Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey Everyone,

Not sure if this post belongs here but seems like the most appropriate place to put it.

So I am running into a bit of a problem with my projects, basically I have been loosing the momentum to create/ paint models for a while now and its almost come to a halt. This is a problem because I do want to keep up the hobby and also I still have lots to work on.

In the past this has started to happen and I could keep my self motivated with either watching Youtube stuff/ looking at thing on DakkaDakka to peak my interests but this appears not to be working anymore. I am sure other people have had this problem so I want to see what else keeps people motivated?

Here are a few other things I have considered:

- Playing more games ( in a perfect world this is possible but reality get in the way)
- start getting more into the story behind the game


Thanks in advance for you help,

Try changing your artistic mediums for a while. I went out and bought some colored chalk and took my daemon codex to an abandoned building in my area and drew daemons on the walls for 4 days. It also helps to paint around others. Not lazy people though. Such habits are contagious.
I have the compulsive need to compete so going to gaming stores and seeing other people's stuff helps out. Maybe taking up another part of the hobby aspect for a while like terrain building or converting would help out. I find a lot of times when stop painting is when I don't know what I'm going to do or how to do it.

Actually, one of the more common responses is "don't push it." Lots of interests ebb and flow, without ever actually going away. If you still like the setting, gameplay, P&M - any part of the hobby - you'll pick it back up when the time is right. Whether you buy into that idea is entirely up to you.

Others seem to benefit from the opposite approach - gritting their teeth and forcing themselves to get stuck back in, thereby building momentum. For some, doing a single model, start to finish, avoids the tedious slog that assembly-line painting can become while giving them the gratification of a completed project, albeit a small one. Others force the start of a batch, relying on the "well, they're half way there, already" factor to keep them going after they will the initial push. I've actually had this work, for me, in varying degrees from time to time.

"Change things up" is another big one, whether that means shifting your focus from P&M to play (not always applicable or feasible), diving into the story through BL novels, switching from big projects to one-offs or vice versa, etc. I haven't had much luck with this one, as starting to play in earnest would require more effort than resuming painting and my larger projects (the opposite of my usual small-batch troop slog) tend to drag on for months or years, getting pecked at, piecemeal. My "good day" is another's rut, though, so YMMV.

Deadlines also seem to help a lot of people get motivated - upcoming tournaments or painting competitions that they need to finish projects for. Again, this one is largely circumstantial, as many (most) of us don't regularly enter those. If you're the type that can set self-imposed deadlines and actually stick to them, though, there's still merit to the method.

Personally, I'm a useless lump - I've had issues with energy and motivation for years. I know myself, though, so I know that letting things fall off isn't the end. I'll be back, whether it's tomorrow, next week, or next month. I'll walk past my display cabinet and see mostly gray plastic (shameful, I know), then look at my finished models with pride and wistfully mutter "someday..." While some people take it very seriously, it's a hobby. Unless you have some very concrete goals, already - something that you, yourself, have made a necessity, by virtue of a promise or business transaction - there's potentially harm in making it any more than that. If you have the means and the interest, you'll come back to it every time you drop off, so don't stress. Total burnout is worse than a lull. as far as those remaining projects are concerned.

 aosol wrote:
Try changing your artistic mediums for a while. I went out and bought some colored chalk and took my daemon codex to an abandoned building in my area and drew daemons on the walls for 4 days. It also helps to paint around others. Not lazy people though. Such habits are contagious.
I have the compulsive need to compete so going to gaming stores and seeing other people's stuff helps out. Maybe taking up another part of the hobby aspect for a while like terrain building or converting would help out. I find a lot of times when stop painting is when I don't know what I'm going to do or how to do it.

The first part sounds a little creepy....
The second part is great advice. Playing at the store and meeting other players and thier armies will help motivate you to finish yours especially if theirs is fully painted. I keep motivated by listening to hobby podcasts like The independent characters and the 11th company. They keep it fresh an keep me excited about the game. showing off your pieces to a community like this one will also be a boon to your hobby progress as well. get connected online and at your game store so even when your interest is fading you are surrounded by people who are amped up. If you would like to find more hobby podcasts and links to them visit my blog below.

I think we all get that way from time to time. Heck I run hot and cold, some days I just feel like pinning and assemjng models, there are days where I actually jones to paint. Some times I can't even look at my painting table. Don't force it, the desire to paint will come, if you push it you might grow to resent it and see it as a chore.

