07/31/2025

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been quietly building something—not just terrain or miniatures, but skills, confidence, and a passion for crafting that continues to grow every week. Today, for Throwback Thursday, I want to take a look back at my very first hobby photo posted to this website, and compare it to my most recent. The difference is more than just lighting or camera angles. It’s a snapshot of the road I’ve traveled as a hobbyist, painter, storyteller, and creator.

🐍 Then: A Basilisk on the Workbench

The very first photo I shared here was of a basilisk from the Bones 5 Kickstarter. At the time, I was excited just to finish painting the model after getting back into the hobby. I didn’t think too much about staging or lighting—just placed it on the table, took a quick snapshot, and uploaded it.

In the background were other models, slightly out of focus, as if quietly cheering on this first brave post. The lighting was overhead and uneven. There was no setup—just a moment captured in the middle of the creative chaos we all start with.

And that’s okay. That basilisk was the beginning of something bigger.

🐍 Now: Six Snakemen in the Swamp

Fast forward to today, and my most recent project couldn’t feel more different. The latest photo shows a group of six snakemen posed on a handcrafted UDT swamp base, surrounded by custom trees, murky water effects, and scattered terrain elements. It’s more than a picture—it’s a scene. A story. A world.

And behind the camera? A better version of myself.

These days, I have a dedicated table in my basement for staging photos. I use a tripod and proper lighting. I think about how I want the scene to look before I even place the first model. And I take the time to tell a story with every image.

✂️ The Growth Behind the Glue

The progress you see between those two pictures isn’t accidental. It’s built on hours and hours of watching YouTube creators—terrain builders, miniature painters, storytellers, and fellow hobbyists. I’ve absorbed tips, stolen tricks, made mistakes, and tried again. And through it all, I’ve fallen deeper in love with the process of creating immersive tabletop experiences.

It’s also what inspired me to take things even further and start my own crafting channel on YouTube. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find me over at youtube.com/@tabletopThoughts. That’s where I share projects, paint jobs, terrain tricks, and sometimes just the joy of messing around with foam and glue.

🛒 Sharing the Craft: My Etsy Store

This journey also led me to open an Etsy store: DMDavidsPrints. I realized that while not everyone has the time, tools, or desire to craft their own terrain and miniatures, everyone deserves to tell great stories at the table.

That’s why I create pieces designed to enhance games, spark imaginations, and bring encounters to life. I can’t be at every game table, but maybe something I’ve made can be. Whether it’s scatter terrain, display pieces, or printed monsters, my goal is to support other GMs and players in telling the kinds of stories I love so much.

💬 Why I Still Post

Every time I upload a new post or photo to this site, it’s a way of saying: I’m still learning. I’m still creating. Whether it’s a small painted skeleton or a full diorama, I post because it helps me reflect on the journey—and maybe it helps someone else start theirs.

To anyone just beginning their hobby or creative path: take that picture, even if it’s just a model on a cluttered desk. Share it. One day, you’ll look back at it with pride—not because it’s perfect, but because it was your start.

Thank you for coming along on this journey. There’s so much more to build.

Keep on gaming!