Whenever I paint, usually when it’s a challenging project, I reach a point where I look at the figure and go “this is going to look like [insert expletive here].” Usually it is around the halfway point but some times prior. I think it is lack of faith in my plan of how I’m going to paint the fig (the way a sculptor sees what they are going to sculpt out of their medium). I can’t yet see the final product, just a basecoated mass which does not yet have form or function; where the figure is dominated by colors which may or may not even be visible when the thing is done. Sometimes, on small or quick projects, it goes by before I even notice it. On larger projects it can last for a couple days and forces me to knuckle down and push through. I bring it up because I just crossed that threshold on the growlers I am working on. I’ve got the main scheme down and tonight it will be finalizing the details (eyes, claws, horns, hair). There is no way I’ll finish tonight, and probably not for a couple nights as I need to do up the last four in the set. Still, once I’ve crossed the line I’m in a frenzy to get done again. Am I the only one who goes through this? Is it exclusive to miniatures or is it inherent in other aspects of artistic expression?
Tags: Miniatures Painting
