Summer Time :)

Teachers may not be paid what they should, and specifically in my state it's mandated that we spend more money to get a Master's degree to continue teaching (as if there wasn't already a shortage), but when it comes to summer time - it makes the whole damn year worth it.

I've certainly figured out about myself that I am more "productive" when I am teaching. I have a routine which I stick to, I can't be out late, so I have a little time to myself to get some painting or other projects done. However, getting some time to let go of this structure is nice in it's own way.

Lately, between spending my nights hitting the Hive Scum studio, building/painting stuff (or goofing off), and I just came back from a vacation to Cape Cod. These breaks in routine tend to shake it all up for me and I learn to slow down again.

Hobby-wise I've been painting Brothers of Promethium. No real plan for how I'm doing them other than a loose "they're like raiders from Fallout: New Vegas with Techno-animal guards" and I've slowed down tremendously after become a bit overwhelmed with the Skaven project.

It feels good, taking the models three at a time, spending about an hour each night. I have a primed model which I basecoat, quickly using wetblending to cram in shadows. Another which was basecoated the night before that I apply washes to. Finally a third one that received the wash treatment the night before that I highlight and finish the base rim for. It's a nice little system that lets me move forward with a project, but allows me the satisfaction of seeing something finished.

Been thinking lately about what has frustrated me with Skaven, but what "fills my bucket" with this project and it's that this warband feels well thought out, and unique. I feel invested in the idea, and the project feels finite (collectively being 13 models and 600 pts. in OPR). I had the thought last night that painting an army, or creating an entire converted army wouldn't be so hard if instead of thinking about the army as a whole - I thought about them in standalone units. This would allow me to tinker and bash at my own pace and slow-grow the force rather than overwhelm myself.

Anyway - you learn more about yourself every day haha

Here's a couple examples of finished models:

Posting will probably slow down a bit with summer here, but I'll update when I can!

xoxo 

TR

Switching It Up

The other night I was having a little bit of a crisis. 

I've been trying to stay away from screens in general, not just my phone, but also my computer and my TV. Of course it's not removed completely, but I find the only way I can actually limit things at all is to "remove completely." Giving myself a limit of "just a little bit" ultimately results in me ignoring those limits.

Not sure it makes sense, as I still use the computer and stuff, but my mindset around it is more "i can't be doing this" rather than, "well, this will be the small amount I can do today," for my brain, it's what it needs.

I've been trying to find things to fill my time with. My thought is that if I'm busy, I won't have time to be in front of a screen. I've got plenty - drawing, painting, miniatures, cleaning, working out, birdwatching, and I've recently added playing the guitar, gardening/yardwork and this blog to the mix.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop and all that...

That being said, and even though I have all these things, I still had a moment of crisis.

I sat there, phone in hand, watching YouTube shorts or some other brainrot media, and was feeling bad because I didn't WANT to paint miniatures at that moment, but that's what I typically did at that point in my daily routine. Not wanting to paint minis hasn't happened in a bit and I started spiraling downward and dragging my feet. I felt guilty and I didn't know what to do so I sat there. 

It wasn't until I was reminded by my wife (one of the greatest benefits of marriage) that I had other avenues. 

Duh - of course... 

Even though I knew I had these other things, my brain still couldn't break the habit of "always painting miniatures at this time." Which really shows you how baked in these habits can get

So I started messing around with making some collage and painting a bit, not to "create artwork" just to play. Sort of little clay squish through your fingers but on a 2D surface, I let my mind go for a bit and it felt great. 

Not much of note in this post - but if you are feeling stuck, or feeling lost in phoneville, maybe try mixing it up, go engage with something you haven't done in a bit, think of all your options and decide which is most appealing without judging.

xoxox

TR