Resparking interest.

[Deadlift]

Hi guys and gals.
Just wondering if any of you have ever "hit the wall" in regards with painting. I'm in a bit of a funk at the moment and painted very little in the past 2 months.
How did you reignite your interest ? Or did it just happen ?
I admit I've painted just about everything 40k over the years army wise and the thought of starting a whole new army just doesn't inspire. I admit it's getting me down a bit as I feel I've lost touch with something I really enjoy.
Thoughts ?

[phil035]

everyone hits the wall every so often just got to find something that inspires you to get back into it

[Wolfshade]

I know what you mean. I am in a bit of a funk myself. I tried last January to challenge mywself to paint a company of BAs, but failed with 1 squad being done.
I don't know what it is.
I imagine with me part of the issue is that I can't be bothered to get it all out to paint for a few minutes/hours and put it all away, whereas if it was all set up I might do it more.

[BrokenToad]

why not have a look about at some of the models other companies make, some do some beautiful display minis like Kingdom of Death, etc, also try getting out of your comfort zone by employing new painting techniques that you dont currently use, take your time with it, try to enjoy it and only work on it when you really want to, even it if takes you a year to finish you will get a lot more pleasure out of it and it will help you to remember what you enjoy about painting, dont try to force yourself to paint because it never works and at ther end of the day the hobby is all about enjoyment

[Gotthammer]

Well if it's that you want to paint but can't be arsed, I paint something other than 40k for example. If it's just you don't feel like painting I just wait until the bug comes back. Also painting with someone, like a friend or kids (age appropriate of course) can help some since it's more a social thing than a concentration thing.

[Monkey Tom]

I go through the same thing, I struggle to find the motivation to paint anything. But for me I enjoy painting again when I have a reason to paint e.g. painting competitions or gaming. I don't get a chance to play games on a regular basis so when I do manage to organise a game it makes me want to paint again.

[KrewL RaiN]

I know the feeling... Right now, its the winter bla's wrecking my painting mojo :< For me, I just have to wait for the mojo to come back. I cant force it.

[ElectricPaladin]

When this happens, I usually switch over to a new project. If I was painting 40k, I go paint some Fantasy, or some Firestorm Armada, or whatever. I was on a huge 40k dip until an awesome campaign game at my FLGS (my Blood Angels massacred my buddy's Tyranids... there were like six models left at the end of the 1.5k game - it was incredible) reinvigorated my interest.

Honestly, though, I have always felt that you have to follow your heart. If you don't want to paint 40k... don't paint 40k. Paint something else.

Don't play anything else?

I can help you fix that :D.

[-Tom-]

How about swapping to avoid models altogether, and instead look to paint a bit of terrain / building for scenery? Perhaps it could be usable for gaming, but also form a diorama to go on the shelf along with models you have already painted?

Is there anything you could look at doing as a big conversion project instead, to leave the paintbrushes to one side while you create something awesome with bits, plasticard and green stuff? Then see if the painting bug comes back once you've created 'it'?

[Lukas The Trickster]

I would share the prevalent opinion about doing something non 40k for a bit Joe - have you ever thought about doing some historical stuff? Or as you're handy with an airbrush maybe even some scale modelling? You are spoilt for choice these days for companies producing some really fantastic quality miniatures and vehicle kits, and you will also be pleasantly surprised how cheap stuff is in comparison to 40K/WFB to collect. As an example, Bolt Action (WW2) offers exciting gameplay, and as its platoon based you don't need to paint ranks and ranks of figures to play it - I'm painting a Waffen SS army at the minute which I have picked up for well under £100.

[Maelstorm]

For me - to get out of the "funk" and begin painting again I started watching YouTube battle reports and listening to 40K radio. Give it a go and see if it helps!

Good luck!

[Thaldin]

I'm in the same boat... I never kept up with my painting and now I have many thousands of points of Eldar to paint and I just can't feel motivated to do it.

[energongoodie]

What helped me was joining a gaming group. It gave me the kick I needed to get painting.
Admittedly it didn't last long due to time constraints but I am chomping at the bit to get to the club with a painted army.

[Denzark]

Actually I'm going through a renaissance on painting at the mo. I think it is sparked by trying out some new techniques found both in Paint Splash type articles, and also by having reached 2 fully painted 1500pt tournament lists. Now I can go back, pick and choose units based on what I fancy whereas I have been slogging at stuff for competitiveness' sake.

The new GW paints are also good fun to use seeing what effects they come out with - Ryze rust, Nihilakh oxide et al.

I'd say don't force it Deady. If I was playing as much X-Wing as you, I may be trying to doctor a couple of units, such as Corran Horn's green X-Wing or summat. See if that gets the juices flowing?

[phil035]

I got to say for me it was the fact I'm now taking part in the path of damnation campaign that has gotten me out of my rut that and some really awesome audio books from BL

[Psychosplodge]

Last year I managed two Space marines.
The problem I have is space. By the time I've cleared a space to paint I generally can't be arsed to do any.
Combined with preferring natural light to paint by and its lack for most of my free time, and then if both of those are right having decent enough weather to spray paint the basecoat...

[Wolfshade]

Last year I managed two Space marines.
The problem I have is space. By the time I've cleared a space to paint I generally can't be arsed to do any.
Combined with preferring natural light to paint by and its lack for most of my free time, and then if both of those are right having decent enough weather to spray paint the basecoat...

Maybe you should become a teacher, plenty of free time in August with the nice summer weather.

[Psychosplodge]

But I hate children.

[-Tom-]

But I hate children.

That's the prime requisite of the job.

[Wolfshade]

That's the prime requisite of the job.

Beaten to the punch.

I've seen educating Yorkshire, how bad can it be?

[Psychosplodge]

I gave two teachers nervous breakdowns...

[ElectricPaladin]

I gave two teachers nervous breakdowns...

You've never been to a teacher meeting, have you. We were all bad children.

[Deadlift]

Thanks for replying guys, I've been reading some BL books over the last day or so and something's sparked my imagination a little. I think the readings got my creative juices flowing a bit. I'm thinking of taking a trip into my local GW this weekend to see if I can pick something up.

[Denzark]

Is that like reading something pornotastic to put you in the mood...?

[Deadlift]

Kind of but without the sex face at the end.

[ElectricPaladin]

Is that like reading something pornotastic to put you in the mood...?

I started reading Ravenor when I started working on the inquisitorial retinue I need for the Inquisition War campaign at my FLGS... and it's put me enough "in the mood" that now I'm thinking of starting Grey Knights as well. I guess I overdid it.