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i watch movies on my computer, it kills time and makes me feel less like a silent artist because well im watching movies, and painting. MULTI-TASK for the win

I actually do have something of a ritual. First thing I do is fill up all my water jars (I have 4 so I never have to get up), then I turn off the AC in my room, as well as unplugging all the electronics except my laptop. I find a lengthy youtube video on my laptop (preferably something weighty, I recently finished Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" which was interesting, open to suggestions) I then sanitize the area around my painting table (not that it helps, I just love the smell of rubbing alcohol while painting), then I finally sit down to paint, with my headphones on listening to the video or playlist that I chose.

I just run a local rock station on my computer because it is more condusive to my painting. Plus my cat loves metal rock, she bobs her head and swishes her tail to the music. I played classical one time and she knocked the speakers off the desk.

Wow, interesting thread. Not too surprised by the music responses.

More often than not, I don't have anything going at all, not even music. I know this isn't possible for everyone, especially those who live with their parents, or are parents. There's something to be said about simply concentrating on one sole task. Not only allows me to generally do a better job because it's easier to focus, but it also feels a lot more enjoyable to do so. I paint right next to my computer, so I'll put on some internet radio if I feel like music, but it's almost always the "standards" (Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, etc). If I'm feeling really masochistic, I'll jump on my instant messenger and chat with people while I'm painting.

I've drank while painting twice, I find the results a little different. I've got back and looked at something I did the next day and noticed how easily I did things that I normally mess up, like eyes. While broad areas where I only have to stay in the lines I mess up . Might have to try it the next time I'm cutting and assembling.

I sometimes play a movie in the background. Has to be a war movie though. Anything less just doesn't set a Grimdark enough atmosphere

Try in vain to ignore my girlfriend, cat, flatmate and back ache!

One word.

SABATON

If the roommate is around, we have every MST3K episode on shuffle.

If it's just me, I'll usually put something relatively laid back on for music - Human Highway has been a recent favorite. Every once in a while, though, I'll throw in something like Lacuna Coil or Clutch.

My ritual involves lining up all my brushes and paints so I can read labels and sizes and such. Then I line up all of the models I want to work on and grab a bottle of Propel from the fridge, sit back down, and get to it.

I make a nice cup of tea, sit down and enjoy the silence,then slowly press play on my psp and let the METAL RIP THROUGH MY EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually have to have some kind of noise going in the background. Sometimes it's instrumental scores from movies or games, sometimes it's a bad rock opera that won't get out of my head (curse you, Repo! the Genetic Opera), other times I've got the tele on. Something informative like the History or Discovery channel. At least then I learn something while I paint

This is going to sound weird.

First of all, I have two young daughters, and while they are extremely well behaved, anything beyond basecoating is essentially out of the question in the time between my work hours and their bed time.

My painting area is in one corner of my office, which is a very long and skinny room. I usually paint from 21:00 until about 2:00, so it's pretty silent in the house. My greyhound likes to lay at my feet (only when I'm painting), so I just dig my toes into her fur. She gets a free massage, and I get to feel some of the softest fur ever on my feet. She doesn't really like to be touched when she's sleeping at any other time of the day, even when I'm at my work computer at the other end of the room.

What I'm painting generally deciedes what I'm listening to. My first batch of Imperial Guard were created while I was listening to Mastodon's Blood Mountain CD. Other than that, anything from Bolt Thrower to Wolves in the Throne Room come on my zune while I paint.


Oh and painting to clutch creates some of my best works.