6 Tips for Hobby Motivation - HC 358 

"You dont' need a lot of motivation when you are an addict" One week later: "Today we are learning how to deal with painting addiction"

The important thing for me to realize was that painting 15 minutes a day is better than painting 8 hours on a weekend. Setting aside that time really helped. And I end up painting for around an hour to three a night because I'm already at the desk.

As I sit in my painting shed, a table full of unfinished projects- your timing is fortuitous

Two things that really get me motivated to paint is 1. Finishing a model, if I finish painting one model, it gets me energized to paint another. 2a. Looking at what I have painted, seeing what you have done is a powerful motivator. Don't look at the pile of grey plastic, that can kill motivation. 2b. Get a display cabinet and put the finished models in there, so you can see them. Filling up that cabinet will become a motivation. Great video Vince, like always.

You are so wholesome, Vince.

Point 6 is the most effective for my personal psychology. Tonight it's to assemble 8 figures. Then tomorrow is to prime them. Sure, it's not 'a lot' but it is 2 steps closer than I was on Friday.

I started painting halfway through this video. Thanks Vince.

Copying someone works was really key for me to progress and paint better. When looking at a miniature which looks amazing you might not see why it is amazing, but when copying the paint job you will spent so much time looking at it and comparing to your work that you will discover tonnes of insight.

Some great tips here Vince. May I suggest a couple for others as well - I found that I would get Analysis Paralysis - this idea that I had to have my painting perfect, but would be trying to find videos/articles etc to get me there, but without ever starting. Get lost in youtube videos, but never pick up the brush. Finishing an army (finally after 30 years), made me realise that... no one cares in the end, they're not going to see these little mistakes and judge me on it. Seeing a painted army on the battlefield, that is what they want. Don't go back and fix tiny mistakes. No one sees them, you can do it when the army is painted, and by then you'll realise you don't even see them. - Definitely you do have to sort of force yourself sometimes when you're tired from work/kids/life, even if you just get 15mins done. Quite often that tiredness slips away and you crank out a couple of hours (and maybe stay up too late). - Another thing I've found handy is to have another tray I keep in the lounge up on a shelf, just for putting models together. If I really (really really) don't feel like painting, then I make myself put together models. Again, couple of hours can float by. Often its the next project, which keeps me excited, gets me to finish the current painting project, so I can move onto the next. - Get a couple of mates in a chat, every Sunday I send out a reminder to SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT. What have you done over the week? can be anything hobby related; painting, modelling, writing, art etc; but it helps you stay motivated by that little feeling of community expectations. I must becoming and addict too, as I start to get jittery if I haven't hobbied for a day.....I better get off to the painting dungeon!

I have painting addiction too, so for me it is strange when other don't paint as much as they could. I you want to paint, you'll find the time and place, but if you don't want to paint you'll find excuses. I am surprised by my friends that don't have kids because they can paint whenever they want...but still they find excuses not to paint. And since I started working from home, I can paint during breaks at work and I am after those small amounts of progress that you mentioned. I have made huge progress on my pile of grey plastic with those small progresses.

Haha, I always get a kick out of you talking to the imaginary person on the internet. Another great video, thanks! 🙏😁

Getting past the fear of bad painting/looking bad is such an art thing. Specifically trying to hammer out a warband for some games helped me rush forward. Very glad, too.

How have I never noticed the Archangel of Thune background? Love it, Vince!

This Hobby Cheating playlist is such an amazing wealth of knowledge for me, as a novice painter. Thanks so much!

My best time to paint is when I book at least a few days of Annual Leave (PTO across the pond) - it really gives me time to separate myself from work. Otherwise, I do 3-4 hours over a whole weekend and that’s me. I take weekends off too.

These are great tips, and can be applied to just about anything in life. Copying someone else's work is something taught in art school. Learn you own style by trying to replicate many others art styles. Only through trial can you learn the technique that becomes your own. I also think doing hobby projects that use the same skills, but something different, are useful. Don't just paint miniatures, but do terrain, or get a plastic model kit of a car or plane, and test your skills in that frame of reference. The skills carry over, but are used slightly differently.

Great tips. For me, rewiring the way I think about motivation is always helpful when I feel like I'm in a rut. Action doesn't come from motivation; rather action precedes motivation.

Thank you for just being the best, Vince!

I was motivated to paint while listening to your video, before I even started it!

I've found the best variance for me is switching back and forth between models and terrain. I always keep some little scatter stuff (stumps, crates, w/e) handy so I can go nuts and paint something a bit messier. It can really be like a kid finger painting, just kinda letting accidents happen and not sweating the details feels really good after a big, "serious" project

Gotta paint those roberts.

