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So i've had this question/theory/idea/whatever in my head for a few weeks...

Is there any link between working out and how well you can paint?

Now here is my theory:
- Working out increases motor skills/control
- Strengthens muscles

So is it possible that those who have stronger and more agile hands are better painters?

It may all be bs but it might be worth a thought?

Phil

 Astro Wolf wrote:
So i've had this question/theory/idea/whatever in my head for a few weeks...

Is there any link between working out and how well you can paint?

Now here is my theory:
- Working out increases motor skills/control
- Strengthens muscles

So is it possible that those who have stronger and more agile hands are better painters?

It may all be bs but it might be worth a thought?

Phil

You need to ask people if they work out, then look at their galleries and make your own conclusions!

For the record, I don't exercise very much (the occasional evening walk). I'm a little unfit, but not obese. I'll let you decide on the correlation between that and my gallery

Just at first blush, I'ma say yes.... and no.

Yes, because, if you're fitter, you'll have an easier time maintaining better posture, sitting for longer periods, feel better, and probably have more energy to devote to activities, including sedantary hobbies.

No, because fine motor control != muscle strength. Although I can see the use in the sense of keeping your hands steadier perhaps, in having more toned muscles.

To risk a stereotype, males typically have more overall muscle strength, but less fine motor control than females. Gross motor control tends to fall in the strengths of the males, due to both genetics and activity level (probably driven by genetics). Fine motor control tends to fall into the strengths of females, also due to genetics - if you look around, a lot more of females activities tend to be fine motor control activities. Or at least of this last two generations, before the current. I'm talking about things like crocheting, quilting, sewing, and other various forms of handwork.

Obviously that's a generalization. However, from working with children, I still see this bear out overall: the boys are better at playing ball initially, girls tend toward being better at using scissors and writing.

Of course, that doesn't meant that there's not males with good fine motor control and females good at gross motor skills, hence my stating it's a stereotype. I do believe it has some underlying proof, but that doesn't make it the absolute rule.

Anyway back more directly to the topic: yes, it's good to work out, improving your general health improves many life aspects, but I don't believe you'd find a direct correlation, necessarily. At the same time, it's been shown that walking, which is an activity taking up a lot more brain use than initially people gave it credit for, helps improve your brain (such as for victims of strokes) so, what do I know, maybe it does

At the end of the day if you're getting yourself to work out by telling yourself it'll improve your painting, the important thing is you're improving both aspects, nvm why.

Anyway my two rambly cents

I'll lean toward yes (though barely). There's zero downside...ever to be more fit/healthy (and I'm not). So I'm sure that somewhere/somehow being fit will better aid you in even the most menial task.

(eats a Snickers)

 Astro Wolf wrote:

- Working out increases motor skills/control

How?

So is it possible that those who have stronger and more agile hands are better painters?

Only those who are painting a wall with the small size paint roller without extension pole.
If you are big, strong guy you should be more efficient at painting walls than slender guys with thinner arms, but I don't think this applies for painting miniatures.

You build up the muscles used in a task by doing that task.

Lifting weights won't have any bearing on painting miniatures because the muscles used in lifting said weight aren't the muscles used in painting miniatures.

Doing hobby stuff is all using your hands, using fine movements, and the muscles required for that will become stronger and more dextrous by doing that.

In effect, you're technically working out those muscles by doing your hobby stuff, I guess.

Possibly slightly but you'd see far greater results if the gym time was spent at the painting desk or studying colour theory.

Nah I really doubt it. The specific fine control finger tip type coordination required for painting isn't the same as the coordination you'll get from general exercise, you'll only get better at it by painting more or other similar exercises (playing video games? I dunno).

And I don't see how stronger muscles are going to really help you. As long as your hands aren't so weak they're cramping, but even if they are it's probably some other health related problem rather than pure weakness.

If anything I could picture people who exercise a lot creating muscle imbalances that might reduce the fine control required for painting

Regular exercise does increase overall energy levels, and concentration. It's more likely that being fitter would help with the energy and motivation to spend time at the table, meaning improvements could be made through increased practice and focus. I exercise regularly (most of the time anyway), and I'd say I probably spent more time painting when I'm fitter, although that also coincides with summer when it's lighter outside...

PossumCraft wrote:
You build up the muscles used in a task by doing that task.

Lifting weights won't have any bearing on painting miniatures because the muscles used in lifting said weight aren't the muscles used in painting miniatures.

Unless you're lifting teeny little finger weights...

 insaniak wrote:

PossumCraft wrote:
You build up the muscles used in a task by doing that task.

