As a mini painter, painting is a huge part of my life. I usually spend around 18-30 hours a week at my workbench. When Im not sitting in my studio completely immersed in what ever game my whim is on that day, I find myself thinking about painting. Painting relaxes me, humors me, and brings a part of me out that I really like. It pulls all of my focus into something and makes me forget everything around me, no one else matters but the mini I am painting.
Thoughts of anger, saddness, or frustration fade away the minute I sit at my desk. (maybe not frustration, we all have that one mini which gives you trouble glueing together) I find it funny that I poor so much effort and emotion into a tiny piece of pewter, resin etc. Think about it, those pieces of plastic and resin mean so much to a painter. They become a part of you, after its done it directly reflects who you are.
I know I said when I paint I forget my rage and saddness buy I find the best thing to do when angry is to sit at your painting station and fixate (I know you shouldnt) on the person or thing that angers you and just start painting. Also music will help you with this. Put on your headphones and focus on the mini and the anger and paint. The next time you look up to see the time your mini will nearly be done. You focus so much on your rage while the music blocks out all other distractions and you accidently focus all of your energy on the mini and doing everything without needing to worry about being careful. I recently rage painted a Furioso Dreadnought. I had to share that observation sorry for the tangent.
Anyway, the satisfaction of looking at a complete miniature you have painted is something that drives me. The only thing better than that is sucessfully executing a new technique.
Model by model, brush by brush, we all paint for a different reason. Sometimes its cause your bored, or because you need a place to escape. I paint to escape and to keep myself focused. I also really enjoy the narrative sense of wargaming and modeling.
-Its John from IPJ saying thank you for the best year I have had in a long time. New friends, new experiences. My rookie year as a wargamer has come to a close and with it a rather strange period of my life.
Thank you for hanging in to read this it was long but I needed to say it. Why do you paint? Leave a comment.
keep it up john. good stuff
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of genuine emotional attachment to the hobby for you there- a real passion for the hobby comes through. When I was your age (oh god I am an old fart- did I really just say that?) I remember having the same passion. Good article.
ReplyDelete