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Hey guys,

Recently I've fallen into something of a painting slump. Its not that I don't think I need to paint, but I can't actually bear down to finish anything. It also doesn't help that I have so much crap piled up on my table to do ATM. I've tried a lot of ideas on how to get back into the groove, including
1) Working on 1 unit at a time
2) Not having a ton of models out at once
3) Telling myself I'll get a cool new model once I've passed a certain goal
etc etc...

I really need to find a concrete way to get some painting done, as I'm sick of fielding a Vampire Counts skeleton horde with 5 painted models.

Can anyone help?

Try putting a movie on or some music to make painting a little less boring

I listen to music most of the time. Haven't tried a movie though...

Looks like I'll have to try hauling a tv downstairs

Set up not a goal of x unit, or xyz units, rather, a point goal. If you have to paint 100 points, say, every two weeks, its a huge change. trying to paint a unit in a certain ammount of time doesn't pay off, because, lets face it, you want to field a painted army. Doing it by points is a better, i think anyway, for two reasons:

1.) if its a large over-100 point vehicle or unit, its quick. You either have a.) nothing to do for the rest of the week, or b.) you get bored and move to the next thing needing painting.
2.) point-based painting shows you a measurable goal. Lets say you want to play a 1500 point game, so you know it will take you 15-two-week periods, or, about 7.5 months. It's easier to see how far you are from a painted army when you count everything on a point-base-system.
3.) by having a goal of finishing points so that you can put them on the table, you will be likelier to finish finish, because you want to be done with them.

Another tthing I do to help speed me along sometimes, is to not paint the same thing all the time. So one day I will paint one color on 10 models, the next day I will paint a second color on the first 10, and the next 10, on the third I will use a third color on the first twenty, and also start another 10.... Why? 1.) I dont have to crack out all of my colors at the same time 2.) I waste a little less paint, 3.) I am watching out for the exact same detail on every model, so I don't accidentally skip something. 4.) I don't get bored painting everything over and over again, I am using a different color each day.

Sometimes its just a psychological thing, and it takes some meandering about till you find something that suits you. Sometimes, you just need to get twice the nerd on. What I mean by that, is you need to obtain the 40k audio books. As TERRIBLE as they are, they can help get your nerd on, and you motivated to paint.

Also, nice to see a fellow calgarian about! where abouts are you in calgary?

Way down South

Newer part of Evergreen to be more specific

I do like the idea of doing one color, then another with more guys and so on. The best idea in my mind is to set a point goal rather than a unit. Fielding an unpainted army is just so disappointing, so setting a points limit seems like a reasonable goal. Another idea I had was to clean up my workspace (a lot) I think it might help keep me moving through lack of distractions (as in other models, other games, and that sandwich thats slowly getting larger...) It shouldn't be too hard to do either, just tidy up the models, get my paint rack set-up again. The only thing that does worry me is that sandwich...it might try to bite if disturbed

This seems like a pretty common problem. I have it real bad with books, but not WH. Prolly the best thing would be to divide it up into manageable chunks, like others have suggested. Oh yeah, Yay Calgary!

actually, cleaning up your workspace is a big deal, it helps alot to get moving on your models..

and Calgary sucks! Alberta has the following major cities to choose from: Deadmonton and Hellgary, and they both pretty much suck.....

Calgary doesn't smell...too bad the same can't be said for the provincial capital

I started listening to 40k podcasts, and it really helps me stay on task. I can listen if I want or zone out if I want just fine. I've been listening to The Independent Characters and I've painted 20 Marines in 4 days.

I'm going to agree with brother SRM. Listening to pod casts is a great way to keep your motivation up. Consider that if you find one that you like (no easy feat), the regular schedule of the podcast release will keep your painting regular too. You'll develop a habit of getting into a 2-3 hour painting session every time your podcast is released. Also, you'll probably enjoy your painting time more because you'll be even more immersed in the world of fantasy/40k. My preference is World's End Radio, which I find to be the least inane of the pod casts I've heard. Some pod casts out there are downright awful.

I have found that both audio books and learning a language on tape are superior to pod casts, however. Get yourself a good story and you'll look forward to painting just so you can get to the story. This has made a huge difference for me. I used to listen to music and paint several years ago, but I find books are better.

Lastly, you may want to consider have a long term goal. It's far easier to work toward a clearly defined goal than a vague one.

