What do YOU do with painting burnout?

[AutumnEffect]

Greetings and good day brothers.

 

Just a bit of background before I start. I've been involved in the Warhammer hobby for nigh-on twenty years now. About a year ago I started to feel some serious burnout with my painting. 
I just didn't want to work on anything any more.

I set a new years resolution to not paint anything for 2023 to give myself a year to cool off and hopefully get back into the swing of things. In the meantime, I've cut my backlog down considerably by selling a bunch of untouched models. I don't actually have that much to paint, I feel.

I've kept that resolution, more or less, and now 2023 is fading fast but I still don't feel any desire to paint anything.
What should I do brothers? Any advice? 

[Grotsmasha]

As a commission painter, I quite regularly face having to paint models that aren't 1st choice to paint.

One of my go-tos is accompanying 40k flavour, like a BL audio drama, or podcast. I also, always have a selection of ready to go models available as "palette cleansers", something entirely unrelated to what I'm painting to just pick up and run with (quite regularly it's Marvel United).

 

For yourself though, there's nothing wrong with taking a year, or more, off from painting, almost all of us have done it. 

I guess my question is, is it that you don't have anything you WANT to paint, or you just have zero motivation to paint anything, but do actually want to paint?

 

Don't paint because "I guess I SHOULD paint something".

 

Your motivation to paint comes from your inspirations within the hobby. Maybe jump on Inst (or whatever) and search you faction, looking for cool paintjobs and conversions. Pick up a BL Novel/Audio for your faction. Maybe just go to the store and look at all the cool models on the shelves and grab whichever cool models speaks to you in that moment.

 

Additionally, try to keep at least a small paint station setup all the time, so there's a few a seconds as possible between inspiration/ motivation and paint on brush as possible. Having to unpack everything and set it up is a small enough a barrier to prevent the ball starting to roll.

 

[TheArtilleryman]

I’ve been in a similar spot. I had a ton of unfinished armies and didn’t know where to start with getting them done. I had a whole guard army to do and I wanted new Tau models. I never started cos I felt like I should finish the others, but I didn’t want to as they weren’t inspiring me any more. I also didn’t feel justified in buying more stuff because I still had stuff to do and didn’t want to grow the pile of shame.

 

Firstly I did what you did and sold a bunch of stuff. A whole Eldar army and a whole Chaos Warriors army went, along with a load of unpainted space marines and old edition books. I used 50% of the money on stuff we needed for the home and Christmas etc and the other half I spent on new stuff I wanted like the Tau. 
 

For inspiration, I’ve now done the following things:

 

1. I’ve built the Tau a model or two at a time and enjoyed going to town on them individually rather than having a whole army to paint.

2. Joining this forum and signing up for the painting challenges has been a massive motivation. This is helping with my guard as the end is now in sight for completing this force and it feels good.

3. Don’t make yourself paint one thing before you paint another. Remove the guilt of having infantry to do before you get to the tanks/monsters. Paint what you want to paint because painting something is better than nothing.

 

Of course, all of this assumes that you want to paint but can’t gather the motivation. It is possible that after 20 years you just aren’t interested in the hobby anymore, or you are in a lull that is going to last a bit longer. I go years at a time without picking up a brush, then have periods where I go nuts, then something else like a PC game grabs my interest and I stop painting again. 
 

Whichever it is for you, don’t feel bad about it. Do what you feel like doing.

[Lord_Ikka]

Grot's suggestions are all good. Having some sort of TV show/youtube thing playing always helps me paint, but others like music or podcasts. Painting is my least favorite part of the hobby, but I like to play with painted armies, so that gives me some motivation to paint.

 

As much as I love the 40k hobby, I feel burnout when that's all I'm painting. Since I also play Battletech, I can paint up that stuff as well (at 6mm scale its unique for me compared to most of my 28mm experience), but really what has helped me at times is picking up and painting random D&D minis. Regardless of what they are, I'll pick one up at a hobby store and then paint it- not because I have to, but because I want to try something new or test something out, or just for the fun of it because it is a cool model. My factions in 40k tend to have a lot of armor, so the D&D minis I buy generally are things with a lot of cloth, flesh, or fur to give me some variety in my painting. There's also no pressure for the painting to be good or get done in any specific time- I'm just doing it so I can have a cool model in the end. 

