Minor Madness - or a goal, maybe (Finish line has been crossed day 100 + 10)

[FifteensAway]

Well, not quite enough to get there today so I'm using one of my last two reserve days and pushing day 80 report to tomorrow, the 29th.  But I should be able to report another 76 finished tomorrow with just a couple hours effort.

Here is where I was on the 17th:


And somewhere less than a week ago I had proceeded to here with all skin colors on and some of the white uniforms blocked in:


The above actually shows a small start on the 26th at 12:30.  An hour after that photo progress was here, not quite half way there on the white:


Then yesterday I got this far:


And today, I started and got here first.  And decided to focus on just one brigade and some generals - but later shoved the generals aside but should get them done tomorrow which would raise the total to 84:


Hard to see but weapons and other wood done:


Black gaiters done - a little different than first French brigade, changes from the earlier contingents to the later arriving French - also no lace on the hats, part of those changes:


And then all the different color cuffs with the unit on farthest left with pom-poms as well since next unit over had same distinguishing color:


Then it was a break and a shower to wake me up.  And that led to getting the back packs painted.  And then, after 6 out of 8 hours in one day from 12:30 to 8:30, I surrendered and will finish tomorrow!

[LordBrentlake]

Way to go! Your efforts put my painting rate to shame. I couldn’t manage doing anything like your standard of work with the figures so close together on the bases. I have to do mine individually on then base them up properly. Just clumsy I guess.

Keep ‘em coming!

[FifteensAway]

Once upon a time I used painting strips with figures spaced further apart.  Then a late friend mentioned how he always prepared his figures for painting on final bases - and I was dubious.  Then I gave it a try and it worked out okay.  But still, mostly, stuck with those painting strips.  And then I realized the best element of pre-based: once the painting is complete it is so much faster to get figures onto the table, paint the base the chosen color - and add texture while paint is wet since acrylic paint works great as an adhesive - and, voila, once the texturing is dry and excess shaken off, spray with a seal coat and good to go.  The whole flocking bases part used to be a big drag on progress for me.  Not any more.

And then one day after observing carefully over time for many months, I came to the realization that once we start moving figures around in a game, the paint job really doesn't matter all that much - as long as the player can identify the figures for what they are meant to be.  And that meant I could paint to an 'adequate' gaming standard which combined with the 'three foot rule' (it only matters what you can see from three feet away, not what you can see in close up detail) and be just as happy with the results as working painstakingly on a lot higher level of detail - that might be admired for a second pre-game and then, again, the paint job quality barely mattered.  It is about the game first and foremost for me.

So, while I absolutely appreciate the spectacular work of others - and would love to have such figures in my collection, I decided it was more important to put painted figures on the table as 'game pieces' than it was to have works of art.  I've gone from painting, maybe, a couple hundred figures in a really good year, to now painting well over 1,000 figures in a year.

Two other factors in my decision to go with 'game standard' was, one, I can do an okay paint job but even with real effort I don't come close to the level of the master painters, good but not 'great' - just decided to stop anguishing over that.  Then, two, I have such a vast number of figures I decided I wanted to get as many as possible on to the table as quickly as possible.

The last element that pushed me over that edge was having some figures I acquired painted from someone whose father passed away.  The man had a quite large collection of figures apparently but only painted to a tolerable paint job - but that in no way diminished his enjoyment of the hobby.  That was a freeing moment.  Focus on the fun, not the paint job.

So, for some, it is all about achieving the highest possible level of paint job.  For me, it has always been more about the game so now I can have a greater variety of games in a shorter space of time as I get more periods painted.  I've managed to add two new periods, French Foreign Legion and Old West, in just over a year and hope to add two or three more periods to my collection this next year - not finished periods but enough to get games on the table.

Life is full of compromise.  My big wargaming compromise is 'lesser' paint jobs but happier - and more versatile - gaming.  My versatility comes from varied periods since I have settled on two sets of rules, Fistful of Lead (and its Bigger Battle version) and Rank and File.  No longer do I try to keep many game systems in my head.  Frankly, in my opinion, the proliferation of rules within this hobby is a negative, not a positive - too fracturing and for potential new entrants far too off-putting.  Mine might not be the right approach for everyone but I'm happy with my decisions.

And, lastly - and I've put this forward before, my "new rule" is how would my 10 year old self feel about the 'new' paint jobs?  And he would be ecstatic so, what the heck.  Aren't we all, in a way, trying to regain that youthful enthusiasm we once had?  I'm a happy gamer and that is - or should be - the goal.  In the end, we are just adults playing with toy soldiers and, in my case, having too much fun to care what others think.

Now, I need to get my butt back to finishing that French brigade!

[FifteensAway]

Day 80* report: 76 French AWI figures, 4 battalions for one brigade completed though still need to complete the generals.  New total is now 966 figures completed since October 1. 

*I used up 6 of my remaining 7 'reserve' days to account for holiday distractions that kept me away from the painting desk so I only have one left though I don't foresee much need for using that last day but we shall see. 

