'Honestly, my motivation is paint whenever I feel like it. Everyone has days when they aren't going to be feeling that hobby bug itching, and that's fine.
Fit in what you can, when you can. Never force yourself as your work will be half-hearted. I tend to paint for 20-30 mins at a time, four times a week...maybe 5 if I really have something I want to do. You'd be surprised what you can complete in 30 mins, and with a burst at the weekend of 2 hours you can finish a whole unit.
Find out what's not motivating you. If the model you're painting bores you, switch it up. I painted a techmarine with Thunderfire Cannon recently, and let me tell you. Dull. Dull dull dull. So I painted a five-man Tactical squad at the same time, switching between the two as and when. It took a little longer, but it pushed me through and now I have two units done.
If you really find yourself at a loss, ask your friends what they're working on and what has them excited. Enthusiasm is infectous. You'll find yourself getting excited and motivated.
And lastly, never ever look at what you have left to do. Look at what you have done, and think how awesome the rest will look once done.
That works for me anyway
PS - Failing all that, start a plog. You'd be surprised how much getting your stuff on here, building a background and having people comment helps with everything.'
Sound advice, really. I tend to paint in much longer chunks, less often. That said, I don't get much done... Even when I'm trying, I'm really slow. It's just my techniques, I think.
ReplyDeleteI do want to say, though, that running a plog and regularly posting on forums and Twitter is a great encouragement, as your 'fans' will eventually start laying the pressure on (in a good way).
Absolutely. I can safely say my colleagues in the scene have certainly pushed me, haven't they :P At the end of the end painting is a hobby, and doing it the way that works for you is the right way. Forcing something through because you 'need' to get it done is a recipe for rapid burnout, and sometimes walking away from a project can give you some distance to see what needs improving.
ReplyDeleteI think once you find something you enjoy painting and working on, you always drift back to it. That's why I always come back to the Shrikes.
I found that somedays...even if you don't want to paint, do something simple...like put some leadbelcher on a boltgun. Done.
ReplyDeleteAt least you did something, and now have less to do tomorrow :).
Greg, that's absolutely my philosophy when it comes to painting. You do need to force yourself, but doing the menial tasks when you aren't in the mood is far better I feel. Important things like fine highlighting and detail work suffer when you aren't really feeling it, but blocking out colours isn't something that'll tax anyone too much, and then you'll have a model ready for when you are inspired!
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