 

I've painted quite a lot in the last three years, thanks to Grot's 12 Months of Hobby, closing in around 500 minis total just for 40k, so I feel you with the burnout and having a break year. I'm planning on scaling my 40k painting way back next year, focusing on a few boutique models/projects rather than full army paint. Maybe start there- make a diorama or interesting model you've had on the back shelf for a while to get back into the swing of things. 

[Bouargh]

I try to balance my sins, keeping always a distinct project available, generally speaking a conversion or two. But in general I try to cleanse my mind and go doing something radically distinct, such as hiking, open air activities... 

 

I found, the time being, that the dosing is key. As for all venoms, too much kills you but lower dosis can cure. 

 

I recently tried to strictly limit my hours per week painting to 3 max and it has been a real good idea to keep on progressing avoiding boredom.

[Grotsmasha]

30 minutes ago, Lord_Ikka said:

Grot's 12 Months of Hobby

12 Months of Hobby Thread

 

The purpose of the Challenge is gather a group of hobbyists together and motivate and inspire one another with a simple commitment of one completed model each month. 

[Adorondak]

I can't agree enough with the idea of at least keeping a small paint station set up at all tomes. For me, it's a little TV tray that I can pick up and move where ever I want.

 

But the two things that help me keep my motivation up the most are this: 1. as soon as I start to lag on something I'm working on, I switch to something else. Maybe something with an easier paint scheme so I can see some finished results quickly, finishing something always gets me pumped for the next project, even if it's one I started a month ago and come back to.

 

And 2. when I just can not seem to find the motivation to paint, I build. I grab some xps and a bunch of junk out of the recycle bin and start cutting and gluing till I have a new peice of scenery to paint, I find the changes in technique (except for very detailed peices or something I intended to sell, painting scenery for me is almost always, rattle can, wash, brybrush, seal) and just the sheer "mad scientist" fun of trying to build something out of scraps always recharges my hobby batteries.

[AutumnEffect]

Thanks for the replies everyone. There's just too much for me to touch on everything, but I've got a lot to think about now.
I really appreciate everyone's suggestions.

[Firedrake Cordova]

I would say:

1. Don't "force yourself" to paint something. You're effectively conditioning yourself to resent the activity if it "becomes like work".
2. Try to avoid feeling the pressure of "having to paint" things. Probably the biggest driver for this is having a substantial "pile of shame", causing guilt at having unpainted (or even unassembled) models.
3. If you're suffering frustration whilst painting, look for aids to help alleviate that, e.g. as you get older you will realise that some kind of magnifying device is probably a good idea  
4. If you like the background, take some time out and read a book or listen to an audio-book.

[TheArtilleryman]

1 hour ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

I would say:

1. Don't "force yourself" to paint something. You're effectively conditioning yourself to resent the activity if it "becomes like work".
2. Try to avoid feeling the pressure of "having to paint" things. Probably the biggest driver for this is having a substantial "pile of shame", causing guilt at having unpainted (or even unassembled) models.
3. If you're suffering frustration whilst painting, look for aids to help alleviate that, e.g. as you get older you will realise that some kind of magnifying device is probably a good idea  
4. If you like the background, take some time out and read a book or listen to an audio-book.

Can’t agree more with 1 and 2. Do it if you enjoy it. Don’t do it if you don’t.

[Valkyrion]

It's a bit weird, and a complete waste of money, but I have a random box of models that aren't cohesive enough to sell or use - half started things, or random 'free' models (e.g, some Tau from the Imperium magazine, Dark Imperium necrons, etc).

When I've reached an impasse, I get something out of that box, spray it white and hit it with a Contrast colour. What happens next is usually a thought process like 'Sigvald Burgundy necrons aren't for me, what a relief' and then I get back to painting my Dark Angels or whatever and Sigvald the Necron goes in the bin. 

Very occasionally, I hit upon a scheme I like and will finish the model and file it away for later - if I ever come to collect Tyranids, I know that Skeleton Horde + Blood Angels Contrast + Reikland Fleshshade = Kraken, and I can dive straight in without building and painting a box of termagants to test on.

In either case, my palate (ha! painting pun!) has been cleansed and I can carry on with what I should be doing. 

[andes]

I've got two strategies for dealing with burnout.

 

The first is Paint Something Very Different. If I've been working on a project for a while, I often find myself losing motivation because it can feel so repetitive. When this happens, I try to paint something completely different... maybe a cool model from a different faction or even a different game. "Enemy" Character models, Underworlds or Warcry Warbands, that kind of thing. I doubt I'll ever play the game, but that's not the point. Just need to clear the palate. Plus the models look cool in the cabinet.

