Interview with Jesús Lobero

• Hi Jesús, tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Jesús Sánchez “Lobero,” and I’m a miniature painter, more out of passion than just a hobby.

• Do you have any other hobbies besides painting miniatures?

Currently, I don’t have much free time, and the little time I do have, I dedicate to growing as a painter. When I can, I enjoy video games, fantasy films, reading, doing some sports… it sounds typical, but honestly, all I do is paint XD.

• When did you start this hobby? Can you show us one of your first works?

The massive lockdown in February 2020 gave this hobby a boost. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, my daughter was born, so I knew I’d be spending a lot of time at home. I remembered that 10 years ago, I spent a couple of years playing Warhammer, and I decided that my pastime would be reliving those old times by giving life to the gray horde I still had. But I discovered a world that completely absorbed me: the art of painting miniatures.

• Who are your favorite artists? Who inspires you when you paint?

Currently, my three biggest influences are Marc Masclans, Kirill Kanaev, and Alfonso Giraldes. I can spend hours diving into their Instagram and Putty&Paint profiles. I try to “break down” their works, and little by little, I start to understand why they do certain things in their pieces. (Though I must also mention others like Colwell, Popovychenko, Arnau, Arroba…)

• Let’s talk about your tools, what brands of paints and brushes do you prefer?

The brushes I feel most comfortable with are the Roubloff 301T and Escoda Reserva. The latter are made in Spain, and I think it’s something we should consider to keep the national market booming, as is happening with paints. My favorite brands are AK Interactive (especially the Abteilung 502 range) and Scale Artist. I also use many inks (thanks to Alfonso) from Aerocolor, Daler Rowney…

• What are your short/long-term goals?

Right now, I’m focused on enjoying the learning process. I still have a long way to go, and I want to be happy throughout the journey. In the future, I’d like to work for collectors and create box arts. I think that’s the purest way to combine passion, work, and art into a single goal.

• Why did you join the “The Journey” pledge?

It’s the only online academy in the world right now, and being under Alfonso’s tutelage was an idea that excited me. After watching hours and hours of videos on miniatureartacademy.com, I wanted to go further. I wanted that punch that The Journey gave me to keep growing.

• How long have you been in the group?

Not long. Much less than I would have liked, but my situation changed, and I couldn’t continue. However, the time I spent there was wonderful.

• Tell us about your experience in the group.

The group is full of camaraderie and talent everywhere. I joined with respect, feeling small among so many greats. But they welcomed me with open arms, supporting and helping one another. We were like a team, and it was an unparalleled experience.

• What did you learn during your time in the group?

To give my best, accept, and learn from the advice and critiques of others. Once you “detox” from social media and realize that not all critical comments are bad, you enjoy this hobby much more.

• What advice would you give to beginners in the hobby? Share with us that piece of advice you wish you had received when you started in the miniature world.

It’s more important to understand volume and color than to replicate a formula without knowing what you’re doing. You need to make mistakes to find yourself and know how to do something and how not to. There’s a lot of fear around making mistakes, but when you take it as a lesson, it becomes something beautiful.