So, new day 90 will be on January 8th, and day 100 will be on January 18th - and the 19th I am scheduled to run an AWI game.

After day 100, while I will continue painting, especially AWI figures to run a couple of 250th anniversary games on the actual 250th anniversaries - Lexington/Concord and Bunker Hill - I will not be doing another 100 day challenge and will probably paint at a lower rate to some extent, need to focus on other elements of life as well as my other hobby, model railroading.  But I will have those anniversaries in mind which will propel progress.

Here is a photo of the finished four units - less textured bases, of course:



Get the next 84 figures, battalions and generals, for the French done and I will be over 1,000 figures.  Less sure if I will make it to 1,200+ by day 100 but it is still within the realm of the possible since my 'mojo' seems to be back. 

[LordBrentlake]

Very well done. Your target is clearly achievable and I for one am admiring of your commitment to seeing the challenge through.

Thank you also for your response about painting on bases versus strips. I was concerned that the time taken to write had detracted from painting but clearly that wasn’t the case.

I do follow your reasoning. My problem I think comes as a result of my accident some time ago; I just can’t manoeuvre a brush around figures mounted as closely as the rules I mainly use require especially 4 on a 40 by 15mm base (I have too much time and history already invested to change). I’d find myself spending more time correcting brush errors than I do painting figures separately and then approaching basing as a distinct phase. Even though I believe that you are correct in your statement about how much the actual quality matters when one is playing I guess it’s one of my hang-ups that I get down when I see other people’s better efforts.

Anyway, enough self-pity from me. Seeing what you have achieved with your campaign has motivated me to develop a plan for the coming year which although it won’t be as ambitious should at least be doable and an advance on recent times.

[fred]

Great progress Fifteens! And great commitment to this experiment in focus, I can understand why you want to scale it back going forwards - it almost sounds like a job.

I do agree with your approach of getting armies on the table - there is a basic level I want on my figures, but getting playable units and armies is the goal. I find a wash or a dry brush lifts some basic block painting. I do have some figures that I have bought painted which are painstakingly black lined, but once on the table, you are right, you don’t notice.

I’ve sometimes based figures before painting, mainly for loose order figures like WWII, but lately seem to have gone back to painting sticks.

[FifteensAway]

Lord Brentlake - if my approach in any way inspires forward progress for you or anyone else, I'm glad to be able to help.  The ultimate goal is not to kick off the mortal coil with a closet full of unpainted figures but a few closests full of painted figures to be sold or given away as the case may be.  And in between now and that 'kick off' to have fun with the figures on the table.  And it takes painted figures to put them on the table (no unpainted figures on the table in games please!).

Something new I've been playing around with is inks which I used on some of my Old West figures recently.  I like the results in the main but I find it does 'wash out' some of the underlying colors.  I plan to go back - I kept a careful list of colors used! - and do very light dry brush on top to see if that restores the color a bit; this should work since I seal with a clear matte finish which takes paint, a gloss finish would not work so well.  Going forward, I will use a much lighter touch when using the inks - but I will keep using them.  Oh, and I use an acrylic thinner to thin the inks which works well.  And I now use that thinner for the occasional too thick bit of paint when it comes from the bottle.  Other than the acrylic inks (not alcohol inks), I exclusively use craft paints anymore and while most of the colors work just fine some of the darker browns seem to be a bit thicker than ideal.  Can thin with water, too, but the thinner does work a tad better.

fred - at times it has become a bit of a 'task' to keep going but the other side of the coin has been seeing the progress which makes it worthwhile.

Definitely taking an extended sigh of relief this morning after getting past 'day 80'! 

And worthy of note, I am over 1,000 figures for the year, not sure of the actual count but last spring I painted a bunch of French Foreign Legion figures, somewhere between 100 and 250 so let's call it 150 which is probably a little low but I like to err on the cautious side.  Also, between - and a little before - painting those figures and starting the current challenge, I primed a huge number of figures, with some prepped during the course of the challenge.  So, 2024 will go down as a good year on the figure progress front. 

Just did a very cursory estimate and I am fairly certain I now have over 10,000 painted figures in my possession - though by no means are they all painted by me, maybe over half of them or so.  I am playable for Pirates, my Slightly Cracked Colonials, French and Indian War, ACW, French Foreign Legion, Old West, and Seven Years War, all in 15 mm except last which is 10(12 really) mm.  And that may sound great and, of course, it is - until you realize that is only about 25% of my figures!  Ack!  Part of why I am working, hard, to reduce total numbers, that is excessive by all measures. 

[Red Orc]

Your dedication to getting figures on the table is inspiring, but I think your philosophy on the matter is what I respond to most. I have minis I've painted that I'm very pleased with, and many others that I'm less pleased with, but as you say, you can't tell the difference between a good paintjob and an OK paintjob on the table anyway (I'm never going to do a great paintjob, I should learn to accept that). And like you, for me the point is to get these things on a table and play games with them.

I think the question 'what would our 10-year-old selves think of these paintjobs?' is a very good one. My 10-year-old self would be very happy with the painting I do now I'm sure, and I'm going to try to remember that from now on, and not beat myself up about not being amazing.