Something that always helps me is simply looking around the web for mini's that other people have painted, and letting them inspire me.

I have a few models that i keep spare to try out new techniques etc on, i go back to these whenever i get bored of painting yet another squad of SoB

I dont really like starting but when I just start painting ad i get into the mood.

I tend to hit a slump fairly regularly but I find it a huge help to dig out one mini and give it my absolute best effort. Spend a whole day on it if you have to. When you see how well this bit of nmm turned out or that new glazing technique turned out, you'll be eager to jump into more.

Works for me at least!

Another tip is to go through and paint all your models to barely tabletop quality, no washes or highlights. Then go back and wash and highlight them once you have more time on your hands and are fielding a large amount of models. They will look decent from an arms length, and you'll be able to play with a fully painted army much sooner.

Good suggestions guys, keep em coming

About the only thing I don't think I could do would be painting the models to a lower quality. Thats always been my one flaw, so everything I do has to be done the best the first time around. If it isn't, i'll strip it and start again. This does mean that it takes 2 months plus to paint 10 guys though

It isn't that you paint the models to a lower quality- it's that you don't finish them right away. For me, that means painting the first few steps of basecoating and then coming back to wash and highlight.

I hate painting but love playing with painted models so I set a goal based on the upcoming stuff at my FLGS. Usually they have tournaments, hobby events, painting competitions, campaigns ect. ect. coming up so if I want to field something in an actual event I decided to get it painted up by that day. I also decide what the weeks project is. If I finish it in time I stop painting so I don't get burnt out. It makes it so I get done with things on a schedule instead of getting so fed up with painting that I stop doing it for three months which I'm prone to do.


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J.Black wrote:Something that always helps me is simply looking around the web for mini's that other people have painted, and letting them inspire me.

I have a few models that i keep spare to try out new techniques etc on, i go back to these whenever i get bored of painting yet another squad of SoB

Ha sometimes when I see freakishly awesome minis painted on the net it makes me want to throw my paint brushes in the garbage because my stuff will never look that good.

I hit slumps frequently for a variety of reasons. The ways I get out of them (and some of these ideas have been mentioned already, I'm going to echo them to reinforce the validity of the idea) are as follows:

- When I can't paint, meaning I really *CAN NOT* bring myself to pick up a paintbrush, I clean my desk or organize my paints or sort through my bitz boxes, etc. If I can't make myself paint when I have "hobby time", I alt least spend it doing something hobby related.

- If I really can't paint and I'm annoyed w/ the project I'm working and I don't to do anything with my stuff (like right now) I post on Dakka or surf YouTube, sometimes I find inspiration there.

- If I really REALLY can't paint and I'm sick of looking at all of this stuff and would rather just chuck the whole of it into a wood chipper than ever look at it again I know it's time to take a break. It's ok to not paint, or play, or do anything hobby related. There is a place I've heard of called "outside". I want to visit it someday.

- Once I do get back to painting, I break units down into a handful of models. I try to work on 5-10 at a time max. I start at one end of the line (trim, trim, trim, etc) and by the time I get to the end the first model is dry so i go back through (detail, detail, detail, etc). Before long you're showing a lot of progress on a decent number of model.

- If I am painting on a schedule (like upcoming game) I'll paint the "3 color rule". Basecoat, primary color, trim, wash. It's good enough to be on the table but you can go back to finish details. It's not painting your models to a lower quality, it's 1/2 to 3/4 done. Just make sure you go back and finish it.

- Sometimes when I feel like painting but am sick of the project I am on, I'll grab a random mini and practice painting techniques I am not good at.

- I sometimes listen to music, but the way my head works I prefer absolute silence. Noise in the background distracts me. When the TV is on I find that my attention is drawn to it far too often.

- Bottom line is that this is supposed to be a fun enjoyable hobby. When you are at a point where it isn't, do something else. I took a break for 11 years playing and 9 years painting. My miniatures were all still waiting for me when I came back. Most of my paints and brushes were, too.

Hope this helps.

Reading this thread has made me feel a lot better,i've got a ton of mini's to get through but im really struggling to get cracking.Thanks guys.

Yeh I havent painted too much after painting all my Battlemechs, and all my metal tyranids, within three weeks or so. About 20 or 30 things. Finished my Horms to and my genestealers but now I have all ther terms to do and I dont feel like it lol cause i wanna mod them to use different weapons.