I have been feeling the same recently. I have found that the best way it to put out a selection of models (get some different ones for some variation, even different armies if you're working on more than one). Then give yourself a deadline to get them all done by, but make sure its a sensible deadline. Most importantly though. I've found that sitting down just for 10 minutes a few times a day can get you very far! Its suprising how much you can paint in that amount of time (it normally ends up being more though lol). Good luck

 aosol wrote:
... I went out and bought some colored chalk and took my daemon codex to an abandoned building in my area and drew daemons on the walls for 4 days.

sounds like the beginning of a BL heresy story :p I pity the next building inspector that walks into that place...

on topic: set yourself small goals and work in bite-sized bits. instead of "paint this 1500pt army", think in terms of "paint these 5 guys" (even if the whole squad of them is really 30). keep your goals realistic and small. recognize yourself for completing each one and remember that they all add up to a completing a bigger-picture goal. take a small break after completing each goal; play a game, watch tv, grab a beer with a friend, whatever. then, you come back fresh for the next one.

having some sort of external pressure can help, like signing up for a painting contest or a tournament that requires a painted army, etc. ymmv with that.

for me, in addition to keeping my goals small, I find that looking at other's work can be really motivating and inspirational. same for helping others. reading through dakka's P&M and P&M Showcase forums are great for that

keep your goals realistic and small. recognize yourself for completing each one and remember that they all add up to a completing a bigger-picture goal

This is true. It once took me like 6 months to paint two squads of guardsmen but after i was done i realized how awesome they all looked together and painted another two in two weeks. Sometimes just putting everything you have finished together and basking in its glory REALLY motivates you to do more.

James811 wrote:
I've found that sitting down just for 10 minutes a few times a day can get you very far! Its suprising how much you can paint in that amount of time (it normally ends up being more though lol). Good luck

This. So much this. I try and sit down and do some sort of P&M every day for about 15 minutes. This could be painting, basing, building, or even touching up something. Sometimes I even just do some maintenance on my tools (like cleaning brushes, my workspace, etc.). Usually I end up spending more time than that because I'll find something that hooks me in for a bit longer.

Oadie pretty much covered everything. I personally use a P&M blog with monthly updates to keep me going. For example this month, I done Khorne Warp Talons, and to aid my attention span (as I have been doing Chaos since September without switching) I will be doing a Grey Knight Forgeworld Dreadnought next month to mix it up, alongside some Khorne Raptors, in March, 2 Blood Raven Captain/Special Character conversions and a Black Legion Heldrake, and in April its a Black Legion Chaos Lord and some Tyranid Warriors. Then in May and June, Grey Knights again.

By rotating my 4 armies and doing it monthly (and I strictly adhere to them, not a day early or late unless the stuff going on outside is major), I keep interested.


Recently I have tead some HH novels and picturing scenes and wanting so badly to see them in person inspires me to think how I can make those scenes. For example, I want to convert up Mortarion and plan to use the Nightbringer as a base.

Or build a diorama of the Sanguinius/Bloodthirster fight in Fear to Tread.

Or a diorama of the Final Battle.

I like goals.

So every month I set a goal. I prefer easy goals.

My goal for February will be something like paint 5 models and like prime 10 guys or something.

My goals also get mixed up to include a wide variety of games and models. I am sure once I get my reaper KS stuff it will be something like paint 2 models a month.

If you don't feel like it don't push yourself; take a breather.

I rotate from painting models, building terrain, writing novels, cycling or pushing weights to just veging infront of the tv or playing Fifa.

You might want to take a few days or weeks (depending on your schedule) off from the hobby completely. Try catching up on any household chores you've been putting off, or getting to bed early. This might help you to feel refreshed and there's nothing like chores to make you want to do something else.

I also find getting into the story of what I'm working on helpful for staying motivated. You could think about the story of your army, where and how they got where they are, what they're trying to do. I also find this really helpful for painting and conversion ideas as well.

i have this same problem as well. I haven't painted anything in well over 3 months and I have 6 grey hunters that I have to paint just sitting at my desk asking to be painted. Getting motivated to paint is my biggest challenge.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advice, seems like quite a few people run into this problem. Seems like we should have a support group:

" Hi, my name is Tim. Its been 3 months since I finished my last model..."