I work as a tutor and I tell my students a vast majority of these things, it feels wild that I needed to hear them about my hobby but they are all 100% true

Great video, I keep a picture of the white dwarf looking really angry that I got out of an old WD mag, I stick that on my wall near my computer screen to remind me to always be doing something hobby-ish while I'm at my desk.

Tha k you for this video. I often get painters burnout until I actually PICK UP the brush and lay some paint down, then I can't stop. I guess it's the fear of how much time and effort I KNOW I will commit once I start that sometimes makes me hesitate even starting. It's definetely a conundrum

Ahhh.. I needed this video.. so hard to find time to get started let alone keep going.. 3 kids, work and sport gives me so little time..

Every video i watch from you Vince is full of motivation! I always end up with a smile on my face no matter the topic! :-)

I like to keep my current painting project on my desk when I work. I work from home so this is pretty easy. Even though I can't sit there and think about painting schemes all day, having it in view keeps it in mind, and I can get used to the model and consider what I've done so far, and what to do next until it's complete, or if there is anything I don't like or need to improve. Having the part finished model there really helps me stay motivated to finish it whether it takes me two weeks or a month. I take my models to our local GW store every Saturday to paint and chat to the other guys, which is always something to look forward to, and I always start painting a new model as soon as the current one is finished.

More HC gold, I fully intend to start Micro dosing. You'd have thought I would have known this as I've been a personal trainer most my life and fitness like painting armies is all about compound interest :D

Number 6 I think was the most helpful. That’s the only way I can paint squads. Break it out into several days, and then map out the steps I want to do every day. About halfway through, when I’m seeing the progress, that’s when I get energized to finish.

Thank you! I love these videos too!! I can always glean something from them!!

One of the best motivation advice I've ever received was Terry crews talking about going to the gym. Every day he would go to the gym whether he worked out or not he would spend an hour there so that would just be built into his schedule

I have a 3 project method I use, I will have a detail figure that I'm really trying for a super high level of paint on, I'll have a squad where I'm just doing easy steps and a basic level of finish, and a "big" project, a tank or terrain piece that I know I will be working on for a while. I find there are different moods for different days, sometimes a day goes well and I accomplish more, other days I just realize that I need to slap some paint on a terrain piece or base coat a troop. It allows me to keep moving forward without always burning out on one type of project. I also think building race cars gave me greater appreciation for micro goals, sometimes a good day working on a car was just getting one bolt removed or installed.

Thanks Vince that was just what I needed. Just got back to painting after too long not painting, mixed results but getting better each time I sit 🙂

Thanks for this, Vince. Finding motivation is a constant struggle, especially as I do not have a dedicated space in which to paint. Right now, the challenge is that the base layers of my current project don't really look quite right, so it's hard to keep going. Looking for inspiration in the work of others is helping though.

Love this. Finishing up my first bust this week. Challenged myself using a specific paint range and broke up each session into a different area. Great breakdown video. Thanks again

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

Thank you so much for this! Perfect timing, as I am struggling with my motivation amidst a project. Especially no. 6 is so valuable :)

Thx Vince. Appreciate your efforts!

Thanks Vince. Got me to base coat my Grey knight army in Vallejo Magnesium. Though there are a lot less beers in the fridge for some reason.

Thanks Vince, you have always been a tremendous inspiration and a motivation builder in and of yourself. Rock on sir.

Thanks for the inspiration Vince!

I'm so motivated to watch this one... Thank you Sir!

Literally was searching this topic last night and the dark painting gods have answered! Cheers Vince.

Always appreciate your holistic approach. Even though I'm older and familiar with the concepts in this video, it is great hearing them reinforced by by an artist I admire. Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement and a reminder of what we know to be true to light that fire. Just what I needed to hear on a Saturday morning. Thank you so much, Vince!

Great tips, and reminded me I want to copy those teal marines you did!

Great video Vince! Changing up your projects can be enormously refreshing when slogging through a long project (Dominion).

Life kinda interrupts getting regularly to paint. When I do get a chance to get a long stint at the table, I try to go between my Sisters of battle, Skaven & my Malifaux crews. Where I used to live in the UK there’s a group that sets challenges throughout the year, monthly, quarterly & yearly one. I just try doing as many as possible.

You hit the nail on the head... I've been in a rut lately, trying to stay motivated to paint. I had some crazy life events happen pretty close together and it stopped me dead in the water. I've recently started to knock out a model here and there, but I spend way too much time just surfing RU-vid and not actually painting.. I'll try a few of these tips and see how I can progress. As always, thanks for sharing Vince!! Huge fan, love your videos bro!

