Painting Inspiration
By Keith Pogue
Howdy! I constantly meet gamers who have painted in the past, but have not picked up a brush in "a couple of years" or more. There are a variety of reasons these folks have set down the brush, but almost everyone intends to pick up the brush again. What they need is inspiration! I admit there are times when I set down the brush for a few weeks, but I have a few ways of getting myself going again. I hope sharing these jump start strategies will help you get going.
A Reason to Paint
Most folks begin painting miniatures for gaming. If you do not have a game currently try to get one going. Even if it is four times a year that might be enough to get you painting for the next session. If you are involved in a game consider the ways you might use miniatures in the game. Even if you are a player, you can add a lot to the game by bringing some miniatures. Let us assume you are in a monthly D&D game - your first project is to paint a character figure for yourself. Then let us further assume that your character group tends to hang out at one tavern. Ask the game master for a basic layout of the place. Now create a complete tavern to scale and paint some barmaids, barkeeps, and other regulars. Try to create projects that give you a reason to paint.
Thousands of Unpainted Figures
You have tons of miniatures just waiting for a layer of paint. As a matter of fact your enthusiasm for buying miniatures really has not waned, but you just do not have time to paint much anymore. Strangely, your passion for purchasing miniatures may be killing off your passion to paint. A huge miniature collection can make taking up the brush too large a task. You need to change gears and give your self a chance. Here is a formula I have used and many others to jump start folks with giant unpainted miniature collections and no will to paint.
Having a limited selection and a light at the end of the tunnel is often enough to get folks going again.
No Place to Paint
Many people cannot keep a painting space up on a permanent basis - this is a major impediment to continued painting. Here is a permanent painting space anybody can make and keep even with the most critical of spouses.
No Time to Paint
Perhaps the top reason given for folks to stop painting. However, most people watch at least one half hour of television a night. Set-up a television near your painting area or set-up your painting near your television. Start painting during every commercial break. You will be amazed at your progress in the one to three minute painting sprees. Many television shows do not require careful viewing and so you may find yourself extending the painting time and not really missing a thing. You can accomplish a lot with just ten to fifteen minutes a night painting.
Spouse/Girl/Boy friend Issues
Many have stopped painting because there spouse does not approve or know of their secret gaming geek past. Sooner or later they are probably going to find out, but let me tell you a way to ease them into it and help you paint! Take your spouse to a craft shop - we have Hobby Lobbies around here and nearly every U.S. city has a Walmart with a craft section. Steer the spouse towards the painting section. Ask if they would be interested in sharing a hobby together. If they say yes, suggest painting in some way you know will capture their imagination - painting bricks, vases, windows, wood, are all major hobbies right now. If your spouse is an outdoorsperson, perhaps suggest painting fishing lures or duck decoys.
Once you get them started it's time to pull out your real stuff - start with a dragon if you have one. Start alternating painting together nights - one night painting wood, the next painting pewter fantasy figures. It may be a great way to introduce your spouse to gaming miniatures and you may pick up a hobby along the way. I actually gave away painted rocks for Christmas presents two years ago. The added bonus is you no longer have to explain brush and paint purchases to your significant other.
I am Not a Good Painter
Most painters will tell you just keep practicing if you want to learn. That's really not helpful to most folks even if it is 100% true. The key to improving is painting, but you will not get started if you believe the end result will not be worth it. The best way to learn is to grab a painting buddy. Invite someone over to paint with you. Paint together for a couple of hours and compare notes as you paint. This is the fast track to improved painting, even if your painting buddy is only marginally better than you. Sharing techniques in person is the easiest way to learn. Recommend articles to each other and continue to experiment. Many painters have related how they could not do the NMM technique until someone showed them. Finally, painting together is like doing exercise with a partner; you are more likely to do it if you know someone else is waiting on you.
Conventional Inspiration
Most painters will tell you to head over to this unbelievable miniatures website or to buy this magazine to get inspiration to start painting again. It rarely works, many of the folks who have not painted for a while have been to those sites. The pictures there are often counterproductive as they discourage the lapsed painter because of their outstanding quality. The lapsed painter may instead react with the attitude "why bother." The miniature websites and magazines are solid inspiration for those who are already painting on a regular basis, not for others who have dropped the brush.
I can however recommend sites that have "how to" articles. Sometimes a step-by-step painting guide can be the key to get a painter going again. There are hundreds of quality step-by-step instructions on the web, many of them right here. Do seek those out and constantly experiment with your style to improve your painting.
Conclusion
Start small, paint a little at a time, and before you know it - you will be right back in the saddle.
Keith Pogue (pogre) has been painting miniatures since 1981. Although a fine painter he is no where close to world class, however, he has taught two other painters who have gone on to achieve fame as figure painters. A teacher and a coach, Pogue is a recovering attorney who really enjoys his summers off. Pogue's goal for his series of painting articles is "to provide tips anyone can use at the painting table tomorrow."
