silhouettes — it helps them read quickly. For female minis, the same “readability” push often means more prominent feminine features. But that’s where it gets tricky: the visual shorthand that makes a female miniature read as female can be easily interpreted as over-sexualised, even when the actual intent is purely functional and design-driven. It could also come across as objectively ridiculous in terms of them having combat heels and boob plate on their armour and the like, but again it all adds to the visual cues of the model being female rather than a male with a smaller frame. My honest situation: I’ve avoided pushing female exaggeration for a long time and have leaned toward a more subtle style. But I’m not sure that’s always the best solution for tabletop clarity — and I don’t want to make design decisions based purely on my own assumptions. So I’d love your input: What do you prefer in female miniature design? A) Exaggerated for clarity — instantly reads as female on the tabletop B) Subtle / grounded — more realistic proportions, reads when viewed closer C) Mixed approach — depends on faction, setting, or character role And the key follow-up: - What specifically makes a female mini feel “over-sexualised” to you? - What specifically makes a female mini feel “clear and readable” to you? - Are there examples (games/ranges) you think strike the balance well? If you drop an A/B/C plus a sentence or two about why, that’ll give me a really useful compass for future releases. The 2 images are illustrations of my miniatures - the grey one is the "usual" standard of female miniatures I create, and the coloured one is a selection of the "pinups" that I've done to date to highlight the differences. I'd also note that the clothing on the pinups is deliberately scanty for obvious reasons - I'm looking more at the physical proportions than the attire in this respect.

Hi all! We've had quite a few new members in lately which is great but the group activity has been really low. Lets get a bit of focus and start getting you the content that you came here for. I'd love to hear from everyone to find out what you want. Sculpting tips and tutorials, painting guides and tips? Help dialling in your 3d printer or getting perfect supports? Help and guidance for monetising your work? vote in the poll, but lets see your specific needs and wants in the comments.

Hi, thanks for coming! I just started up this Skool community in September so I'm going to be inviting people in and trying to build this community up. If you've arrive here and are wondering why there's not much going on, this is why. I'm working on my first proper zbrush sculpting course right now (check it out here https://dankelly1.gumroad.com/l/uxser) and it's almost complete as of the end of October. I'd love for this community to be a hub for like minded people who want to learn about the full ecosystem of miniatures. Whether you're doing this for relaxation and mindfulness or you want to turn miniature sculpting into a career and free yourself from the shackles of your 9-5 job, I'll be here to help you every step of the way! Please post an introduction and let us know who you are, what you do for a living, what level your miniature experience is at, and what skills you're looking to develop. Oh, and where you are in the world - it would be great to organise some in-person meetups if we start getting groups of people with common geography! Everyone is in the same boat so don't be shy! Oh, and if you had to pick one and banish one - Lord of the Rings or Starwars?! 😉

Hey everyone 👋! Here’s a miniature I recently sculpted. I always focus on a clean shape, a strong pose, and details that still look good when printed small. Quick tips that help: • Start with the big shapes before adding details • Make small details a bit thicker so they print better • Avoid very thin parts so they don’t break • Plan where the model will be split before printing If you want a custom STL or a sculpt that I can print and ship, I can help. Skool-only deal: ⚡ First 5 people get 10% off their order. Send me a message if you want something made — even a simple idea is enough!

Hey everyone 👋 Miniature painter + WW hobby lover here. I also design custom minis in various scales whenever someone needs something special. Happy to be in the community and learn from you all !