Vent's Various Ventures: Trade Marine Start Pos

**The Dark Pwner** · 5th February 2012 02:19

Originally Posted by Vent

when I was 14, well before I got into the hobby, and they've been sitting in my garage since I found them a couple of years ago.

All this time and only now you Paint them up....bad Vent, very BAD VENT!

But god dang it they look awesome.

**Vent** · 7th February 2012 06:25

(Post with images over at my blog. If you've got a blog then friend me!)

That 'Crazy' thing you do...

So recently I was talking to a long term friend who came over for a coffee. She’d interrupted me from painting but I’m always happy to stop for coffee (All Hail Coffee!). Anyway, it was during our chat that she asked me, quite out of the blue, “Why do you paint those crazy things?” It was an innocently asked question, there was no malice behind it, she was an outsider looking in without understanding, but as a good friend she was interested in why I do what I do...

It also got me thinking: why do I paint miniatures for a game I don’t play? For that matter why does anyone paint them, even if they do play the game? I considered giving the standard answer to a question which requires thought “Don’t know, just do”, but I realised this was an opportunity for me, a relative beginner to the hobby, to look a little deeper into the reasons and told her I’d get back to her. Which probably just bugged her, but that’s another story all-together. So bear with me as I get a touch philosophical.

a) For the Love of the Game.
I figured I’d start with the most basic reason, please note I said basic; not simple, because doing what we love encompasses a lot, and while basic in theory is quite hard to explain.

“For the love of the game” is the concept that we do something, often difficult and potentially unrewarding for reasons outside of gain. What this means when we talk about painting is that we paint because we must, we paint because we love the hobby. The value of painting is intrinsic to the hobby. But does this answer the question of why we paint? Well yes and no. Mostly no. Dammit! So much for an easy answer.

From a personal standpoint I fell in love with the universe in which Warhammer 40k exists. There was a sense of darkness and brutality, coupled with strength of will which appealed to me at the time. The painting started as a secondary concern of this love, and the desire to be a part of the universe. This love persists, although changed somewhat, and is probably the reason I collect miniatures to paint despite never actually playing a game of 40k in over five years of being in the hobby, and the monetary shock of engaging in the hobby.

Simply put engaging in the hobby means painting something, whether you do as little as possible or you aspire to make a master-class army if you’re part of the hobby you paint, but is this enough? Beyond the intrinsic value of painting for its own sake there are a whole host of other reasons, some sound in mind, others not so sound (See Downright crazy), but at the end of the day they’re all valid reasons, so let’s have a look.

b) Dice Gods
Let’s jump right into a crazy one, but a crazy one which I do believe in. (What? I never said I was sane! Don’t look at me like that…)

Play the game for any length of time, or hang out with those who do, and inevitably you’ll hear the phrase ‘Dice-Gods’. The oft-annoying, seldom loved beings of fickle fate who control the fortune and, and continued existence of your army. The concept of the ‘Dice-Gods’ is usually an amusing one to those who don’t play, usually spouses, partners, friends or flatmates, but any gamer will tell you they exist and it’s even money they’ll have a story when the ’Dice-Gods’ either cursed or blessed them.

I am no different. I won’t bore you with the details, but the thing about the ‘Dice-Gods’ is that they love a fully painted army. This isn’t to say you gain their favour without end, but during battles between the painted and unpainted the dice will often love the painted force more than the unpainted… Coincidence? I think not…

c) An Army to call your Own
When you paint a miniature you make it yours. The finished miniature reflects your skill, your time spent, and your investment. It’s yours. This is magnified in scope when you paint a unit or an army. When you’re done they belong together, and it shows. An unpainted miniature, unit or army shows the lack of concern you have for your force; No life, no finish. This doesn’t mean you have to be able to paint like a super-star. Just to your abilities.

We all paint things differently. This is based on the level of our skill, the paints used, the techniques known, our experience, what we’re painting and even our desire to improve all go into blend. This means if we sat down four of us to paint a Blood Angel Terminator Captain we’d all end up with a different look and feel. Indeed at the end the only thing similar might be the colour red and don’t even get me started on the different types of red a blood angel can be!