Watching you do those flames on the titan was mind blowing. Came here from TUP, and I think I'm gonna stick around

I found lately I've been able to get a lot more painting done. Part of it is just that I've gotten to a point where I'm competent at the act of painting. I've got the basic skill needed to do it. I'm not a great painter, but I can paint without it being an ordeal. That, in and of itself, is good. But I've also greatly changed up how I approach painting. I've established a rhythm for painting on a regular basis. I've gotten better at initiating the shift from "messing around" to "I'm painting now" (for a neurodivergent person like myself, the act of starting a task is harder than it is for neurotypical people). I've got a stable of podcasts I can listen to, that I only listen to when I'm painting, so I'm encouraged to do it. I've been bouncing back and forth between a few different projects. I've got my (Fallen) Dark Angels, and my Drukhari force. And I've just been cycling between them. A squad of Kabalites here, a Rhino there. I'm currently working on a trio of old metal Dark Eldar models, which is its own challenge for someone who has never worked with metal before. And if I ever get bored of these two forces, I've got a backlog of models I can tap into. Not to mention terrain projects, which I've been trying to do. Gotta get a board together, so I can actually play a game.

These are lessons that can be applied to every aspect of your life. Very sound advice, ty Vince 😉👍

Nice timing on this video, thank you very much

Thanks for the great videos you lut out.

Hey Vince. Loved this video your passion and energy came through really well!

Fantastic video Vince. Really handy tips to remember when fighting discouragement in our painting hobby!

Great tips, I've recently started working on some models that I've never tried before. Another tip would be to not have too many models on your painting table, just have the ones on there that you are painting right now, is demoralising to see loads of models in front of you.

Thanks for the vid Vince! Need to admit my issue is often on the other side - laying the paint brush down again once started. ^^

Thanks for the video. Very happy to have these tips.

I think the key for me was accepting that i hate painting exclusively with acrylics. Once i switched to oil paints it was like i finally found my style.

Good timing, needed this!

really needed this boost vince! Thanks for the video :)

Hey Vince! I really appreciate you and your channel, I've learned sooo much from your videos.

Thanks for the permission to go "microdose" on dopamine 😀 Planning on using these tips to help with my other hobby as well! As always, thank you for the creatively you share with us each week.

Going through your video catalog I stumble on this gem. Great video!

this was really heartfelt and exactly what I needed to hear right now, thank you for making this

Copying your forest base (Ish, I shaped it differently because of the model I was putting on it) really helped push my basing further. So copying is great advice - As always, thanks a ton for making such informative videos. You're my go to guy when I need to learn something :)

Thanks Vince, great advice. I love the hobby as well but as you say having a career and 3 kids under 10, the important things tend to take over. I am fortunate enough to have a decated hobby and paint area all set up. I will say at fist I was not totally sold on this concept but it's true. Having you stuff ready to go = more modles painted and practice. Cheers!

Thanks Vince, I promise i will paint tomorrow

I’ve started to do no.6 recently and it’s so important. I’m in the middle of painting a dark angels army and it’s a labour of love, im trying to paint at a high standard but also for army so time is critical.

I found it also helpful to practice a new technique on a piece that can easily be stripped (shoulder pad, sword, axe, ork arm, etc.) but then can be used for the project if it works out. This way I do not feel bad when stripping it but also dont have to do it again once I am happy with it. I already completed a part of a much larger project and broke the ice.

Thanks, Vince. I’ve been struggling to crack on with a number of projects - too busy thinking about what I will do, rather than doing it, I think. Micro goals might be the way to go………Procrastination is the mind killer!

I really appreciate this video, Vince. As someone who struggles with motivation due to ADHD, the common "just consistently set aside 1 hour every day to paint"-advice can feel a bit disheartening. Your suggestions feel a lot more helpful. I've found several of these tips to work for me, personally :)

Im painting right now. lol

Thanks for the motivation tips, Vince!

Thanks for the encouragement

Great advice with deliberate practice very helpful

Awesome!!

As a nice distraction from just regular painting, I really enjoyed working on dioramas, big and small. Having a nice miniature is good, but putting it on a great terrain? Even better! But all these tips were pretty great, some easy, some more demanding, but everyone should be able to pick something for themselves.

+1 for copy someone else- I would even recommend following the box instructions or a detailed how to paint X RU-vid video of a specific unit- u can learn a lot following a guide that u can later apply to other projects

The Perterabo featured is by Don Surantos.

