Argh, just argh...
I have little progress to report. My motivation has gone completely, I barely have the enthusiasm to pick up a paint brush. I've been working some long(ish) hours (for Britain anyway) and I don't have much energy at the weekends, let alone in the evenings.
When I'm at work I wish I was painting, but when I get home it feels like one of the last things I want to do.
So how do I get it back? How do I "feel" like painting again?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I don't know the answer to that question.
ReplyDeleteI am in a similar boat. I am working 70+ hours a week right now and have little or no time for gaming.
I hope you get out of the funk soon.
If the issue is motivation, I tend to suggest switching gears. If you're painting a lot of sci-fi, paint some fantasy. This has worked MANY times for me.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I do is play tv/movie on a computer at my painting desk. It keeps part of my mind busy while I work. Music is also nice.
If the problem is just feeling overworked, that's trickier. Balancing life with hobbies can be hard.
I have found (very recently as you know) that it's not so much motivation that you need as inspiration – you need to find something you get excited about painting.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest trying a different gaming system other than Games Workshop. I had great fun painting Rackham (r.i.p) miniatures, which were so beautiful it felt more like an honour than a chore. I would also stay well away from marines – as much as I love them they can kill your motivation and inspiration if you get in a rut!
Hey Andy, good to hear you are still around.
ReplyDeleteI understand the hobby funk too. I'm exhausted from the rest of my life (new friends, awesome girlfriend, burgeoning social scene) and I get home from work just not feeling like painting. Perhaps you can try other aspects of the hobby to get you excited again. Reading some good Black Library novels or codex fluff gets my juices flowing for more tabletop stuff.
Otherwise perhaps just take a break and don't pressure yourself to paint. Do your other activities/hobbies and your enthusiasm will come back when the time is right.
Pete
You need a challenge, a project. An event to work towards. New army, challenge day, Nerd Thunder event up in Nottingham? Care to join me in a new warhammer army project? A Necromunda gang? Hell a blood bowl team. Take a leap into the left field. Anything we can do to help, just ask!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys!
ReplyDeleteGood lord Magilla 70+ hours a week?! Now I feel guilty for moaning... :(
So I'm going to be painting some different stuff for a bit. I'm burnt out on the Eldar so they'll be put to one side for a bit. I've got a Vostroyan guardsman painted up as a Corinium 5th soldier, plus a few off fantasy miniatures to get me back in the swing of things.
The Bloodbowl team sounds like a good idea (I've got some converted chaos warriors for a start), and I'm thinking about making up a Witch Hunter warband for Mordheim too.
I'll knock up a new post with some ideas too, to see what you guys think.
Something I have found is that a string of small wins: Gangs, gothic fleets that sort of thing that are "finished" quickly can help reboot. It's one thing to finish 20 models, go they look great. Now on to the next 20 for the same army and another to finish 20 models and go wow! Project finished! Hurrah!
ReplyDelete