For a lot of people, painting is the most horrible part of the hobby. It’s time consuming, usually done solo, so there’s no social interaction, often results in frustration yet it’s the time when you connect with what you’re painting. It’s only when we mix our labour with a miniature, when we put brush to figure that a connection happens, and this connection is important.

If you think I’m wrong go get one of your painted miniatures. Put it on your desk, look at it for a few seconds, and think about the time you invested in it. Ok, now smash it… I imagine even reading that was hard. Let alone actually doing it. (Anyone who actually just smashed one of their painted miniatures needs to stop breathing now)

d) Personal Improvement
The desire to improve is a valid reason to paint something. We’re touching back on intrinsic value here, but the concept of self-improvement is important to address. Some days a desire to improve is the only reason I can think of to pick up a brush. Whether you’re like me and paint a single miniature at a time or you’re a batch painting dip-master the desire to improve upon the paintjobs that came before is something we should all have.

Getting better at something you like is never a waste of time, regardless of the type of painter you are. A batch painter might aim to improve the speed at which they work while maintaining a level throughout their army. A single miniature painter might have a goal regarding specific techniques they want to perfect.

When I first started I wanted to get some squads together quickly and tried a few techniques towards that end. I was not happy with the outcome and after a few online discussions I got some advice which I still use today: “Be fast at painting or be good at painting”. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the two are exclusive to each other, I’ve seen amazing stuff in hours what would take me days. But for me, I can’t have it both ways and I usually fail when I try. But that’s what personal improvement is for; to get better.

e) But is it Art?
Part of the desire to improve and be one of those amazing painters is the question of whether what we paint could ever be considered art. As I primarily paint rather than play I took a look at Art as a reason to paint.

Some people, usually artists, argue that as for the most part all we do is paint things other people have designed and sculpted, in mass no less, then all we can ever hope to achieve is an atheistically pleasing miniature, but it is something devoid of actual ‘art’ or even artistic intent.

Personally I don’t buy the argument. I understand it, but I do not buy it. Also I don’t believe all painted miniatures can be called art. But I believe the possibility for it to be art is within all miniatures it depends on the painter. Bottom line; if a crushed can made from marble is art then a golden daemon winning entry is also art.

So at the end of the day art is a reason to paint. If you can paint well enough to enter into Golden Daemon and not be laughed at then you’re an artist whose medium of choice are miniatures. If I ever get good to enter a Golden Daemon competition I’ll have accomplished one of my goals in life. If I don’t well I’m going to try my damned best, and at the end of the day that’s all you can do.

f) Being paid to paint?
This is tricky one. If you are good enough to get continual work painting miniatures for money then I guess it’s a valid reason to paint them. However no-one starts out good enough to accept commissions to paint. Most commission team members are long time hobbyists who have put in a lot of time and effort to perfect their skills, both in time management and their abilities. It’s a kind of catch 22. It is a valid reason to paint, but only if you’re good enough, and if you’re good enough to accept commissions then you know the reasons to paint and have likely explored them all yourself at one time or another…

--
I’m sure there are other reasons to paint out there, ones I’ve completely over-looked, but for me personally all my motivations to paint are basically wrapped up in what I’ve written about here. Except being paid to paint. I don’t know if I could ever accept commissions for painting, just seems wrong. I hope this answers the questions for my friend…

**Beeva** · 7th February 2012 11:46

Great answer!

Thouroughly loved reading that and I agree with it! I love to paint and I always try and be a little bit better with every paint job I do. I may only achieve a fraction better than my last model but that, for me, is rewarding enough. The biggest rewards are when I take the biggest risks though. For examply, I've always been afraid of basing and modeling but recently I've tried to experiment with bases a bit and the results look really good. Next up is to try and work with some green stuff!

As for art, there's some incredible works out there that can't be considered anything other than art. There's also some models out there just dipped in paint and that's fine, but it's not art. I think intention has something to do with it and also effort.

I may have to show that post to Mrs Beeva. Maybe then she'll get it.

**Omega1907** · 7th February 2012 14:06

You have missed one thing which is, at least, important to me:

If you paint a model, in a silent room, all on your own, you can let your mind take a walk in your own fantasy, or let it just shut down for a few minutes. You can relax with the somewhat ruminant act of applying color to plastic. For me, that's one reason to paint, even after an exhausting day at work.

Other then that: Great post!