Thanks

I don't know how I managed to paint 126 Eldar Guardians in a month before but I'm glad I'm not inflicting that on myself anymore.

You mentioned the work consistency this is a huge debate the historical painting community especially with world war II vehicles there are constant arguments on the forums about what is German field Gray which is the color for German world war II uniforms and it goes on for a little while until someone shows a picture of the same German uniform done 15 different colors of gray because it depends on which manufacturer it came from how long the unit's been in the field and in many cases what dead body they pulled out of same way with her boots especially towards the lighter part of the war some German soldiers were wearing black boots some were wearing brown boots even an American Sherman tanks depends on how long they've been in the field how long they were on a boat how long they were in the railroad yards same way with German camouflage there is no right green or brown because once again it depends on how they applied it you have to realize that when they applied camouflage a supply truck drive up drop off a block of green paint and a block of brown paint and say you have a half an hour to paint your vehicle now it depends on how they mixed it they could have mixed it with urine water snow whatever also some vehicles were camouflage in factories there's no real consistency love you so what does this mean for your space Marines or your elves so when you're painting a space Marine think about how long that unit's been in the field and remember he's probably not meticulously cleaning his arm especially if he's been on a planet for 30 to 40 years think about dust and Ash and the weapons that were used different forms of weathering I'd say if you really want to make an ultramarine look interesting paint him and his typical factory ultramarine colors and they do weathering dusting think about how he's fighting a different weapons that we used for the radiological weapons used was this planet just under exterminist different ways to mix up your army

We ever gonna get a tour of all your display cases Vince ? I think that could make for a really neat video.

Can we have more travelling of you cabinets? I just want to see all the pretty minis :)

Teal &Pink rock 🤟 Who remembers MsDosShell 3.1...

great video vince!

Damn, this is massively prescient. I've been in a real slump recently so revisiting some of these might help.

Canvas painters "copy" all the time, but they call it "making a study". I think its a great way to think about it.

What was hindering my motivation. Was that I would prime a whole army or faction, and overwhelm myself. So I forced myself to prime and paint about 4 miniatures at a time. Love your content by the way it also helps me 😊👍🏽

Burnout is a thing... hoping Two Thin Coats paint line with spark the interest again. Or the Martells in October

Great video, Vince, especially the tip on incremental/micro-goals. Project diversity: painting ally units/heroes is a nice break from your main armies. Are you doing a video on that Pro Acryl glaze/wash soon? (I love their Bold Pyrite Red paint.)

I like the buy more to paint more approach... Right now I have a million tools and a painted model to unpainted model ratio of roughly 10%. Maybe I should work on those numbers. :P

6 - my Microgoals are, for example, finishing Basecoats. I have 3 kids, 2 Dogs and a wonderful Wife who take my time. And with this technique I can paint my figures quite often a week. It takes not much time and it is very rewarding. Try it out! It helps.

Hey, Vince! Unrelated to the topic of the video, but I figured a recent video would be most likely for you to see it. I have been painting exclusively with oil paints for probably 6 months, the only acrylics I've used are primer and metallic paints. I've run into an issue more and more lately, and that is that I cannot get my paint thin enough that it dries within a couple days, but to still have coverage. I am doing as many tests as I can with opaque, semi-opaque, and transparent paints, with various amounts of thinner from unthinned to quite thinned, as well as using Liquin. I'm getting so frustrated and disappointed every time I go to paint because I just know that my paint is going to take over a week to dry. The worst case was with Space Marine Rhino I painted in red (Napthol Red, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Red Light being the primary culprits) that has been sitting for at least a MONTH and just last night I wiped away some surface level red. I know that reds, and Cadmiums specifically take longer to dry, but a month seems excessive. Please help, Vince! Keep up the great work.

I always tell my writing students to try the voices of their favourite authors - I was a Neil Gaiman cover band for years until my first book, and in the same way that musicians all learn Wonderwall before an original, so too do you want to try an impression of someone else's style before you discover your own.

All great tips as I've been overcoming some hobby blocks as of late. I'm really really interested in whether you covered that sweet airbrush board setup in a video? They look to be stuck on there with hairspray or something? Another excellent video!!

I really need to try the microgoals, I tend to enjoy painting small models, where I can finish 1 or more in a session but struggle with staying motivated for the big models which take a lot of time.

“There’s no copy right or anything like that” GW: And that’s when I felt attacked

Great stuff, Vince. Any chance you have a gallery of photos of that Ratcast army somewhere?? Looks amazing from the thumbnail!