Miniature Basing
Give Your Miniatures a World to Stand In.
A great miniature shouldn't feel like it's floating on a black plastic circle.
Basing is the finishing touch that connects a miniature to its environment. Whether that's the mud and rubble of a war-torn battlefield, the overgrown ruins of an abandoned city, or some kind of an elaborate scenic display, the base helps tell the story of the model standing on it.
At A Tiny Brush Works, we approach basing as an extension of the miniature itself. Every texture, color, and detail should complement the paintwork above it, creating a cohesive finished piece rather than treating the base as an afterthought.
From simple, army-wide basing schemes to individually crafted display environments, we can tailor the approach to your models, your vision, and the level of finish you're looking for.
01 — Standard Basing
Included free of charge with painting commissions
Standard basing provides a clean, finished foundation for your miniatures. It is effectively just painted over texture paint. Maybe with some simple drybrushing, one or two complementary colors, and a neatly finished base rim give your models a consistent appearance without adding unnecessary time or cost.
This is ideal for full armies that need to look unified on the tabletop. Whether your force marches across dusty wasteland, rocky ground, or a simple battlefield, the goal is to make every model look finished and ready to play.
02 — Enhanced Basing
Typically +$5–10 per model
Enhanced basing introduces greater variety and depth through layered textures, additional color variation, pigments, washes, grass tufts, and small environmental details.
Instead of a simple ground texture, the base begins to feel like a particular place. Dust gathers around boots. Mud darkens beneath equipment. Grass grows between broken stones. These details add visual interest while keeping the miniature practical for regular tabletop use.
03 — Scenic Basing
Scenic basing builds a more deliberate environment around the miniature. Rocks, ruined masonry, broken machinery, vegetation, debris, and sculpted terrain can create a stronger sense of place and storytelling.
Composition matters here. The placement of terrain can direct the viewer's eye, complement the miniature's pose, and create a sense of movement or scale. Colors and materials are selected to work with the model rather than compete against it.
Scenic bases are designed around the individual miniature or agreed-upon army theme, giving the finished piece a more distinctive identity.
04 — Display Bases & Dioramas
Typically $40+ for advanced display basing; dioramas quoted individually
Display basing treats the environment as part of the artwork. Custom-built structures, dramatic elevation, carefully composed terrain, advanced materials, and integrated effects can turn a miniature into a complete visual scene.
These projects may involve custom construction, pinning, repositioning, sculpted elements, or a dedicated display plinth. Every element should contribute to the overall composition and help tell the story of the piece.
Because these projects vary significantly in size and complexity, we quote them individually based on the design and work involved.
More Than Just Terrain
Basing can do more than make a miniature look good. It can reinforce the entire visual identity of a collection.
Army cohesion: A shared basing scheme makes different units feel like they belong to the same force.
Color and contrast: The ground can make armor, skin, cloth, and effects stand out—or create a deliberately subdued atmosphere.
Storytelling: Shell casings, broken weapons, ruined walls, vegetation, and environmental details can suggest what happened before the miniature arrived.
Presentation: A well-composed base frames the miniature and helps direct attention toward its most important features.
For larger commissions, we can establish a consistent basing scheme across the entire force while reserving more elaborate treatments for characters and centerpiece models.
How We Approach Your Base
Every basing project starts with the same question: what kind of world should this miniature inhabit?
We consider your army's theme, the miniature's pose, its color scheme, and how the finished piece will be used. A gaming army may need durable, repeatable bases that look excellent together. A display character may benefit from a more dramatic composition built specifically around that model.
If you have reference images, a particular battlefield in mind, or even just a rough idea, share it with us. You don't need to know which materials or techniques will achieve the result, we can help turn the idea into a practical design. Standard basing is included where specified in the painting quote. Enhanced, scenic, and display basing are priced according to the additional materials, construction, and time required. Large-model bases, custom plinths, and full dioramas are quoted separately.