"I Share Pictures of My Painted Miniatures Because...?" Topic

And long may people continue to post pics, for whatever reasons. I like seeing well painted units – look at the OSW Hinton Hunts that have been shown and commented on recently.

Also, there is less acrimony over peoples' pics than there is over history – esp when we are dealing with Napoleonics.

I just wish I could take nice photos of my figures to share – my iphone is good, but not to show standards

I like looking at other people's painted minis for inspiration and help.

So I pay into the system by posting mine too in case they might be what someone else is looking for.

Because they look better in photos than in person.

I am with you miniMo. I post pictures as I feel obligated as I have used pictures posted by others as painting guides for my own units. It is a source of new ideas and I also enjoy the constructive feedback.

It motivates me to paint. I need all the motivation I can get.

I never show my painted figures because someone might point out they were someone else's work. I don't mind false honors, just losing them afterwards.

Oh, admit it! All of you just show your work so I can be even MORE depressed! It's a great global conspiracy!!!

;->=

Doug

They look better in photos!!!!!!

AICUSV

Yer kidding………

The camera is so cruel. It picks up every tiny imperfection, that your eye does not see. It ruins your subtle graduation of colour shades…..The carefully done wrinkles look like ARVN Tiger Stripes………

It forces me to go over and over the finished product before showing it…….

Helps motivate me to paint and build scenery.

Ours is a very visual hobby. I post so others, beyond my game group and conventioneers, can see the terrain and figures. Hopefully, they will enjoy them and see something which will give them ideas and cause them to ask questions. I have learned much from observing other gamer's work so I hope it provides something beyond the "eye candy" factor.

B

As a scientist, exposing my work to peer's criticism is nothing but routine. And feedback, both positive and negative, is what fuels your aim at improoving.

As a scientist, exposing my work to peer's criticism is nothing but routine. And feedback, both positive and negative, is what fuels your anima at improoving.

As a naval wargamer and a fairly average painter I think it's good to show that fairly rudimentary techniques can produce something that is aesthetically pleasing. I get inspiration from others' work and I hope that my miniatures are similarly inspiring for anyone starting out.

Let's face it, wargaming is a visual hobby (or we'd all just be playing board games) so if we didn't post pics then these boards would look rather dull!

Nick

Great question!

First, I guess as others have said, validation. Is all this time invested building/painting worth anything?

Second, positive feedback makes one feel good = motivation to do more.

Third, and my main reason, motivation for others. More opponents. You can do this too!

Cheers!

Troy

Why? because I am incorrigible, that's why! If I can corrupt the innocent and start them down the path to eternal darkness that is miniature wargaming, then my work is done, my purpose fulfilled… Mwaahahahahhaaaaaa!!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
silent-death.mx

I find that posting pics of my figures, or AARs of my games, lets me get more leverage out of my hobby time and my hobby work.

I paint up a unit. It's kind of fun.

I finish the project. That's a real sense of accomplishment, which is very fun.

Put 'em in a box and don't look at 'em again for months or years … but but but I want more fun than that.

Post pics … every time I post a pic I am re-living the fun of the painting and the fun of the sense of accomplishment. Even if no one makes a single comment on my work, I enjoy having a reason to go find the pics, and posting, and seeing my posting appear in the thread. I am re-living the fun of doing the actual work and finishing the actual project.

And then, of course, there's the possibility someone will make a favorable comment, which always feels nice. Or that someone will offer a tip or technique that I can use next time, to feel even more accomplishment on my next project. I like learning. I learn a lot from discussions of hobby techniques.

But mostly, I just like playing with my toys. Even if that "playing" is just playing with pictures of my toys. It's just a way to repeat the fun over and over again.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

I think there were some very good answers above. Whatever their reasons though, I am damn glad they do it! John Miller

Cos im a painting s l u t

Jamesonsafari said it all…..

Validation, Vanity, sharing the hobby….

I love to see others work as it is truly an inspiration and a chance to get ideas and learn… Lets face it.. there are a lot of us who are set in their ways and will never outright ask for help.. and therefore all have loads of models sitting in boxes… projects never started because we don't want to ruin them and are not satisfied with our skills….

If we won't ask for help.. seeing is sometimes all the help we need…. I am a decent painter…. I have a decent airbrush that intimidated the hell out of me for years.. so it sat until I finally asked for help at the HMGS Hobby-U… Now I have finished models because is finally broke down and asked…..

Because it's fun!

Vanity and feedback.

REALLY? No one said 'Fortune and glory, kid. Fortune and glory.'?

..I am damn glad they do it!

Amen, bruddah, amen!

Doug

Because praise from ones peers is praise indeed.

I don't post my models because I am never satisfied with my level of skill. Besides, I cannot take proper pics of such small objects.

I like to watch other people's models because I like the hobby. I admire the work of gifted modellers and find it inspirational. And it is a great help if they give out a tutorial

I post mine on blogger as my blogs help me keep focussed and organised in my painting and it lets my wargaming followers know what I am up to as they sometimes chip in and say 'lets play a game with those'.

I don't post here as I find that it's all a bit 'me, me. me look at me' and I am not interested in chasing followers.

I wanted to add…. thanks to this thread and many of its patrons.. I went and started a google blog… I will have a friend help me get it laid out better, but for now.. it is EXACTLY what legatushedlius said for me….

"my blogs help me to keep focused and organized"…

For me it is motivational… I have a written journal of what I want to be doing AND I know I will feel guilty if I don't do updates.. it is a purely psychological thing. It motivates me to get more work done…. almost like I expect friends to drop in and peer pressure me, lol!

I enjoy sharing my work with those who appreciate it, and also hope to inspire others.

As a couple of people have mentioned, the primary reason is motivational. It gives me an incentive to actually finish a unit and base it, and to continue to do so rather than giving up halfway through.

It also allows me to introduce a more social aspect to the hobby. IRL not a lot of people see my figures, as none of my friends are really that interested and I haven't got round to joining a club, so posting them online allows me to share them with an interested community in a way that might not otherwise happen. It validates the time spent on them a bit more.

The feedback is also useful. Even if it's just positive comments, that does wonders for keeping morale up when painting large groups of figures. If it's critical or advisory, it gives me areas to work on for improvement. If I can inspire someone, so much the better.

I don't think mediocre modelling or painting ability is actually an inhibition as far as providing inspiration goes. Often it's the concept or enthusiasm which really clicks with someone else. I've seen a few plogs with figures painted rather worse than mine, but where a cool idea has fired me up with thoughts of doing something related myself.

Speaking of blogs.. I mentioned I started one… it isn't very well set up or refined yet, but U have started posting… link

People responses keep me motivated to paint.

I think I post for two reasons. The first is the hope that other gamers will enjoy seeing my collection as much as I enjoy see the collections of others. The second reason is because I believe that just as a meal is meant to be eaten and a letter meant to be read, a painted figure is meant to be shared.

I never have posted pics of my work, I am not sure how to. I am sure certain programs I need to download will make it easy.

It motivates me to keep painting. I love looking at other wargamers' painted figures and appreciate it when I find other Hinton Hunt Enthusiasts; so I figure someone out there will appreciate mine. It also allows me to share my research and figures as a virtual painting guide for those without access to the information.

See my most recent work at: link