Also havent painted my biovores yet cause I dont really know how I want em yet

Definitely some good ideas here, keep it up!

On a slightly related note, I just finished cleaning off my hobby table only to discover 60 unbuilt zombies... these will be added to the pile of also unbuilt zombies (80). The question running through the back of my head now isn't how I am going to get them all painted, its closer to 'how the hell did I afford these'

This may help.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Five_Colors

Are you a fan of Painting tutorial DVD's at all? I have a few downloads, and a few DVD's. I enjoy them a lot although I know they're not everyones cup of tea. I always find them inspiring and am itching to get my paintbrushes out when I've been watching one for half an hour or so.

1. Clean up your workspace. If you're looking at your workspace and thinking, even subconciously "Ah god, what a pile of crap I'm going to have to deal with!" then you're never gonna start.
2. Tidy away all projects except one- one unit. This removes another psychological barrier (there's too much to do!).
3. I started watching a DVD I'd already seen of a nature documentary or a favourite tv show at the same time. It's made a difference, because if I need a little break I can get one.
4.Make sure you've got a process worked out for how you're doing things. I find I finish projects faster if I break them down into stages like that.
5. If you've been painting a lot, then maybe you really do need a break! Go do something else you enjoy and come back to painting when you're ready

I do a reward system for myself, Like when I bought the IOB set I painted all the sword masters and seaguard before i was allowed to touch the Griffon. Also I find it really helps if you prime everything at once even if you dont paint it all in one sitting. That way you can never talk youself out of painting just because they are not primed!

Da Boss wrote:
5. If you've been painting a lot, then maybe you really do need a break! Go do something else you enjoy and come back to painting when you're ready

+1. remember we do this for fun, a a break from the grind. Be careful that your hobby isn't becoming a part of that grind. If you're not enjoying it then you're wasting your money, your effort and your time. Put the paints away for a week, don't think about them, go out and play footy for a bit or go to a few gigs or watch a few films or read a book in the pub. Come back to it in a few weeks when you can't wait to pick up your brushes again! Your miniatures aren't going anywhere mate.

orkboy232 wrote:Hey guys,

Recently I've fallen into something of a painting slump. Its not that I don't think I need to paint, but I can't actually bear down to finish anything. It also doesn't help that I have so much crap piled up on my table to do ATM. I've tried a lot of ideas on how to get back into the groove, including
1) Working on 1 unit at a time
2) Not having a ton of models out at once
3) Telling myself I'll get a cool new model once I've passed a certain goal
etc etc...

I really need to find a concrete way to get some painting done, as I'm sick of fielding a Vampire Counts skeleton horde with 5 painted models.

Can anyone help?

Read Black Library books about your army. Works for me every time. I want to paint IG I read Gaunt, Chiaphas Cain or something. For Chaos marines I read Horus Heresy novels. Etc.

imark789 wrote:Another tip is to go through and paint all your models to barely tabletop quality, no washes or highlights. Then go back and wash and highlight them once you have more time on your hands and are fielding a large amount of models. They will look decent from an arms length, and you'll be able to play with a fully painted army much sooner.

mmm, no i hate doing this. Models fall through the cracks this way, and, simply, just dont end up getting finished. I'ts okay to do this with 20, or 30 models, but more.... and they start falling through because you miss one or another detail, and then either lose track of the offending model, or can't be bothered to finish just the one.

imark789 wrote:
Another tip is to go through and paint all your models to barely tabletop quality, no washes or highlights. Then go back and wash and highlight them once you have more time on your hands and are fielding a large amount of models. They will look decent from an arms length, and you'll be able to play with a fully painted army much sooner.



mmm, no i hate doing this. Models fall through the cracks this way, and, simply, just dont end up getting finished. I'ts okay to do this with 20, or 30 models, but more.... and they start falling through because you miss one or another detail, and then either lose track of the offending model, or can't be bothered to finish just the one.

Thats actually the very reason I would probably avoid that. The way my process goes is to finish everything on one unit before starting another. Unfortunately this rarely happens, but I prime, paint, base, and seal before moving onto another unit. If I left models mostly done, they would stay that way simply because I don't want to go back to finish it

I find it almost unbearable to paint a whole unit in one go, I find it much easier to have half a dozen very different things on the go at once, that way I always have something I want to paint rather than thinking "Oh god, another 6 guardsmen to finish tonight"