Painters Block & Massive Privateer Press Sale

[Brushmistress]

So does anyone have a "cure" for painters block? I've found myself looking at my table since TT finished and feeling totally uninspired. I tried starting that ancient Reaper "Druid's Stone" box set, and while I'm painting it just fine, it's not enjoyable at all, and I find myself dreading looking at it. I went through my many boxes of minis and just can't find anything that is speaking to me....HELP!!!:ahhhhh:

On another note, while the auctions are closing tonight, I thought I'd share the link to a massive Privateer Press sell-off I've got going on via eBay. It didn't occur to me until now to share that info...

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbrushmistressQQfrppZ200QQfsopZ32QQfsooZ2QQrdZ0

[Duende]

Don't feel bad, Mistress. I haven't painted anything since the IP and I couldn't even get enough gumption up for TT. I've seen a couple of threads about this at CMON in the past, and they usually say just not to force yourself, maybe just take a break, the burnout sometimes just seems to pass on its own. (And set out your favorite unpainted pieces where you can see them. Sooner or later, one of them will pipe up)

[demonherald]

Hell that's a pile of stuff your selling BM.......:eek:

best thing with painters block I find is a right good sort out.

clean up the brushes throw any crud away.. check through the paints and get rid of any rubbish.

clear the paint area of any part finished projects basically clear your line of site.. everything that's been giving you trouble just put it away..any part finished projects or ideas half hatched do something about them.. either forget them all together or set aside one project.

sort everything out then have a look round at galleries etc online and inspiration will strike.. or set yourself anice target .. e.g upcoming rotten harvest..

As Duende and most will tell you it's not somethig you can force away.. it happens and it's just one of those things....It will come good..

[Hinton]

I was feeling a bit of a painter's block very much like you and Duende, Brushmistress. I'd try to paint and just couldn't get into it; nothing really seemed to hold my attention. Even with the first round of the last IP I was still "blocked".

When Round 2 came around and I got the idea for the lab, I didn't really feel like doing it since it seemed out of the range of what I usually do. But I went ahead, tried it anyway and it seems that I've broken through the block. I was having trouble getting going because I had hit a plateau with my painting (and still kind of seem to be there, but I'm working on it) and didn't know how to improve, even though I had been trying to.

Maybe trying something way outside your comfort range (whatever that may be) could help. Maybe just take a breather and, like DH said, just clear away the clutter and tidy things up a bit.

[Brushmistress]

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragment. It's actually a very big help, and thanks for the advice/ideas. I know that my painting area is in dire need of a cleaning. It's just full of half painted disasters and blisters of minis that I'm wondering why I bought. I hope it passes soon...at least by Rotten Harvest time.

As for the PP auctions, my husband and I are looking to move within the next month, and I really needed to clean out a massice stockpile of models I know I'm never going to anything with. There will be much more to come...

[Nathan Caroland]

I got the PERFECT thing .... paint something Wyrd.

:

[Jabberwocky]

Sorry to hear about the block! I am not nearly as productive as you, but when I have had the block, I just don't paint. It seems perfectly normal to me that you are feeling a bit burnt out; you have had a pretty intense summer with painting--GD early on (congrats again!), TT, and of course, IP. IP in particular seems like it would be taxing. A new mini (or 3) every two weeks to competition level could be pretty stressful. Maybe just a few weeks of doing something else will get the fires going again; plus if you don't enter HH that means less competition for me....

[Wren]

Would it help if we gave you a random IP style theme as a challenge? :->

I find it can help sometimes if I've got something I'm working on that's a commitment for someone else - a gift, for a contest, commission, stuff like that. At least that helps me get my butt in chair. I've only recently starting having the problem you mentioned - you sit down to paint, but you're just not really into it. That I'm not sure I solved. My problem is I've got a new big project that's been added to my life, and I'm still trying to figure out how to be interested in two things. Now I'm back into minis, but not much thinking about the other thing. Hopefully I'll find a way to see-saw less.

Or maybe try something completely different. Paint something unusual to you - try a flat, or a different scale. Work on a woodland scene with maybe a few small animals but it's more about the terrain than the painting. Paint a goofy little plastic thing out of a gumball machine.

[Brushmistress]

@ FF - I've got a heck of a plan for Rotten Harvest involving Wyrd minis...I just hope I feel like painting by then.:vb_devil:

@ Jabberwocky - I've got a heck of a plan for Rotten Harvest...I just hope I feel like painting by then. (I meant to repeat myself...) And yes, IP is very stressful. :gurney: I think I entered too many comps this summer and it's burned me out...

@ Wren - Oh god, please don't give me a theme. I may crack. :egg: Hmm...egg themed mini - maybe that could be something one day. I've never painted a flat - where do you buy them?

In all seriousness, thanks again to everyone for the shout-outs and sympathies. I'm gonna stay away from the table for a little bit I think, and see how that sits with me. I of course will not stay away from the board here.

[350kilotons]

Do something completely different (and I mean completely different). Miniature painting is very taxing on a number of levels (eyes, concentration etc) and it is a mental activity, so do something physical.

Go to a boxing class to whale on a set of focus mits/heavy bag/random passer by, go fencing, running or ... hey, you're American - go target shooting and let rip with some firepower.

After a week of getting your frustration out physically you might be more refreshed mentally. Just don't vent on co-workers or in-laws.

[Keltheos]

That's a lot of PP!!

[Skya]

@ Wren - Oh god, please don't give me a theme. I may crack. :egg: Hmm...egg themed mini - maybe that could be something one day. I've never painted a flat - where do you buy them?

Mostly I've seen them sold at historicals shows, but there's also some online. The Vitrinins are my favorites.

http://www.thelittletinsoldier.com/catalog/

[eastman]

Mostly I've seen them sold at historicals shows, but there's also some online. The Vitrinins are my favorites.

http://www.thelittletinsoldier.com/catalog/

The Vitrinin flats based on Alphonse Mucha's artwork are fantastic.

[Wren]

Skya answered better than I could, I got mine on Ebay.

[ThunderhawkerMinis]

When I get blocked, I usually go to another creative outlet like drawing/sketching (or like sculpting! though admittedly thats new to me). I also seek inspiration in others' work, and I don't limit it to minis. I love to browse over at deviantart.com, just to see what others can do.