How much effort do you typically put into each miniature you paint?

MrJim

MrJim

New member
I was painting the High Elf Mage from IOB this morning (the last piece from the set, finally) and spent a lot more time on a particular part of it than I normally do or would and it got me thinking...

How much effort do you typically put into each miniature you paint?

I see a couple artists that look like they put 100% into every piece, but for the most part, it seems that most of us have some type of built in effort limit that allows us to call a piece done when we know we could do better. (or find a defect and let it go)

I guess I will go first. For some of the pieces I do, I think I might lose interest if there is a lot of repetitive details that don't really add a lot to the overall piece. After a few hours of red and blue triangles (GW people will be all to familiar with this) I am ready to finish the piece and go on to something else. I would say that typically I put in about 80% to 90% effort.
 
MAXXxxx

MAXXxxx

Well-known member
I usually give up if it takes more than a week to do.
for projects running 2+ weeks I need a lot of concentration.
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
I spend months on a mini. That being said, I only paint 3-4 hours a week lately, which is why it tends to take forever. Some mimiatures, I sort of know I won't finish, as I really just want to practice a technique on them. However, if I have a good plan for a mini, I'll stay with it until the end. Which leads to my point: it's all about mini selection and feeling inspired by the mini. If you have a decent plan when you see a mini, meaning you know what colors you will use and generally what kind of base you want, then things work very smoothly. If you aren't entirely sure of what you want to do, it can cause procrastination. For instance, on my current project, the Flower Knight, I can't decide how to do the freehand on the cape. Because of this, I am in no hurry to get to the cape and so I am going far too slow. Too much thinking...
 
crystella333

crystella333

New member
When painting, I take as long as it needs. If I need to explain anything on the mini/model then its not quite finished (same goes for a diorama)
 
Webmonkey

Webmonkey

New member
For my basic table-top standards,.. about 3-4 hours per mini. For more display oriented pieces, or larger scale kits,.. usually 8-12 hours total.
 
Bailey03

Bailey03

Well-known member
I would say I put in 100% effort on most of my projects. I tend to work on larger figures 54mm+ and it's rare that I finish anything in less than a month. These days I paint more for shows and competition rather than gaming, so it's worth it to put in the extra time. Of course there are times when I'm working under a deadline and you do what you have to so it will be done in time. And I take on the occasional 'for fun' project. Which for me means something I want to paint just cause and not necessarily for a show. In those cases I'll put in max effort as long as it's still interested, then it's more like 50% just to get it done.
 
gohkm

gohkm

Active member
I always try to do the best that I can. But ....

The mind is willing but the flesh is weak.

This is usually a few hours of hard yakka, then months of ennui as I try and wrestle up the energy to finish it properly.

That said, I haven't painted a single thing since I got my eyesight back, about a fortnight ago.
 
TrystanGST

TrystanGST

New member
Good question.
If I'm honest with myself, the answer is never enough.
Some minis lend themselves to quick, carefree painting (Reaper Bones for instance).
But I have a lot of really detailed metal and resin. And every time I think, "this is the one. I'm going to give it my all, regardless of how long it takes."
To date I never have. My determination has yet to match my desires.
I see the work done by the titans out there, and I know they put in hundred(s) of hours. And I start out with intent. But I hit this wall in every mini where I just want it done, and I start to lower my efforts.

Some day I'll figure out the key. It's a part of why I don't compete much either - I never feel I bring my A game.
 
K

Ken Redington

New member
I tend to paint armies so do not go the extra yard. It also helps I paint 8 to 12 figs at a time when they have matching uniforms or 4 to 6 at a time when they do not. A good 2 to 3 hour block will get a group base coated and the first wash put on. A few hours later the second wash goes on. Basing almost takes more time as it has to dry between layers before putting on the vegitation.
 
Dragonsreach

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
It takes as long as it takes.
I've knocked out a mini vignette recently (Ambush) which took every Saturday afternoon and Sunday (say 6 hours a day) over two months., yet done a complete figure from priming to DullCoate in the same 6 hour slot.

There's so many factors involved that there is no 'Formula' with which to calculate how much effort each mini will take, but the commitment is down to how much you and I love the hobby.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Some come together so easily like my set of rackham dwarves and i couldn't tell you how fast that went felt like 3 weeks though i'm sure it was much much longer (more like 3 months). Others like my vampirella piece felt like it took forever because EVERYTHING went wrong with it so it probably took way less than it felt. I keep working until i am happy or if there is a deadline i push and push until it has to be done. Give your best to everything but if you feel burnt out take break be it with a quick 1 sitting mini or another scale or subject like base work :)
 
fluisterwoud

fluisterwoud

Active member
For display minis it can be anywhere between 15-40 hours, depending on how involved the base is and if there's any freehand to be done. I take things slow with many many glazes. However, spending so much time on a single piece tends to burn me out, that's why I usually have 3 projects going at once, I can just cycle through them.

For my Hordes army though, I'm usually around the 5-15 hours for heavy warbeasts and characters (warlocks, solos, UAs/squad leaders). Light warbeasts and infantry I speed through, like these two guys, the one on the left took ~1.5 hours and the guy on the right, part of 10 man squad, took ~30 minutes.
 
S

SkelettetS

New member
i usually go all in, even overboard overdoing stuff. my plagedeamon is a great example, painting 3-4 months on something that im not happy with in the end sucks and i will never do something like that again.
One mini/month i usually do without much trouble if its a normal size one. an empire soldier take me like 20hrs which is pretty sad. details tend to take lot more time in the beginning of a project than after a while, not because i get the hang of stuff but more because i want the shit over with so i can start something new. especially when its like 80-90% done the dip of motivation is striking.
i really like this curve made by Massive voodoos Roman (anthough his dip obviously is half way of projects)
motivationcurve01.jpg
 
TrystanGST

TrystanGST

New member
SkelettetS said:
i usually go all in, even overboard overdoing stuff. my plagedeamon is a great example, painting 3-4 months on something that im not happy with in the end sucks and i will never do something like that again.
One mini/month i usually do without much trouble if its a normal size one. an empire soldier take me like 20hrs which is pretty sad. details tend to take lot more time in the beginning of a project than after a while, not because i get the hang of stuff but more because i want the shit over with so i can start something new. especially when its like 80-90% done the dip of motivation is striking.
i really like this curve made by Massive voodoos Roman (anthough his dip obviously is half way of projects)
motivationcurve01.jpg
Click to expand...
+1000000000
 
C

Coyotebreaks

Active member
i put in a lot of effort, but at the same time, I work on some bits harder then others. as some parts just don't need to be fully blended IMO if they are just secondary details.

I also try not to get too hung up if things aren't going well and just keep going. obvisouly, if there is a blatant mistake I will fix it. But I'm very much avoiding the perfection mindset as I find it crippling and generally leads to frustration and nothing finished.

I find if I get too hung up on perfection I don't tend to Finnish models and am forever working on bits. I have recently concluded that finishing lots of minis is better practise then perfecting one. I have noticed a faster improvement in my painting since taking this approach.

each new project teaches new lessons. so with all that in mind I probable spend about 20-30 hours per mini, but I only paint 1 hour per day so it takes about a month per mini.

that all said I am very much a beginner and am trying to learn, once I ge my skills up and am more competent , I will probably try harder, or then maybe I want and I might not need to due to all the practice :)
 
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