"WIP: Works in Process -- anybody else do this?" Topic

There was an article published within The Dragon magazine, back in the late 1970's, about a painting technique the author called, Works in Process. With this technique, the author shared how he works on whatever he feels like, at any given time. He has many groups of figures in various stages of completion. He simply works on whatever strikes his fancy, when he has time to paint.

I use this approach, along with assembly line style of painting. Combined, I find the two techniques allow me to finish large batches of figures at the same time (about to finish a 112-figure, Goblin army, 10 Frost Giants, 10 Goats, 14 Chickens, and a wooden palisade fortress -- all are nearly ready for The Dip, followed by a matte coat). [The goats will be used to mark Shaken units, while the Chickens will be used to mark Routing units…] I have many, many more figures at various stages of completion (Lizard Men, Zombie Humans & dogs, an Elven Army, armored War Dogs, Fire Giants, and the list goes on…).

So, how many of you follow the Works In Process approach to painting? Cheers!

Currently, I keep three projects on my "ready" list, working on whichever I feel like at the moment.

OK, so there's a name for it; I have used that method for many years.

It's why I have about ten thousand half-painted miniatures in a hundred different genres.

Works in progress sounds so much better than adult attention deficit disorder.

I do it, but not on purpose.

I never said discipline wasn't required…

Absolutely. I "piddle" with half-a-dozen projects at a time.

I also read half-a-dozen books and magazines at a time.

I always thought of it as me being a procrastinating bastard, but apperently I've been using a special technique all allong!

And here I thought it was just my ADD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My painting table is not big enough!

I didn't know there was another way. I mean, it's a hobby so interest always dictates. Along with resources.
Then there's "I know what I want to do. I'm just hung up on how I'm going to do it." The worst part is it sometimes comes up mid-project.

That IS my technique – I use anniversaries as motivation to finish big projects but most stuff just ticks away till I get interested again – if it starts to get too dusty it goes in the loft for a bit – they usually come back and I am starting to finish stuff at last (only been painting 30 years !)

That's how I do it.

Since I use a lot of dropper bottles and thus have paint left over I paint by color instead of by miniature.

For example:

My ever changing enthusiasm is all for Figure A today and Figure A really needs to be finished. In all liklihood his skin is already done as I really like doing faces no matter what the topic. I paint his hat red and then figures B, C, D, E and whatever other ones that need that red at the same time.
Next is Figures A's black belt – then all the black gets done on B, C, D, E, etc too.
Repeat on all the unpainted bits until A is done. By the time he's done Figure B-E has many parts already completed.

I have abut a hundred figures on the table in two scales and across many periods including fantasy so that I always have an outlet for left over paint somewhere. Even if it's some weird brown I mixed up, I can always do a pirates hair or some miscellaneous saddle bag or something.

The other benefit is I never have the daunting task of rows of unpainted black staring back at me. I always have models that just need the last few remaining details to finish off. That's been key to maintaining momentum and motivation, knowing there's just a few things left to do. And as I always introduce newly primed figs to the assortment I can keep the process of a slow churn up indefinitely.

One drawback is that I have NO IDEA how long it takes me to paint a miniature which surely is a FAQ from non-hobbyists.

Here's the table this morning:

and slightly more here: link

I have some Normans that have been "WIP" for nearly 8 or 9 years now :)

I just can't paint like that. Too chaotic to my mind. I like focus.

One unit at a time. Paint it, varnish it, base it, finish it. Unit after unit. Project after project finished.

Flashman14 -- dead on, Brother! I do the same thing. I nearly always end up with excess paint on my palette, so I go over to my stash of WIP's, and pull some out to use up the remainder of paint.

Necessity often dictates what gets pushed to the front of the queue, but finishing a unit, or an entire army, really is satisfying. Like I said, I currently have many, many figures, about to be finished (100+)… And that is extremely satisfying. The WIP is not for everyone, for sure. But for us ADD types (LOL), it can be very therapeutic. Cheers!

I think I am somewhere in the middle. Way too many figures there. I do use my fantasy figures as my WIP figures for excess paint. No more than ten or so. I just dont have that much room.

Matthew

"Works in progress sounds so much better than adult attention deficit disorder."

Outstanding!

I have around twenty works in progress, most consisting of several buildings or at least ten figures :(