**Michael** · 7th February 2012 19:12

Fantastic read Vent, I agree 100% with everything you said!

It's really great that you took the time to put into words what I think floats around as vaque thoughts in most of our heads.

The only thing I could add is what Omega said. Painting a miniature is like reading a book to me. I love the Warhammer lore and when I paint I immerse myself into in the universe the mini is based on and let your mind wander into fantasy. I might sound like a huge nerd now, but whatever. When I paint a beastmans head I imagine it roaring, stomping through the forest, when I paint chainmail I imagine it rattling as warriors march in orderly line, when I paint a sergeant I imagine him shouting orders as bullets fly around him and so on. When painting and creating something that's part of this universe I'm more immersed into my hobby than through any videogame, novel or tabletop battle.

**edmundblack** · 7th February 2012 21:14

Originally Posted by Vent

If you think I’m wrong go get one of your painted miniatures. Put it on your desk, look at it for a few seconds, and think about the time you invested in it. Ok, now smash it… I imagine even reading that was hard.

I winced. Physically winced. I kid you not. The very thought ...

Re. Commissions: I reckon you could, but you'd have to be willing to work within certain restrictions and also impose some yourself. Painting because you have to can suck some of the joy out of it, but for me I focus on the joy which that miniature will give to it's owner when it's returned. That spurns me on to make it better.

Interesting piece indeed.

**Vent** · 7th February 2012 21:35

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like it. Took me an afternoon at work to thrash it out in my head... Who says working in a comic book store is hard? ^_^

Originally Posted by Omega1907

You have missed one thing which is, at least, important to me:

If you paint a model, in a silent room, all on your own, you can let your mind take a walk in your own fantasy, or let it just shut down for a few minutes. You can relax with the somewhat ruminant act of applying color to plastic. For me, that's one reason to paint, even after an exhausting day at work.

Originally Posted by Michael

The only thing I could add is what Omega said. Painting a miniature is like reading a book to me. I love the Warhammer lore and when I paint I immerse myself into in the universe the mini is based on and let your mind wander into fantasy. I might sound like a huge nerd now, but whatever. When I paint a beastmans head I imagine it roaring, stomping through the forest, when I paint chainmail I imagine it rattling as warriors march in orderly line, when I paint a sergeant I imagine him shouting orders as bullets fly around him and so on. When painting and creating something that's part of this universe I'm more immersed into my hobby than through any videogame, novel or tabletop battle.

I agree with both of you.

@Omega1907 ; I find painting a great way to decompress at the end of the day, and I was trying to work out if it should be in there. Ultimately I tried to keep the full Zen aspect of painting out of the post. But you're right it should of gone in there. It's an important point.

@Michael ; Hahaha, we're very similar! I find that when I paint each and every miniature he (or she) has to have a backstory and the paintjob is massively influenced by the back-story. This is kind of what I meant by 'For the Love of the Game'. I reckon we all do it. Some of us get a little more into it, that's all. I didn't write about this as a whole because I found myself blushing about it just writing it in my notebook, but there is a page about it here

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Re. Commissions: I reckon you could, but you'd have to be willing to work within certain restrictions and also impose some yourself. Painting because you have to can suck some of the joy out of it, but for me I focus on the joy which that miniature will give to it's owner when it's returned. That spurns me on to make it better.

@edmundblack ; Part of it is time invested. I know that my best stuff has come about when I paint for other people, but the act of sending a miniature away at the end is hard. I think I could accept commissions on single miniatures only. seldom squads and never full armies.

**edmundblack** · 7th February 2012 21:40

Ditto. I reckon a full army would burn me out, a squad would tire me greatly. Singles however, are great, and if done well will likely become the pride of that army and be the centrepiece. It's great to have something you've done be that for an army, even if it isn't yours. I've skirted the edges of burnout before and it has taken me 3 months before I picked up a brush again. I'd not want to burn out properly, so full army commissions are out (unless I can dip/wash done

).

And for me, I love the time when it's just me, the mini and the radio. I enjoy the programs but focus on what I'm doing. I'm in my own zone, my own little world and I couldn't be happier.

**Vent** · 24th February 2012 01:33

To say I've been burgled...