Anyway all joking aside, I think I am going to put the painting aside and focus on some other things for a bit ( terrain building, getting some more games in, and doing more "how to" videos). One thing I think I will do once the break is over, is I am trying to get a group of people locally together to do like a semi regular painting night. Think if there is some social aspect to this it might help, also if you have people wanting to see the finished product I find that helps as well.

Keep posting up the ideas, I figure it can only help us out!

Thanks again,

I often find that watching painters at work on YouTube inspires me to pick up the brush and do some of my own. Also, I try to limit the number of projects that I have on the go at once so I can stay focused, that tends to help me get the job done sooner.

I take breaks when my interest is flagging. A lot of times it's fatigue more than anything. I took over 4 months off this summer. Spent time with my wife and kids... worked wonders.

Ad if you're looking for inspiration... here's a link to a list of threads that inspired me when I first got going (and since then). Things that make you go WOW!

Some painters have "moods" where they either want to paint or model at a certain time, and it's usually good to follow this. If you start losing the will to P&M, then so something else that interests you, and pick it back up when the mood strikes you. Sometimes, however, you can get stuck on a mood when you really want to do something, but don't have the materials to. For me ATM, I really want to make some meganobs and have dug through my bitz bag to get the weapons ready, but I can't find anywhere to buy plasticard! When these things happen, it can be bad until the mood passes. Forcing things never works out.

Also, starting a P&M group sounds like a great may to be motivated. Especially if you have new people in it. I've wanted to do that for a while, but there aren't that many wargamers in New York, and I fear the GW in Manhattan may close down...

 MegaTimHo wrote:
Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advice, seems like quite a few people run into this problem. Seems like we should have a support group:

" Hi, my name is Tim. Its been 3 months since I finished my last model..."


Anyway all joking aside, I think I am going to put the painting aside and focus on some other things for a bit ( terrain building, getting some more games in, and doing more "how to" videos). One thing I think I will do once the break is over, is I am trying to get a group of people locally together to do like a semi regular painting night. Think if there is some social aspect to this it might help, also if you have people wanting to see the finished product I find that helps as well.

Keep posting up the ideas, I figure it can only help us out!

Thanks again,

The social aspect definitely helps. My boyfriend and I paint and model together and having him to talk to/bounce ideas off/be inspired by is really helpful.

Lately I've been doing a mixed bunch of activity at my desk. I keep some modelling project on the go, and a unit that is being painted. That way if I get bored of painting or waiting for paint to dry I can build some models or clean mould lines etc. That way I'm always doing someting that's working towards completion! It doesn't bother me how long it takes as I rarely play so there's no deadlines.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've got a whole horde of orks to paint. I find that either listening to heavy metal or watching a decent film helps. A film I've already seen. Just for decent background noise.

 theheartcollectors wrote:
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've got a whole horde of orks to paint. I find that either listening to heavy metal or watching a decent film helps. A film I've already seen. Just for decent background noise.

This is where the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes in handy.

I meant good films with a lot of dialogue so you don't really have to watch it but you can listen to the film and still know what's going on and still be able to concentrate on painting. Personally I like a good Tarantino film like pulp fiction to paint to. This might be why I'm painting so badly though. Haha.

Tournaments motivate me to paint, most I go to require your army to be painted.

Iv had a few nights staying up till 4 or 5 in the morning before the comp finishing off my army.
In the end its worth it, nothing better than playing games with a fully painted army.

I set aside 1 night every week to paint. (Normally Friday) and paint as long as I want with the tv running in the background. Works like a charm.

Lately my burn out has been bad but my dr recommended I try it again for my stress levels. I'm excited now that I got 3 armies to prime , model and paint. My only problem is lack of certain paint colors and glue (low on extra money for war gaming ). Still I got enough to finish my main focus army. I'm also painting a death korp of Krieg rider for a fellow world war 1 / 2 historian so that should break up my monotone infantry squads.

Pick something, on the otherside of the spectrum. So if you do marines try doing fantasy VC? or something lol or skaven if not. Take a break we all get burnt out abit :()

 dufflebag wrote:

 theheartcollectors wrote:
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've got a whole horde of orks to paint. I find that either listening to heavy metal or watching a decent film helps. A film I've already seen. Just for decent background noise.

This is where the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes in handy.

I bought the blu-ray extended edition trilogy for this exact fact. Never gets old.