[LordBrentlake]

I concur with Redorc. Your criteria for what figures should look like and what they are actually there for make total sense and are making me re-evaluate my own approach. I do have a tendency to be hyper self-critical, a tendency of which my wonderful wife despairs as it often gets in the way of me doing things (and not just painting).

Our online conversation has indeed been most useful, as has your adherence to your goal with which I continue to wish you every success.

[snitcythedog]

When you finish, you need to take a group photo of all the work.  Impressive output BTW. 

[mikedemana]

When you finish, you need to take a group photo of all the work. 

Great idea...you may need to borrow someone's "fish eye lens"... 

Mike Demana

[FifteensAway]

I think we can all applaud the extraordinary efforts some painters - quite a few here on LAF - render.  But only a relative few of us can ever be that good - and only a relative few can afford to pay those who are that good, though more of us can pay the 'lesser mortals' who take commissions but at a 'game table' standard. 

And for many of us, we just like the idea of painting our own (or have no other choice than to paint our own).  One of my goals is to demonstrate that you don't have to be 'the best of the best' to take pride in your paint jobs and enjoy seeing them on the table for you and others to enjoy pushing around. 

I am much more a hobbyist than a competitor - though I can be quite competitive in some realms at some times, but always within sane limits.  And as a hobbyist, I want to share my enthusiasm and encourage others to join the fun.  Putting the bar too high doesn't necessarily do so. 

On the other hand, seeing the work of master brush wielders can inspire us all to do a little bit better.  But art work paint jobs should not be the goal if you are a war gamer, the fun should be. 

If, though, you are more of a collector, then there is more reason for seeking the better effort. 

There is no right or wrong, no one size fits all, just the broad swath of history (and fantasy and sci-fi for some) that opens such a wide diversity of options.  We each get to enjoy it in whatever manner best fits our personal goals, resources, and ambitions.

So, even if you don't think your own paint jobs are 'great' or even just 'pretty good' or 'okay', don't feel bad.  Whatever level you are at will be good enough for you at this time.  And if the motivation is there, you can always work to get better. 

It really basically is basic block colors, shading, and highlights that some do a better job at than others - and, of course, making sensible color choices.  At base, it is really just that simple - though others can certainly make it more complicated.  I like the simple.

[LordBrentlake]

I have to, and do, agree with everything you say in your last post.

My main issue at the moment is trying to get back to where I was before my accident, which did even more damage to my confidence than it did to my rib cage and nervous system. I find that I CAN produce results that I deem adequate although it is taking me a lot longer and causing me more angst than before. That, to a great extent, is why applaud your efforts in meeting your challenge.

I do get to read some of your posts about your games, where it is clear that you are getting a lot from actually playing, which is how it should be. Long may you continue.

[FifteensAway]

And we arrive at my first punt.  Today is supposed to be the day 90 report but I am punting it in to tomorrow and using my last 'reserve' day to do so.

Despite some effort, just didn't have the desire this evening to sit down and paint to finish some figures, close as they were.  After day 80, I took a day to 'exhale' but that turned into a couple of days, I had a planned day to go and pick up niece from airport one hundred miles each way that used up a day with no painting, and two unplanned days where an old back injury flared up with severity so that for two days there was no way I was sitting at a painting desk.  So really only had five painting days and I don't think I did two hours on any of those days.  Painting fatigue perhaps?

Disappointing?  Sure, a bit.  But I'm not going to beat myself up over it. 

I could bask in the symmetry that tomorrow is the actual day 100 and I should (!) go over 1,000 figures on that day; that would be kind of cool.  But there is that harsh reality that I actually have to sit down and paint to cross that finish line tomorrow.  Chances are good but never guaranteed.

Not all bad, however.  I have 38 figures very close so getting over 1,000 is very doable.  I also have five other battalions, six generals, and three artillery pieces and crews making forward progress.  That will add another 131 figures - and they have a great shot at getting done by the day 100 as scheduled (less the ten reserve days).  And then there are another six battalions that cleaned, prepped, and primed which might add another 114 figures.  If I get all of that done, a bit problematic, I'd get to 1249 figures.  245 figures in nine days?  That is a big question mark.

Part of the problematic is by using that last reserve day, I really only have nine days left because day 10 I will be running a game so unlikely to get any painting done on that 'last' day.

So total is still at 966.  Not whining.  I'll certainly take that number.  But I was hoping for better.  Ah, well, it is a hobby, not a job.  I don't plan to fire myself!   

[LordBrentlake]

The last thing that you should do is beat yourself up about it. I know, I do it all too often with lower success rates than your outstanding effort and all that really achieves is making it more difficult to get going again.

As my wife says to me when I get like this; “but look at what you HAVE done”. I for one have been impressed and yes, motivated, by your posts in this thread. It is already an impressive accomplishment, and one with which you can, indeed should, be proud.

The (very) few figures that are left are almost at the “noise” level but I think that you get there anyway. Either way, this is a job well done, my congratulations.