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Painting Motivation: How do you guys get it?


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Mine really motivated me at first, because I was sharing  a lot of practical knowledge and advice on how to do things.  I was hoping that having the summer off would give me lots of time to paint and thus, content for my blog.  But it hasn't happened - in spite of an excellent Space Marine codex release and Dark Angels on the horizon.

 

It's just a phase - I hope.

Mine really did, as sometimes I think you can be too critical of your own painting and it acts as a deterrent. But by sharing it, you can build your confidence and keep on pushing your painting. Lately I haven't had the time to actually do anything due to work and life but everyone has things that crop up. When I do get time though, i know a major motivator will be updating my blog to show where I've got to.

I live to paint. I've just recently gotten better about going slowly. Now my motivation is almost to see how long it will take me to do one mini as well as I can instead of how long it takes to bang out a line of tacs. 

I never lack for motivation.. only time!  Having kids, packing to move, job, algebra class, pets, wife works so, cleaning, cooking etc.  And not trying to incur wife aggro..  I try to paint at lunch if shes not home(shes mad I havent packed up all my WH40K stuff for the move yet).  Going to get some done tonight on 24 hour duty at work(yay!).

 

Usually I put on some Iron Maiden or Dragonforce and just go until I'm out of time.

I would not say I struggle for inspiration/motivation, more that I struggle for time. With chores, wife, work & other hobbies I really struggle to find the time to sit and get somewhere painting when there are so many quicker hobbies to grab my attention.

However, to answer how I do get motivated to paint this stuff, I keep all my built models out on display; painted or not. Seeing those unpainted models next to the fully painted ones is a huge part of it. Then I just get generally involved in the hobby with reading (fiction & the zines) and looking on the web. Now that I'm a member here there's loads of stuff to look at. happy.png

I refuse to play using unfinished models, so if I want to play i have to finish them. Also, I won't start a new project until the current one is finished. That prevents me from buying a ton of models amd neglecting them.

 

...he writes as an Imperial Knight languishes unprimed in a nearby banker's box, where it's been for the past year.

I really struggle with motivation too, particularly for batch painting. I end up painting a couple of models from one unit, then getting bored and switching to another unit. My latest solutions:

1. Painting for 5-10 minutes between breakfast and leaving for work every morning.

2. Reading or thinking obsessively about 40K during the day so that by the time I get home I will let nothing stand between my painting table and me.

3. Painting while watching TV with my wife (a most supportive spouse indeed).

4. In desperation, taking 1 model, 1 brush, 1 pot of paint and 1 small pot for water to work and painting in my lunch break.

Good luck!

I recently found the motivation to continue the Carcharodon project I started back in 2011, but then I found out that Vallejo had drastically changed the paint I used for their armour and as if that wasn't enough. Forgeworld decided to stop producing the decals!

That put a bit of a dent in my motivation to say the least.

 

Now, with the latest releases I got quite hyped to give Ultramarines or Templars another go.
I'm not proud of it, but I'm a big sucker for the hype of a new codex release.

Ive got a lot of motivation for painting, but I lack the focus of doing a single chapter/legion. So many to choose from sad.png Ive painted 3 diferent Ultramarines just to test out diferent colours and I am so frustrated that none of them look good.

But good motivation is music, always music! I have a whole playlist of youtube videos with heroic/dark/inspiring/gregorian music.

Honestly, my motivation is paint whenever I feel like it. Everyone has days when they aren't going to be feeling that hobby bug itching, and that's fine.

Fit in what you can, when you can. Never force yourself as your work will be half-hearted. I tend to paint for 20-30 mins at a time, four times a week...maybe 5 if I really have something I want to do. You'd be surprised what you can complete in 30 mins, and with a burst at the weekend of 2 hours you can finish a whole unit.

Find out what's not motivating you. If the model you're painting bores you, switch it up. I painted a techmarine with Thunderfire Cannon recently, and let me tell you. Dull. Dull dull dull. So I painted a five-man Tactical squad at the same time, switching between the two as and when. It took a little longer, but it pushed me through and now I have two units done.

If you really find yourself at a loss, ask your friends what they're working on and what has them excited. Enthusiasm is infectous. You'll find yourself getting excited and motivated.

And lastly, never ever look at what you have left to do. Look at what you have done, and think how awesome the rest will look once done.

That works for me anyway smile.png

PS - Failing all that, start a plog. You'd be surprised how much getting your stuff on here, building a background and having people comment helps with everything.

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