Into the Wild – A Lesson in Letting Go of Fear

Some miniatures sit in our backlog because we simply haven’t found the time. Others… because we’re afraid of them.

For me, Into the Wild — a stunning sculpt by the talented team at Hera Miniatures, inspired by Paul Bonner for the Trudvang Legends universe — was the latter. It sat quietly in my “Pile of Opportunity” for years. Every time I saw it, I told myself I wasn’t ready. That I couldn’t possibly do justice to the depth, the texture, and the sheer storytelling potential embedded in the sculpt.

But recently, something shifted.

I decided to stop waiting for “ready” and just dive in. And what followed was one of the most rewarding, challenging, and eye-opening painting experiences I’ve had so far.

This piece demanded everything from me — not just technical skill, but emotional investment. Every brushstroke became a lesson in contrast, storytelling, and trusting my own instincts. The character emerged from the snow, bloodied and weathered, but determined. In many ways, I felt the same — uncertain at first, but steadily more confident as the piece took shape beneath my hands.

Into the Wild will be part of my upcoming competition submissions, travelling with me to a few local events. I have no idea how it will be received — and honestly, that’s not the point anymore.

What matters is that I took the leap. I learned. I grew. And now I have this piece that I’m genuinely proud of — not just because of how it looks, but because of what it represents.

If you’ve got a piece you’ve been too nervous to start… maybe it’s time.

You might surprise yourself.