Lifting weights won't have any bearing on painting miniatures because the muscles used in lifting said weight aren't the muscles used in painting miniatures.

Unless you're lifting teeny little finger weights...

Then when you try to grip a brush with your hulking man-fingers you crush it like a twig and get the ROIDRAGE.

I do keep fairly fit but some aspects of my hand eye co-ordination are utterly abysmal due to poor eyesight and a touch of dispraxia. I am much better than i used to be but i still cannot hit a ball with a baseball bat for example, and for some reason cannot hit a golf ball unless i use left handed clubs. It also means a total lack of ability to play any musical instrument.

Given patience i am a decent enough painter though and am fairly decent at most artistic pursuits i attempt. The only part of art i sometimes struggle with is the position of things, when an object in a still life is not really where it should be for example, but this makes sense given my eyesight and iirc it is a common sign of a lack of experience and is remedied with practise.

Anecdotally alot of the videos i see of really yoked dudes shows they really struggle with finer movements like say slicing up ingredients for their smoothies.

I'm unaware of any studies, but I highly doubt there is any correlation. Painting miniatures is about fine motor control and mental fortitude (do you get frustrated or bored easily).

Definitely. Working out gives you energy and calms you down. For us habitual coffee drinkers with the shakes, a post workout painting session is where all the detail gets done.

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:
Definitely. Working out gives you energy and calms you down. For us habitual coffee drinkers with the shakes, a post workout painting session is where all the detail gets done.

For me, who's not a coffee addict, post workout is literally the worst time I could imagine to try and paint. Post workout I might be more patient, but my fine motor skill is completely shot, especially if it was a weights session where all the muscles needed to stabilise my body/hands are tired

A couple of times I've tried to paint post workout I also ended up with cramps because, for me at least, I mostly keep quite still but slightly tense while painting, which is terrible for muscles that are trying to recover from a training session.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:
Definitely. Working out gives you energy and calms you down. For us habitual coffee drinkers with the shakes, a post workout painting session is where all the detail gets done.

For me, who's not a coffee addict, post workout is literally the worst time I could imagine to try and paint. Post workout I might be more patient, but my fine motor skill is completely shot, especially if it was a weights session where all the muscles needed to stabilise my body/hands are tired

A couple of times I've tried to paint post workout I also ended up with cramps because, for me at least, I mostly keep quite still but slightly tense while painting, which is terrible for muscles that are trying to recover from a training session.

Haha, well yeah, maybe working out literally right after a workout might not work. I'm assuming a few hours of recovery in between. Never gotten cramps though. Ouch.

The only passing link that I could imagine would be someone that sticks to a workout routine is likely more disciplined, and I find painting well is mostly a case of discipline. From patience to determination to organization to a willingness to put forth a long term, consistent effort. These qualities would likely be found in someone that sticks to an exercise routine.

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:
Definitely. Working out gives you energy and calms you down. For us habitual coffee drinkers with the shakes, a post workout painting session is where all the detail gets done.

For me, who's not a coffee addict, post workout is literally the worst time I could imagine to try and paint. Post workout I might be more patient, but my fine motor skill is completely shot, especially if it was a weights session where all the muscles needed to stabilise my body/hands are tired

A couple of times I've tried to paint post workout I also ended up with cramps because, for me at least, I mostly keep quite still but slightly tense while painting, which is terrible for muscles that are trying to recover from a training session.

Haha, well yeah, maybe working out literally right after a workout might not work. I'm assuming a few hours of recovery in between. Never gotten cramps though. Ouch.

Yeah the times I got cramps I probably started painting around half an hour to an hour after an upper body exercise. When painting I just keep my arms still and slightly tense to stabilise the hands and the muscles that were worn out from lifting heavy weights didn't like it.

To be honest I find exercise and painting probably interfere with each other more than anything. If I'm going to exercise in the evenings I don't find I have the time/energy/motivation to paint and if I'm going to paint I don't have time/energy/motivation to get in a proper workout. I seem to do one or the other but not both.

 greatbigtree wrote:
The only passing link that I could imagine would be someone that sticks to a workout routine is likely more disciplined, and I find painting well is mostly a case of discipline. From patience to determination to organization to a willingness to put forth a long term, consistent effort. These qualities would likely be found in someone that sticks to an exercise routine.

I think greatbigtree hit the nail on the head. The quality of my painting is directly related to how patient and disciplined I feel. Varying from week to week dependent on work/family life. Someone who exercises regularly is usually quite disciplined, as is anyone who studies hard or works a straining job. I think you might find all of these would have a positive impact on painting. A plethora of other contributory factors would ensure many outliers.