I did it!
Yes I did. I got over painters burn out.
I know that some of you out there who get ‘painters burn out', especially after con season. Well, after painting up 96 rioters, 72 US Army, three HMVWWs, a helicopter and loads of buildings for Kublacon (all of that in 28mm). Plus street lights, parks, more cars, etc
The game was a HUGE success!
link
But
I felt burnt.
Totally fried.
Charred.
I tried and tried and tried to get back ‘into it'. But I found myself dreading those times. I'd find other things to do at the painting desk.
I tried changing genres. I started working on some of my pirates. Witch hunters. Pulp. Random figs that I have no use for
Nothing worked.
My wife could see my ‘burn/frustration' at not really working on anything. She knows that I love my painting time. Even encourages me taking the time to do so.
So she said, "Well, what OLD project that you have lying about that you never finished, but always wanted to?"
"Like what? I got a ton of them
" I said in frustration.
"How about all of those old World War 2 planes. You were really into that a while back. How about giving those a try again?"
Well, I had nothing to lose. With a shrug, I went looking. So after a few hours looking about in the shed, BANG! Found them! Covered in dust. Most of them still in bags/blisters. They from an old game store that went out of business back in 2007. They had a ton of 1/300s lying about and I bought the lot – over 250 planes dirt cheap. He was just dumping them off. I never really even inventoried what I got.
So, I started to take catalogue of what I have and what I will still need (seriously a lack of Bf-109s and P-47s
and I have no idea why I will ever need 23 F4Us Corsairs – It was an 'all or nothing' deal). They are a mix of Raiden, Scotia, Heroic and Ros and a few Luft ‘46s. I dusted off my old prototypes for my home made flight stands (still in the same box as the figs), and then
"It" happened.
That ‘moment of clarity' that some of us gamers get. Visions of huge games, lots of laughs and brews flowing. For me, it was seeing in my mind's eye of a table full of fighters. I could ‘hear' the planes buzzing about, the chatter of the MGs blazing away, the sounds of planes making diving attacks
I just opened one random bag (P-38) and started cleaning and prepping. I found that the more I worked on it, the more I got excited.
Then the paint hit the brush.
Pure magic.
Smile on my face and a new energy into painting. Rehashing old skills on painting things that small (Yes, Angel Barracks , I am painting 1/300 – 6mm! ). Learning new skills.
Then came the ‘research'. Looking up old pics of P-38 Lightnings, checking markings, where to put decals, nose art, squadron numberings, major combats, etc
Pure painting/gaming bliss.
I went from there to working on P-40s, P-51s, B-17s, B-24s, F4Us, Spitfires, Huricanes, Wellingtons, etc
And having a great time doing it!
So a HUGE "thanks" to my wife (You are right, Skrapwelder , she is a keeper!) and her suggestions, I am renewed. Painting up a storm again. I am already looking forward to going back to working on 28mms as soon as I get a good force of Luftwaffe to fend off the Allied invasion.
Now I need to figure out which WW2 plane rules I want to go back to!
So next time you get ‘painters burn', make a change.
Change scales. Change generas. Change brushes. Change lighting. Change seats.
Do something that makes a change.
It really helped me out.