What is it like to make custom miniatures? We spoke to a community member who knows all about it.
Jayspyce is 27 years old from Michigan, U.S.A. and originally went to school for computer hardware but ended up changing his career to carpentry. “I’m now building hotels and commercial buildings as a lead foreman. On the side, I’m an automotive mechanic but that’s mostly just a hobby of mine. I also enjoy painting and hand sculpting miniatures in my free time for D&D. When I’m not working on miniatures or cars I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family. I’m a very easygoing person and I’m always one to lend a hand to someone in need.
“When Demeo came out for VR though, it brought back that sense of creativity and I thought it would be fun to get back into the hobby.”
I started off making my own miniatures as a kid, but I kind of fell away from it as I grew older trying to balance work and starting my family. When Demeo came out for VR though, it brought back that sense of creativity and I thought it would be fun to get back into the hobby. From the first time I played I knew I had to bring the game to life and I started working on my own set of Demeo miniatures and the game board to go with it.”
Jayspyce works a lot in foam board and “green stuff”, a two-part epoxy putty where you mix one part yellow and one part blue putty that cures quite quickly. “I also try to find things that might otherwise be thrown away and reuse them, such as pieces from broken toys or knick-knacks. I have a set of sculpting tools that I ordered online that vary in style and size so I can add details and texture, as well as a lot of hot glue and 5-minute resin to combine pieces or create different environmental effects. There are so many little things you can make with stuff you probably already have at home that can be reused and built upon to bring your miniatures and environments to life.”
To get a better idea of the process of making a custom miniature, we asked if Jayspyce could describe the process from start to finish. “I usually start with pictures I find online or just an idea of what I want my miniature to look like and then I’ll make the base. This is usually very rough looking, as I just want to create the general shape I’m going for. From there I just layer the green stuff until it’s the general size and shape I’m going for, and then I add details where needed such as facial features or clothing. Green stuff can be a bit tricky though since it tends to harden the more you work with it. I like to make detailed pieces separately and add them to the miniature once I’m happy with them so that if I’m not liking how something is turning out I don’t have to start over completely. Once the miniature is done I’ll let it dry completely and then start painting.”
When asking how long it takes to make a miniature he says that it depends on the miniature and the level of detail that he wants to go into. “Most of the time I only have a couple of hours after getting home from work to make them, so if it’s a larger miniature or something with a lot of detail it will definitely take a few days to complete. I tend to split them into sections, like adding facial details or making the weapons and armor, until I’m satisfied with the progress I’ve made or it gets too late. Sometimes they’re really hard to put away once they start getting close to completion! There are definitely not enough hours in a day.”
“It always feels good to share something you made with other people who are involved in your hobby and understand the time and effort you put into getting something just right.”
He continues to say that the hardest thing about his hobby is finishing a project. “A lot of the time I’ll start working on something, but then it might not be turning out how I pictured. Or I had a long day at work and I can’t stay focused, so I step away from it and then struggle to get working on it again.” Though he says that being able to create some really cool miniatures and environments from practically nothing but his hands and some imagination, as well as the very supportive community are the best parts of it. “It always feels good to share something you made with other people who are involved in your hobby and understand the time and effort you put into getting something just right.”
We did, of course, have to ask for tips if you’re interested in getting started and Jayspyce says, “don't be afraid to just go for it. It definitely takes some patience, but if it’s something you’re interested in, the outcome is incredibly rewarding. If you aren’t comfortable jumping right in with green stuff, you can try clay that doesn’t harden in order to get a feel for it. Just like most other hobbies, the more you do it the better you’ll get, and once you get the creativity flowing the possibilities are endless.” Some wise words to keep in mind if you’re an aspiring miniature maker.
So what inspires a miniature maker? This creative soul finds inspiration in a lot of things but much of it comes D&D and the possibility to express yourself and do almost anything. “It’s such a great way to tap into your imagination and has introduced me to so many great people, and that makes me want to make things that make the game, in my opinion, even better. Just the D&D and Demeo communities as well. I love seeing other people get just as, if not more, imaginative and make some really cool stuff. Some of the things I see people come up with are absolutely amazing and that helps keep me wanting to create.”
Last but not least we asked Jayspyce if he wanted to say anything to the Demeo community. “Don’t be afraid to try something new and share it with the community! Everyone here is full of great ideas and there are also some very helpful, talented people that will guide you along the way. Also just thank you for being such a great and supportive group of people. If you’re interested, you can find more of my work on my Instagram.”
A big thank you to Jayspyce for joining this community spotlight! Maybe we’ll see some new miniature makers pop up in the community.