"What gets figures finished?" Topic

What actually gets you to finish painting?

For many of us, painting can feel less like part of the hobby and more like an obligation standing between us and the tabletop.

I'm currently working through one, last company of WW2 British paras (HQ Co 2nd Battalion) to complete a reinforced brigade for an upcoming game. Under normal circumstances, "completion" might be enough motivation—but honestly, what's really driving me is that I'll need them ready in a fortnight.

A deadline beats good intentions.
It's helped… though not entirely. British airborne camouflage is not something I particularly enjoy painting, and that has made this batch feel more like labour than pleasure.

So I'm curious—what actually gets you over the line?

The satisfaction of finishing a unit?
A looming game deadline?
Public accountability (posting progress online)?
A sudden burst of enthusiasm?
Or sheer stubbornness?

Do you paint because you enjoy the process—or simply because unpainted figures mare anathema?

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Looming Game I am hosting is primary for me
Though it might be a special unit I want to add to the scenario or just needing more to put the game on

Yes. I paint because I like the process. A public challenge or theme adds some additional encouragement but an impending game moves a select unit to the front of the painting queue and keeps me focused.

I actually paint better when I have a deadline, my problem is I procrastinate and wait until the last minute. That being said, the units come out beautifully. It's the only way I make any actual progress. I'm so used to doing it that way, that I can't do it any other way.

Deadlines.

Sheer force of will, when it happens. Problem is, it doesn't happen often enough.

I find shortcuts get me pumped to paint, when I find a new one. I also find certain figures trigger me into painting mode.

I found some toy Dragons recently, that I really wanted to convert for fantasy tabletop gaming. I looked at their sculpts, and I saw that they could be converted to closely match the artwork in my FRPG books. Those inspired me to paint other fantasy troops.

Last year, I discovered acrylic paint pens, and those have really accelerated my paint work, and that helps, tremendously.

Planning future games helps. If I have a game coming up, that inspires me to commit to painting, as well. Cheers!

Looming game. But also satisfaction.

I plan what I need, buy it and then paint it. So once it is in the project pipeline it gets done. I hate having half finished stuff hanging around.

I try not to do too much at once though.

@ Martin. Are you saying you don't have the proverbial 'Lead Mountain'?

Me neither! But we are rarae aves. I do think this takes a lot of pressure off you, even if it has disadvantages.

Mixture of both

Often looming game but also satisfaction of seeing things done – and, good question, I largely paint because I like to paint

I love to paint, but looming games help me focus. I tend to flit from one project to another and that slows down finishing.

For me painting is a hobby in itself. I have many more opportunities to paint than I do to play.

Time. Painting is part of the hobby and I enjoy it.

pjm

BIC.

It's a writer's acronym for Butt In Chair.

Looming game works. So does money. But quiet afternoons and evenings will get me to the painting table regardless. And now if you'll excuse me, I have to clear coat yesterday's battalion and get started on today's.

Hard to say for me. Sometimes I start a new project and I am all excited about it. Then sometimes another project needs/wants my attention.

I do get satisfaction from getting things done, even/especially if they have been sitting around for a while.

I recently finished off some 1/285th Crusader III's that had been sitting around on nails for years waiting to be done.

A deadline is a good motivator, especially if you need to have those minis ready for an upcoming game.

Getting ready to host a game. I do enjoy the process and reserve enough time for a project. My last effort spanned 18 months to paint 32 units.

These days painting is also a way to put the phone down and do something constructive.

Upcoming convention.

Tend to paint miniatures towards upcoming scenario or gameday. If game is scheduled 30 days in advance I can paint a batch of miniatures during the next 25 days. That generally completes the miniatures on time.

Paying someone else to paint them.

A scenario that interests me gets me going. I enjoy painting and if I live long enough, I will get it all painted.
once I start them, I finnish them.

I enjoy painting for the most part. It's my time to tune out the BS the world throws my way. Satisfaction that the unit is complete is a bonus. I'm pretty much a hermit, so deadlines are rarely an issue for me now.

I am also in the deadline camp.