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Hey everybody this is a thread to try to better understand what we all do when we paint. Some of us might just mindlessly paint however I enjoy watching an episode of something or listening to some music. What do you do?

Listen to the radio.

I sit with my back facing the TV and listen to the shows that are on. It's entertaining without distracing me while I paint. I also like to paint while my partner is in the room so we can chat and it is not just me.

Music is also great to get the artistic juices flowing, and if I am doing something super basic like putting a base colour over a primer on a unit, I like to do it in front of my pc.

I was modelling while watching Fargo the other day, and did a tiny bit of painting.

Whenever i have painted before though (not much ) I have pretty much done it without any distractions, but at my desk, so when i have finished a bit/got bored i go on the internet for a bit etc.

I tend to listen to music (well, I always have music on, no matter what) and chat on my laptop.

Swear.

Listen to tunes, some times play dawn of war 2 on last stand, dont have to do much on that. But i normally sit with my mrs and talk.

As most of the people have already said, I tend to listen to music, it is good to get me in the mood for painting. I could never watch the TV if I was painting as I get distracted very easily and would probably end up gawping at the screen while paint drips onto my lap.

I listen to podcasts, music, or whatever sporting event is on TV.

I will often take my supplies to the FLGS and paint there, its good company and the location helps to focus my attention.

A couple beers and some pandora radio always keeps me painting. I used to paint in front of the TV but I ended up watching the TV more, and payed more attention to the beer.... so it was a loosing downhill battle.

BBC Radio Five live. Tony Livesey or Up all night. I occasionally listen to Zane Lowe or Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1 or 6 Music. I was taught that having a tv in the bedroom is deviant, so no tv.

I tend to Sit infront of the TV, but let my Wife choose what to watch, so its background noise, but not too fussed with following plot Normally eastenders ;p *shiver*

Depending on my painting 'mood' sometimes i prefer silence and just let the ideas and painting techniques i'm using fill my head and drive me further to perfect my model, other times I listen to music in the background, usually if i'm batch painting tabletop stuff like my raven guard.

I paint in silence occasionally, but usually I've got music on. As for what kind of music, sometimes I'm in the mood for soundtracks, sometimes Depeche Mode or whatever else I'm into at the time. I also put on movies or TV shows I've seen before. Sometimes I squeeze in some painting time during long load screens, like waiting for everybody to connect and load in in Dawn of War II or Starcraft II.

Online classes.

Pandora never fails me, but if I do put the TV on, I'll find myself paying more attention to IT, than the brush in my hand. Sometimes I "come to" and realize I haven't painted anything for 20-25 minutes. So its not quite as productive.

I annoy my housemates by stealing the living room table and filling it with my paints and minis but they get to choose what to watch or they put the wii on so it's good background noise or someone to chat to whilst painting so I don't get bored too quickly.

I watch TV or sit in GW and paint, listening to the other regulars. Which isn't too dissimilar to watching a soap opera, actually.

Pandora and then while somethings drying, Ill paint something else. Im an assembly line painter

1. 40k Radio Podcasts

2. Have the TV playing History International, the Military Channel, or South Park in the back ground.

3. During football and baseball season, have a game on the TV or on the Radio or on my computer via webcast.

4. Pop in a DVD of a favorite movie like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Watchmen, the new Batman movies, and so forth.

I like to have some kind of noise going in the background or the voices in my head start telling me things....

I yell at my 4 year old and 6 year old to stop hitting elbows.
Bless their little snotling hearts, they love watching me paint and model but have this overwhelming desire to move just a bit closer and jostle me...usually when i'm trying to paint an eye or a headlight frame.

I think She Who Must Be Obeyed sets them up to it.

Music, and only music. Unless someone is there to hold a conversation with.

But never movies or TV. Then I get no painting done.

Usually nothing other than paint, but been listening to the Horus Rising audiobook recently, each disc twice in case I miss something first time round. Enjoying the story, I'm far too lazy to actually read the book.

Jam some sweet tunes.

Keep my laptop on the painting table and switch between music and DBZ.
I found out the other day while doing some highlights that Only Fools is not good as a painting soundtrack... Spluttered and made a mess. x)

While I paint I listen to music or post on dakka dakka. Not very productive though.

I yell at my 4 year old and 6 year old to stop hitting elbows.
Bless their little snotling hearts, they love watching me paint and model but have this overwhelming desire to move just a bit closer and jostle me...usually when i'm trying to paint an eye or a headlight frame.

This happens to me too. Painting in the evening is much better, I try and persuade my hubby that he should maybe paint some of his boring old space wolves so I get to paint my own stuff

I like painting best when my wife and son are puttering around with their own projects - its a nice family feeling. Other than that I sometimes paint early in the early morning in silence. Very zen! I too had to shout "Don't Jostle!" to my 7 year old alot, until I sprang for him to have his own spacewolves, and now they keep him occupied so we can work together and show off what we've done.

Music, Pandora, Family Guy....or my favorite late night show Top Gear (UK Version) on BBC America....could watch them all night!