Where’s Faust?!

Got a couple questions asking how I’m doing and where I’m at, mainly because I haven’t updated the blog in quite some time and haven’t been as active in commenting on blogs as in the past.

Short answer:  I’m doing fine, but things other than miniature painting have been consuming my time. I’m not sure when I will get back to miniature painting, but I would most likely post here when I do.

Longer answer: I’m doing okay. Work has been busy, life has been busy, I’m dealing with a week long cold bug that has been kicking my butt. Nothing new, these things happen.

My passion (or tolerance) for miniature painting has pretty much plummeted though. It’s a lot of work for me on a good day, and when energy levels are low, it’s not an easy thing to gravitate to. In addition to this, my taste for Games Workshop (GW) has bottomed out. Yes, those are fighting words in some parts…so hear me out a moment. GW still makes some of the most detailed minis around and as a company they seem better than what things were like in the past. I’m not here to say “Don’t buy GW products, they suck!!”. I’ve just never been in love with their products like some. To that extent, seeing their minis over and over, just seems sort of boring to me. Despite some really talented painters out there (most of the people I follow!) who keep making them look good. That’s always been a bit of an issue for me, but probably the tipping point….was after spending a considerable amount of time and effort painting Necromunda gangs, and then finding the game just not what I wanted it to be. Probably some inner demon within me that thinks “If I put all the time in prepping, researching, basing, painting, etc., then you better give me the damned game of my dreams!”. Well, that didn’t happen. There are people who certainly like or love the game, the way it is. That’s fine, I’m glad that they are happy with it. But overall it has been a turnoff to playing that game, and I think I’ve stated early on that I enjoy gaming more than painting overall.

Yes, there are a lot of counter-arguments to all of that. Paint minis by other manufacturers, don’t put so much time into painting minis, do your research on the game before spending so much time on it (I thought I had), etc.

Which does remind me of a bit of wisdom that I will share with anyone wanting to get into this hobby…paint whatever interests you first, don’t save those things for last. Seems obvious, right? Apparently not for me, it isn’t. I started on the things I wasn’t as fond of, thinking I would build up my skills and then my favorite pieces would look the best. The thing is, new minis are coming out everyday, and your favorite pieces won’t always be your favorites for years. Painting minis takes time, and as much as we would like to think it, we don’t have all the time in the world.

Ok, so we’ve hopefully established that I’m seriously burned out on painting minis for the time being. And maybe a few people are wondering what do I do, if I’m not spending tons of time painting minis? Work, family, computer games, watching movies/tv, boardgames, and graphic novels. All those sorts of things. The other thing that I finally decided to try once again, is to build my own arcade machine. This is the one project that has likely supplanted miniature painting for the time being. Building an arcade machine does allow me to involve the family more in my hobby time though. The teen and I have been working with tools, with me showing him how to saw boards, etc. The little one has helped with assembling buttons. I try to involve them as much as possible in the different steps along the way. So hopefully by the end of Summer, we will have something we all had a part in. Miniature painting I find a lot more difficult to share, though that might change depending on the little one’s interest as she gets older. She already has strong inclinations towards art/painting. Maybe from seeing all of Daddy’s paints and minis.

Oh yea, blogging…since I’m not painting minis, I haven’t had anything to really show or share. The ‘bored with GW minis’ has made it hard to get through blog reads. But mainly work/life has kept me way too busy to keep up.

So finally, “Will I ever paint/blog again?”. Well, I haven’t sold any of my paints or minis off. (though I have been tempted to sell off Necromunda minis, grumble grumble)

That to me is a good sign. I still like Blood Bowl, but that game is really tough to get played. Blitz Bowl is quite a bit easier to get played, but doesn’t totally scratch the Blood Bowl itch for me. Either way, it means I will likely keep those minis and a good chance that the “Blood Bowl fever” will resurface again and get me to want to paint the minis once more. I’ve fancied painting some of the D&D board game pieces or painting other random minis, just because I like them. So yea, there could come a day where I post some painted minis once again.

As for blogging, I don’t really want to turn this blog into something other than a gaming/painting blog. It wouldn’t feel right to me. If I really felt the need to blog about building an arcade machine or whatever project I’m working on, then I think I’d be starting up another blog instead.

So yep, that’s where things are at. Still appreciate all the help and kindness people have directed my way. The miniature painting community is a truly amazing group. Hopefully I’ll be back amongst you all at a later date.

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