discipline...

Hey there fellow mordheimers!

Does the following sound familiar:

"you really have cool projects lying around your room / workspace / whatever room you are in and you really really want to have it finished but somehow you either get distracted easily or have some sort of mountain to climb before you can actually paint. But however you KNOW that if you paint and it starts getting shape, you really enjoy it..."


I am having some problems on focussing on my pocket mordheim and i need some help

any tips?

1. Sounds familiar.
2. Yeah, let's hear some solutions cause I got none.

Actually I am rather disciplined... only I am constantly painting minis for other people, so mine get left behind.

The trick I use is to get my painting stuff out and ready to go (i have it all on one spot, on my "painting tray"). Then I put on some music/radio/audiobook and sit behind my painting tray with no particular intention. I just sit there and stare at the minis, waiting for inspiration. Automatically you start playing around with stuff, start drilling/filing/scratching or just turning the miniature round and round between your fingers... and before you know it, the brush is in your hand and you are mixing paint.

That's how I overcome the initial inertia that prevents me from getting started. I put myself before a fait accompli: I am seated, the painting stuff is at arm's length and the audio prevents me from wanting to get up and do something else (works best with interesting audiobook)

Another thing: turn your computer's monitor OFF (or better yet, turn the whole PC off if you are not using it as a stereo like me)

that sounds indeed very good!!! Will have to try that!

I do indeed have everything set at arm length, that said, i even undercoated all 12 mini's (by hand!) that has to be painted too because i hate undercoating ) but the music should do the trick

What is audiobook?

Admin Tom wrote:

The trick I use is to get my painting stuff out and ready to go (i have it all on one spot, on my "painting tray"). Then I put on some music/radio/audiobook and sit behind my painting tray with no particular intention. I just sit there and stare at the minis, waiting for inspiration. Automatically you start playing around with stuff, start drilling/filing/scratching or just turning the miniature round and round between your fingers... and before you know it, the brush is in your hand and you are mixing paint.

That's exactly what I do to write (but, obviously, I leave my monitor on, writing is so hard when you can't see the screen ), I'll have to try it with painting.


An audio book is a recording of someone reading a book outloud, sometimes the author or sometimes a celebrity (I believe Stephen Fry did a couple?).

Yes the audiobook is a wonderful invention. Since my hands and eyes are busy with the painting, I can still use my ears to do something for my brain

Of the various skills that enhance painting minis, self discipline is the MOST valuable & the HARDEST to develop. With moi it came from the factory jobs I had while in school; the mind numbing, repetitious drudgery was a preparation for the mind numbing, repetitious drudery of army painting.

A couple things to try: Set yourself a reward for finishing a certain portion of the painting process as a motivational aid.
If you find yourself missing some part of the current painting stage, it USUALLY means your painting too many minis at once, SO...reduce the number in progress.
Get yourself psyched before starting; i.e, convince yourself that this going to be fun/rewarding AND, chances are, it WILL BE. For example, think of all the nice things the Forum Folks will say about your efforts once you've posted photos of your little Gems.

I try to paint every morning for 20 minutes (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less) - this is the period of time after my girlfriend leaves for work but before I have to leave to catch the bus.

This has two effects: firstly, it forces me to focus on one thing for a short period and not sit staring at unpainted figures waiting for inspiration (So in this point I have very different tactics to Tom!). Secondly, it stops my GF getting upset that I am ignoring her by painting for hours at a time!



I have found this makes me quite prolific (but I still can't keep up with painting everything I buy!)

Great tips so far!!

going to try them out tomorrow, on my free day

free days means sleeping until its noon and then usually do nothing for the rest of the day except sitting behind my computer reading a certain forum and game

but with these golden tips i perhaps can finish some mini's!

Wow!

I painted so many mini's that i lost track must be 4 or 5!? It worked like a charm! I just put on some internet radio, and whenever i listen now, i feel the urge to paint!

It's even this bad that if i go sit at my desk WITHOUT it on, i have the feeling something is missing.

My o my pocket mordheim will get there sooner or later i have 12 out of 20 orcs done now, 8 more then onto the gobbo's!

thanks everyone!

Haha, glad we could help!

Be careful not to overdo it though, or you will lose the painting bug!

Discipline is something I lack big time. I have the attention span of a oooooooh shiny!! *runs after a passing car*



Anyways, I agree with Tom, sitting in front of your unpainted stuff and just daring it is the best approach. Sooner or later you get bored so you just go on autopilot.

Some great advise here. I have another trick that might help to get some paint slept on the lead mountain: invite a/some friend/s for a "paint over". In combination with previously mentioned tips (music/painting stuff ready at hand) this offers you the possibility to share some Painting Rambling (i.e. casual musings about wargaming/sports/movies/books/music/etc...), and have a great time for all peeps involved.

For me; this is the most motivational way to get things done
(might be the peer control, haha).