"Either Painting Is Getting Harder, Or..." Topic

…I am getting older.

I used to paint every day, usually for at least an hour. A day off? Five hours without moving. I haven't painted seriously in at least two years, I made a stab at some WSS skirmish models around the Spring of this year but only an hour here, an hour there.

But I am working on a new DBA army (in 28mm!) and I ask myself, what the hell happened? I need reading glasses to even see the miniatures, and it seems like it takes FOREVER to block a given color on any particular group of figures. And what is this pain in my hands and my back? I need to stop painting every 45 minutes or so and go do something else so I can continue painting.

But I am persevering, and tomorrow morning I will have my first four stands of Psiloi elements completed. I have always tried to achieve an hour or less per figure on average when doing an army, and I should clock in right about seven hours for 8 models. Go me!

It's when the pain stops that you should start worrying!

At the moment I'm painting whatever strikes my fancy, not very productive for completing projects, but at least keeps me at it.

All I can suggest is keep the coffee and the paracetamol coming, as required. Oh, and if pain persists consult your family Doctor:)

Regarding the eyesight issue:

This is yet another reason why 54mm is the One True Scale. (Doesn't help much with the other issues, though!)

Regarding the eyesight issue:

This is yet another reason why 15mm is the One True Scale. Black prime, block and go. No highlights, no shading except flesh wash on the face, ignore fiddly details like button lace…

Very true. I have found that with older eyes, at least all my paint jobs look good and I getter a better sense of 'mass' on the table … everything looks like units rather than individual figures :-)

The sad truth is the greying of our hobby. Somehow I managed to paint up 64 Prussian Landwehr this month, a record.
I'm 56 and use 3.0 readers for painting, but my back gets sore after an hour or so, have to stretch.

Retired about 6 months ago and have been painting whatever I feel like.

Am finishing 4 Oscars (Japanese WWII – 1/300 scale)and just generated the labels for 18 more Japanese aircraft.

Am painting and mounting Entomolian (the bugs) space ships (old superior space ships) that I just picked up/been sitting around for 3 years.

A unit of conscript spearman (25mm) are looking at me and demanding to be finished after I primed them six years ago.

Secret is to paint what is fun and stop when it isn't fun but is a chore.

I think the "graying" is an urban myth. More like it has become a middle aged man's hobby…

But I'm not middle aged or greying! I started playing WH40K when I was 18 in 1987! DBA when I was 23! Those aren't "old" ages to be doing this hobby.

Wait. That was almost 30 years ago. I just checked the mirror, I have some grey hair.

Damn. I'm 45. So much for youth.

Don't kid yourself. You are young.

Yes punkrabbit at 45 you are young!

Extra Crispy, and middle age means what….some grey hair?
Heck, I even have grey in my beard…..
You are correct though, it is a middle aged man's hobby, especially historicals.
I go to the local hobby shop and only the older chaps are perusing the historical section, the younger guys are in War Hammer 40K or some such fantasy game. Haven't played, never will. Maybe I'm a crusty old fart after all….

Get the cataracts removed and start painting 40's

Ah, the age old question of age.

Noticed before getting out of uniform, that I needed reading glasses to see up close. Already had the aches and pains from years of breaking bones. Have managed to do that to almost every bone in my body at one time or another, sometimes twice. I now use 3.0 readers to paint. Makes everything clearer. Mostly the 10mm.

My painting hobby consists of:

1. Selecting period appropriate music/movie to put me in the mood. Usually because of whatever genre book I am currently reading. Right now it is Dark Age/Feudal, Game of Thrones.

2. I always have figures for every period readily available, to avoid the "where are they", moments that frequently occur. I pull those figures from the drawer and set on the table.

3. Line everything up nice and neat. Figures ranked up, paints lined up, brushes ready to go, etc.

4. Start period media, put on my apron, glasses, etc.

5. Start painting.

6. Paint for 15/20 minutes. Back/neck/shoulders start to hurt.

7. In the middle of a color/unit, keep painting until complete.

8. Take a break. Usually about as long as I spent painting. Do chores, snack, play with pets, etc.

9. Sit back and start again. usually notice some clean up on a figure that was somehow missed. Pull out knife and file and immediately mangle hands. Luckily, I have a ready supply of Band Aids, that has brought years of joy and smiles to my girls. Wife hollers from the other room "need stitches"? I respond in the negative.

10. Call it a day, and hope I get more done tomorrow. And I am retired.

Hope this helps.

I'll stick with the 54mm recommendation. I'm a year older than you, and I've found 54's a lot of fun to collect and paint. This isn't everyone's cup of tea, but you might try painting in the toy soldier style (=little or no shading and highlighting; you might even try a gloss coat finish for the full effect!)--the figures still end out looking great if you give them a nice, clean paint job, and en masse they can fool the eye pretty easily. While I haven't written off smaller scales entirely, I have to say the simpler approach to painting, the bigger, beefier figures (I use metal 54's), and smaller collections have all contributed to far less stressful hobby experience for me. I highly recommend it! Your needs and interests might go in totally different directions, of course.

A good compromise would be to go for 40mm ranges. Doug's stuff at the Miniature Service Centre really is fantastic. They have AWI, Civil War, Robin Hood…then you could always check Irregular, who have a ton of 42mm available (and some very nice 54's too). I've painted quite a few MSC and Irregular 40's and can tell you they are great!

And you certainly aren't old. Of course I would say that, wouldn't I?

Paint one color at a time and take a break before starting the next one. It helps….

I go through phases of not wanting to paint so I don't. later, when I do, I pick it up again.

Zephyr1 has it right. Its like working on a VDU, you shouldnt stay doing it for more than 45 mins without a 5 min break (at least).
I also reccommend getting up after a shorter period and having a good stretch, use good lighting, keep hydrated, get magnification on your glasses prescription.

Divide your painting into small, manageable sections.

Focus on what your lovely painted figures will do to their opponents!

Hobby definitely isnt greying…if you cut your hair short enough they stop showing!

Seriously though I had some of the same issue a few years ago. The eyesight especially. I invested in the old optivisor type magnifiers. Actually mine were a cheaper Hobbycraft set. Seriously good investment as is plenty of light.

I never paint for more than an hour without taking a break either. My situation is made worse by being a mutant 6'7" as well so I have to watch my back an neck.

Try different painting positions until you find one that is comfortable. I know some painters chill back in a chair with their lower arms resting on their chest. Make sure you aren't too cramped up otherwise you will affect your circulation. Pins & needles is a definitely walk away and take a break moment.

But definitely agree to painting what you love first and keep it simple. The joy is in getting those figures onto the table without crippling yourself.

Stewart
warpaintfigures.com