Mother Frakkers people... Mother frakkers suck... Big time... Got home on Wednesday night and found a window open. They'd pried it open and gotten inside. The good news is that the alarm did its job and went off pretty quick meaning they got out without too much stuff.

Now I can hear some of you asking, why is he putting this on his blog, while sad it's not exactly what you'd call painting news. Well the room they broke into was my painting room, and while the miniatures might be heroes and villains of various shapes, sizes, genders and universes; alas they fared poorly against the aggression of trespassers... I've now got minis in various stages of development, some finished, broken, some are snap jobs, but others have been... Attacked... Almost look they've been stomped on... One of the biggest kickers are my brushes. I get attached to brushes and take a lot of care with them, they've been scattered across the room, some snapped, all damaged in some way...

Now to anyone who has read my previous post regarding why we paint you'll know how I feel in regards to seeing a miniature destroyed. It is a mind numbing pain... More so than having my camera, compressor and airbrush stolen. To say this hurts your motivation to paint is an understatement... That is all. I hope to paint something, but truth be told I really don't feel like it...

This is just frakked up and I am unhappy...

**Architech** · 24th February 2012 02:05

there is only one answer...sharpen the brushes and put them under the window to destroy future interlopers.

I'm seriously sorry man. Truly I am. I know how painting is for you. Let me know if there's anything I or we can do to help out.

**Beeva** · 24th February 2012 06:43

So sorry, Vent.

Getting burgled is bad enough, I know that feeling its like you've just been violated and left bare and vulnerable.

To have them come in and destroy your hard work like that for no other reason than... well... for what?? Jealousy most likely. Don't let them stop you, Vent! Get back painting again. You owe the fallen that much at least!

**edmundblack** · 24th February 2012 11:36

They're idiots who do not understand what it is to have a talent and a harmless drive towards an idea. Hope you get over it soon Vent, I know it's not a nice scenario to be in right now. Take your time, but get "back on the horse" when you can - that's the best way to get painting again. And do as Arch suggested too, but with a webcam so we can watch them impale themselves and laugh at their misfortune.

**mminghella71** · 24th February 2012 23:05

Bunch of twats

**The Infernal Penguin** · 24th February 2012 23:52

Gawd, that's horrible man. Monstrous.

**Enigmacookie** · 25th February 2012 09:47

I'm really sorry to hear that, man

Really, such a huge shame...

Come hang out in chat with us sometime, that might bring your motivation back?

**Cordova** · 25th February 2012 20:25

Aww man, I am gutted for you.

So sorry to hear that, that is horrible.

**Omega1907** · 25th February 2012 21:44

I can understand your frustration, so many hours of work destroy by some idiots in a few minutes

I hope you get your motivation back, I always loved your models!

**Vent** · 26th February 2012 00:43

Thanks guys. I'm still plenty pissed but I have new things to paint, and I'm getting new things to paint with pretty soon, so i'll see how things go...

**Vent** · 5th March 2012 05:58

Well despite still being somewhat angry, and bitter, I've painted something... Something Orky!

First things first, painting Orks is fun... There is something really, really absorbing about painting green flesh. It has a highly different feel than flat armor surfaces, and I'm a little disappointed that it's taken me so long to actually paint one! If you've never had the pleasure, I suggest you do so! And Boss Snikrot is a blast of a figure. Plenty of character in the design! I know that the GW version has gone quite pale, but I wanted to push the green ^_^

Day one:
The Green:
1) 1:1 mix of Snot and Goblin green as a base coat.
2) Glazed the green with a 1:2 of Thraka green and Water
3) Highlight one with Goblin green. Highlight two with 1:1 mix of Goblin green and Golden yellow
4) Watered down Dark Angel Green and painted into the recesses.

The Leather:
1) Snakebite leather as base
2) Wash with Devlan Mud. That's it so far! Needs lots more.

The Silver:
1) 1:1 of Bolt Gun and Black.
2) One layer of Bolt Gun on the blade side. Still lots more to do.

Lots more to do everywhere, but I'm just glad to be painting

**Architech** · 5th March 2012 06:50

Originally Posted by Vent

painting Orks is fun... There is something really, really absorbing about painting green flesh

it's odd how that is true...I LOVED painting my gobs/trolls/orcs/orks.

This looks great, vent

Vent's Various Ventures: Trade Marine Start Pos

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