 

The next is more drastic. If I get to a point where I don't feel like painting at all, I Just Don't Paint. Taking breaks from a hobby to recharge the battery is pretty important to me. In the case of mini painting, I just stop for a while and do something else. I'm fortunate that I have a dedicated painting space (as others have pointed out this is a good thing for a bunch of reasons) so it's easier to get back to it when I'm ready.

[Jolemai]

6 hours ago, Grotsmasha said:

12 Months of Hobby Thread

 

The purpose of the Challenge is gather a group of hobbyists together and motivate and inspire one another with a simple commitment of one completed model each month. 

 

Just wanted to +1 this.

 

I tend to do ~ five infantry models or a vehicle each month (usually BAs), and then usually have a long running vow of something that's not red/black/gold to do throughout the year that acts as a sort of palate (or should that be palette?) cleanser when needed and when I have the time to do it. I've found that this helps keep a burnout at bay and helps me get through my backlog as it's structured enough without being overbearing.

 

Lets ignore doing the meat and bones of a Thunderhawk in two weeks as the hangover from that was horrendous...

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

I just try to relax doing other thinks. I eat and drink something energetic and after few minutes,I try again 

[sitnam]

On 12/8/2023 at 2:23 AM, TheArtilleryman said:

2. Joining this forum and signing up for the painting challenges has been a massive motivation. This is helping with my guard as the end is now in sight for completing this force and it feels good.

Painting challenges have been a major motivator for me. The last call to arms got me so far forward in my Chaos at that's been left in the grey for years. I already have a legion of Necrons built and ready for the next competition 

[WrathOfTheLion]

2 hours ago, sitnam said:

Painting challenges have been a major motivator for me. The last call to arms got me so far forward in my Chaos at that's been left in the grey for years. I already have a legion of Necrons built and ready for the next competition 

I love painting competitions/challenges, I can only hope another Royal Awakening is coming up soon. They really help with motivation to complete things.

 

One thing to address some of this that I've thought of, is perhaps adding a section or a limited amount for already started models to complete them. Like say for <x> segment of the challenge, you're allowed to vow up to <y> models/points worth/whatever metric that have been started, as an incentive to get some folks to complete those.

Edited December 9, 2023 by WrathOfTheLion

[Magos Takatus]

This is a frequent but very important topic to crop up here and the advice has been superb. I had a pretty big break form painting this year, I had been forcing myself through an Escalation league with my Craftworld Eldar, an army I traditionally paint very slowly due to their precise and tidy painting style. I lost power right at the end of the league as 10th edition rules torpedoed my motivation outright with my Ulthwé becoming broken overpowered and my Adeptus Mechanicus army.... we don't talk about those....  My mother's health had been deteriorating and she eventually passed away leading me to a very strange mental space... it scuppered my painting drive and I took a break, ploughing my time into pc gaming and just wasting time on my computer.

 

Fast forward to today and I'm back on the horse, though due to house renovations my airbrush is currently out of commission. However, I am hopping from painting project to project, keeping the unit numbers small for now, painting what I want to paint until I'm back to full momentum. I finished a unit of Jetbikes between a Norse Blood Bowl team and some Artel W Ork not-tankbustas. There is no longer any pressure to get anything painted by a deadline and like many have suggested I have small projects (like said Orks) to "snack" on between more demanding projects. I have adapted my painting style to be a bit more loose and free, which has sped up my painting output and lets me enjoy painting rather than counting layers of highlights or trying to hide every brush stroke. 

 

One of the things that motivated me for a long time was keeping a log of my painting projects on Instagram. The act of photographing finished projects and uploading them gave me a lot of satisfaction, though I've been very lax this year, and once I have moved into the new bedroom with a new painting desk I will try to work out what I've completed this year and upload it all to Instagram in one big blow-out. Hopefully that will allow me to chart chat I've managed to complete this year and power into next year. I am interested in learning the path of the commission painter next year so with a dedicated painting space and my newly regained motivation I should hopefully be a lot more active in my painting logs in here again.

I'm not sure if waffling about my past year is even remotely helpful but it encapsulates a lot of the advice that has been given here, I've taken the advice on board that worked, discarded what didn't and hopefully set up a fire underneath me that might get me to paint a few more Skitarii and Kataphrons from the Imperium Magazine as they are currently some of the more tiring and laborious projects for me to power through.

[Grotsmasha]

Actually, something that I hinted at with palette cleansers, but didn't actually spell out why it works.

