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Ok, I love to paint miniatures, I just have one problem, I get very bored, very quickly and just cannot physically get the motivation to paint them when I have (in my mind) had enough of that particular model.
E.g. I got some firewarriors just before christmas last year, only just started painting 1 guy.
If you guys have any tips and/or tricks on getting and keeping motivated, I really need them!

Jump around alot (this is what i do so things dont get repetitive)
also listen to music and sit down and churn out something that looks great then try and top it next time

I have the same problem , i get bored if i spend a long time on 1 model.

But thats easily fixed if i paint whole units at the same time , like factory process.

Do a little bit at a time , but on the WHOLE unit.
This way you are encouraged to finish them bit by bit while clearly see progress on a bunch of models instead of just 1.

I do mine the same was as Luna. It works pretty good on Orks, and trust me hordes can get mind numbing quick. Do a couple squads like that and then to break it up, paint an army piece. I mean, something that HAS to look good in the army, instead of everything looking the same.

Right. What I do is 'reward' myself every time I finish production-lining a squad by allowing myself to do a different/fun model and take my time with it. For example, when I was painting Imperial Guard I would do a squad of 10 veterans, then I would break it up by doing the commissar lord, then go back to veterans, then break it up with a sentinel or chimera, etc. etc.

Lately, I am working on my 'reward' carnifex for finishing my hormagaunt squad to table-top standard. If I feel like it, I'll go back and finish the hormies later (bases and teeth really stick out to me) but for now I'm just enjoying painting something else.

All the above comments are really good. Music in the background and batch painting help a lot. Another suggestion is to paint with friends. You get a lot more done when you can talk with your buddy while painting, show off what you just did, and vice versa. Put on a movie you've both seen a million times already if conversation is light. Movies you've seen are great, as you can paint during parts you know, and rest during the really awesome parts.

Good point, Brother SRM. Movies are awesome for giving your eyes, neck and back a break every few minutes. Its a bonus if it is a movie that has an awesome soundtrack/ambient noise effect, such as Lord of the Rings or Alien.

I find verbal novels work well. if its a good book time will just fly bye

Wow thanks guys, I wasn't expecting so many replies so quickly, after I get settled into school tomorrow, do what I gotta do when I get home, I will give it a try, thanks again.

Try giving each one of them a different pose to try adding to the individuality of the models within the squad. That way it doesn't feel too much like painting the same thing over and over again. But, also do the above suggestions as well, they're good.

Try this, there is a whole article on this topic. http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Getting_Motivated_to_Paint
I find music usefull and also I try to set up myself a goal of how many things i need finished this session. And then the thought of beeing finally able to play with my new minis

I started painting friends' models--you get better quickly because there's pressure on you, and you're sure to get them done if your friend is bugging you about them.

By the time you finish a few squads/regiments for a friend and have had a little break, and you're like me, you'll be all too happy to paint something you get to keep.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

FoxPhoenix135 wrote:Good point, Brother SRM. Movies are awesome for giving your eyes, neck and back a break every few minutes. Its a bonus if it is a movie that has an awesome soundtrack/ambient noise effect, such as Lord of the Rings or Alien.

LotR music is excellent for painting if it's low enough not to distract -- it's just like being in the hobby shop!

I find listening to soundtracks helps me, I'll listen to Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Star Wars etc... as I don't game I pick and choose what models I want to paint as well which also helps as I'm not painting the same thing over and over again.

Another good trick is set yourself an obtainable goal, in you painting, if your doing 10 fire warriors you could batch paint 5 per week, as a goal. once the first 5 are done the next 5 will be easy, and if there was a particular part of the painting that you didn't like, start that first on the second batch of 5. once the unmotivating bits are done its all down hill.

I get majorly discouraged when my minis dont end like how i envision them to be ><

I use to listen to audio books, just finished Brising´r, poor Gleadr

LunaHound wrote:
I get majorly discouraged when my minis dont end like how i envision them to be ><

Use a test mini first till you get the right look. i have the same problem sometimes.

We have an article on this very topic:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Getting_Motivated_to_Paint

edit: Rakuen1, you pipped me to the post, thanks

food network....something that you can listen to but wont distract you too much

Golga wrote:I find verbal novels work well. if its a good book time will just fly bye

I agree - I listen to audio books whilst I'm painting, you can get thousands of the things of torrent sites (if that's your thing of course). For example, I listened to 18 John Grisham books back to back... man that guy has like THREE stories and just swaps some character names around, I swear it! Anyway, it's just nice to give your brain something to enjoy whilst your hands and eyes do the work.

Drinking.

That and do a few at a time so you get a feeling of accomplishment.

Podcasts are good filler, I enjoy having a big movie series always playing (like LorR).

You should definitely reward yourself everytime you finish a unit entirely. I would suggest rewarding yourself by going out and buying another unit.

Write a story for your army. When you get around to painting your models, you want to finish them because you gave them life/character in a story, and now you have the opportunity to do so in real life (er... not exactly real life, but I think you gather my point... )

either paint the whole unit at once(takes longer )or whaat i always do is i paint the parts that take long and arent fun(clothing, skin, backpacks etc) and then paint the cool parts(grenades, metal etc.)

Hmmm... speaking of rewards I am starting Eldar (slowly) and recently got my first buy an eldar wave serpent at a GW auction/giffle day. I think I will get my friend to spray it for me and hang on to it UNTILL I get my FWs done and the touch ups on my fish (recently painted Farsight, really good fun).
Thanks Rakuen1 and Legoburner for pointing out that article.

LunaHound wrote:
I get majorly discouraged when my minis dont end like how i envision them to be ><

I dread the day I'm good enough that that will happen to me. Luckily, my standard when I first started painting 7 months ago was so low that I amaze myself every single time I pick up a brush. But I know myself well enough that eventually I'll be able to commiserate!

Advice to Krellnus: Think about what you're best at (highlighting, blending, drybrushing, even washing) and then think about a unique model that would be really suited to your strongest skill. Get that model, then put the oldest (or worst-looking, as long as it doesn't bring back emotions like LunaHound mentioned) mini you've ever painted onto the painting table and start painting the new one. Glance at the old model occasionally, then paint some more. When you're done, you might find that you had fun painting again.

This sounds crazy, but... give your minis some individuality. Name them. Connect their gear and conversions to their personality.

I'm not just procrastinating on getting my command squad done. I'm neglecting poor Tarv and Gwydyon!

not trying to tell you not to get motivated... but... most dont realize when they play 40k... YOU DONT HAVE TO PAINT EVERYTHING. i play orks. horde army.... lotsa lotsa lotsa troops. i get discouraged sometimes. my advice... listen to music. top your last paintjob. and if the going gets tough and you dont wanna cope with it just assemble your minis. paint later if you wish...

Personally I go through little phases of painting. It depends how busy I am as well. If I am playing a lot and have a lot of free time then I am likely to paint more. Right now I am on the down with painting.