Welcome Justin Lane
A creative 3D artist from Queensland with a passion for painting and printing miniatures. Founder of ‘Critical Paint’.
1. Welcome, Justin, thanks for joining our Ambassador Team! To start, please share your background and where you’re based.
Hi there, I’m Justin I’m 43 from Birkdale near Brisbane in Queensland. My background is in Hospitality, IT and customer service, I started painting/printing around 6 years ago due to an ongoing illness.
2. When did you first discover your passion for 3D printing and painting miniature models?
When I got sick I found it very hard just to do nothing, I needed something to stop me from going crazy, so I decided to paint the figures from some of my board games, people said I was pretty good at it and I should do more, the printing side happened a little later, I got an Ender 3 and that progressed to a Photon S, then a Sonic Mini 4k then a Sonic Mighty 8k, then a CR10 Max and I’m looking at getting a second Sonic Mighty 8k… I may have a bit of a printing addiction!
3. What inspired you to establish Critical Paint, and how has the journey been so far?
Critical Paint came around by my need to make some money and spread my ‘brand’. It became a moniker that I have nurtured and would one day be (hopefully) a recognised name in the printing and mini-painting communities.
4. Could you talk us through your creative process? What are the key steps involved from concept to completion?
I approach every piece differently, depending on what it is I might have an idea floating around for a little while that I have wanted to try, or I might ‘make it up as I go’ I don’t think I have a defined process as such more of an inkling going into each piece, I might try something and not be happy with where it is going and strip the piece back completely and start again. But for structure I will always put down light and shadows and build through my layers from there, building mid-tones and highlights and then blending back into the shades, once I have the groundwork done I will introduce it to the base and then build environmental elements.
5. We understand you’re an expert in 3D printing and painting. How do these two skills complement each other in your projects?
As a miniature painter, I find 3d printing extremely useful as I can literally do anything I can imagine. With a multitude of creators out there making all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff! I find I use elements of 3d printing more and more as time goes on, bits and pieces for bases, building scenes with buildings, display plinths the sky’s the limit.
6. What’s the most challenging project you’ve undertaken to date? How did you overcome the obstacles you faced?
All of my jobs are challenging in some capacity, but certainly, the biggest and longest would have to be a large terrain piece I have recently completed for DM Stash on the gold coast it is a temple on an 800mm x 800mm board, it was a full build they arrived with a box of parts and a USB stick of files and I was off, nearly 3 months later it was done, having to build, paint, weather, add environment and then furnish was a huge job but the results speak for themselves.
7. Many of our customers want to know the technical details. Could you specify the types of 3D printers and resins you prefer and why?
At the moment I have more work on the resin printing side so my main workhorse is the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K (I have just recently purchased a second one of these) which is fantastic because of the detail and size of the build plate, a Phrozen Sonic Mini 4k which I use for small quick bits mainly runs with clear resin for effects and such, the original Ender 3 which I started out with has been frankenstien’d into some form of monster that needs to be locked in its own cupboard, and the Creality CR-10 Max this thing is the biggest thing in my office I use that for… well, big stuff buildings and terrain as well as the odd thing here and there.
8. Your work involves a high level of detail and precision. Can you share any tips or tricks to help achieve such intricate designs?
A steady hand, patience, and nine times out of ten a really, really small brush. I also do not have the best eyesight so my glasses and a set of magnification glasses on top, and for the ridiculously small stuff I also have a magnifying camera, and some jelly elbow cushions 😀
9. Sustainability is a growing concern in the 3D printing community. Do you incorporate any eco-friendly practices in your work?
Much of what comes with 3D printing has a waste and harm component, depending on the material I try to reuse as much as I can, for instance, I will raid failed prints for bits and pieces, support material is good for certain scenery and bits. And any stuff that needs to be replaced is disposed of properly, we have one backyard, we need to look after it.
10. Lastly, what exciting projects or collaborations can we look forward to from Critical Paint soon?
I don’t really know, Charlie, what’s Monocure3D up to? Anything that would interest the mini-community???
Download your FREE Guide on Painting Miniatures
Greetings, everyone! Charlie reached out to me for my top 10 tips on Miniature Painting, and I’m thrilled to share them with you. While I’ll be tailoring these tips for newcomers, they are universally applicable, regardless of your skill level. So, without further ado, let’s dive in! Please note that these tips are presented in no particular order.