It's the quick win that they give you.

This quick win can be accomplished with your regular army too,  and requires a small modification to the batch painting method. Basically you follow a bath painting method of Base, Wash, Layer for your batch until they are all at this point, then switch to finishing 1 model at a time, finishing off highlights and finishing touches.

This will give you that quick win, while also continuing to progress on your main project.

[Magos Takatus]

2 hours ago, Grotsmasha said:

Actually, something that I hinted at with palette cleansers, but didn't actually spell out why it works.

It's the quick win that they give you.

This quick win can be accomplished with your regular army too,  and requires a small modification to the batch painting method. Basically you follow a bath painting method of Base, Wash, Layer for your batch until they are all at this point, then switch to finishing 1 model at a time, finishing off highlights and finishing touches.

This will give you that quick win, while also continuing to progress on your main project.

That's typically what I do with my Orks or a Blood Bowl team where uniformity is less important. Heck, I've started to do it in other projects too. I agree this is a very effective method to keep on trucking.

[TheArtilleryman]

Also, the Darktide game soundtrack is awesome to paint to. Really gets me in the rhythm.

[FoursCompany]

I have been struggling with painting for basically my entire hobby lifecycle. I started in 2018, which also happened to be shortly after my first child was born. Little did I know that finally starting the hobby I’d been following in lore and models at arms length since I was 6 would be so time consuming…

 

My first army was also AdMech, simply because I loved the models. I did not know how difficult those would be to paint, and i also had an intense desire to make them look just as good as all the minis I would see online. Which made me not even want to start because I knew I couldn’t pull off perfect OSL or great highlights. I also made the rookies mistake of accumulating models pretty quickly while not finishing projects. As it stands now, 5 years into the hobby, I have still not completed my AdMech as I have bounced from project to project and have numerous half painted, half built, primed, or completely unassembled models in at least 4 different rooms of my home. 
 

I’m not sure exactly what to do but I know the biggest de-motivators for me were not having an easily accessed painting station, and also having all my pile of shame visible to me while I was working. I’ve started setting up a small table in my bedroom with the colors I need and some brushes for a small group of models (5-10 infantry, or a single large model) at all times. Everything else is stored away. 
 

i also have drastically decreased my standards of a good model. A good model is now one with paint on it, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. I’m not competing with these (for now), and if I ever do want to compete I’ll get more of my best work. 
 

I’m going to be getting a 3D printer soon and I’ll be using that as a pallet cleanser for different models so I’m just not always painting to same thing or the same scheme too. I get bored frequently. 

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

Depends on the severity. When I suffer a mild burnout from painting 40K Iron Hands I do one of two things:

 

1) Paint another unit from my collection.

2) Play video games for a couple of days, if I don´t feel like painting at all.

 

If you suffer a more severe burnout then you should look, if there is a specific reason for it. Maybe your playing group has changed for the worse or you chose a paint scheme that is just bad to use for an entire army. Whatever the reason is tackle it before the hobby becomes a chore for you.

[GreenScorpion]

For me painting was initially something very daunting and that I didn't find very pleasant to do, so I ended up delaying it and focusing on building and converting stuff.

I have started to do things differently and tried to find ways to keep myself motivated to paint, which eventually started to work out and now painting is much more pleasant than in the past.

One of the things that I started to do was to take photos of all the miniatures I built and the ones I painted, not as a way to share them online or something but to have something for my personal archives since I had to travel away from my miniatures due to work and the fact that I went from grey to painted in those pictures helped me a bit in getting the motivation.

Regardless, what worked the best for me was to keep track of what I was building and painting and marking what I had finished already. It is not something particularly pretty, but I have a spreadsheet with all the boxes I have purchased and the models bought in several different categories. Whenever I finish something from the box or category of miniatures I mark it as green and that small step helps in feeling a sense of achievement. If you want to do something similar you could group your miniatures in a way that makes sense and mark when you finished painting a character, a unit or something similar. Doing a simpler scheme and marking individual phases might also help if you think that the small achievements can be of use to help keep you motivated.

 

An example of what I have been doing:
 

Spoiler

 

[Grotsmasha]

16 minutes ago, GreenScorpion said:

An example of what I have been doing:

Check out pileofpotenial.com, it's free, and purpose built to track this stuff

[TheArtilleryman]

I know this thread is a bit old now but I have come up with an ingenious way to have painting resources permanently ready to go while at the same time keeping my wife happy by not sprawling my stuff out everywhere: