2022 Reflections
Issue 023
It's that time of the year when we can enjoy ourselves a little pause and reflect on a year of painting. Remember the victories, and recall some of the pains you've endured. We hope to gather a positive image of the year and look at what we can do differently going into 2023. Of course, being a miniature painter, I would like to share a few important lessons I've learned this year in hopes that you can find some relatable actions and helpful conclusions.
Battling through injury
Recovering the physical with help from the mental
In early October, I suffered a climbing injury which had my A1 pulley in my right ring finger with a severe tear. Using my ring finger with damage to the tendon and the sleeves holding it in place allows my fingers to open and close. Even with a single finger down, all of the connective tissues in hand are affected, making painting an arduous and painful task. Crushed that I could no longer climb with the use of my right hand, and also unable to paint with finesse and accuracy. These two activities are the passions that help me feel whole, and being unable to perform neither of these was pretty painful. Sitting around and waiting for this to heal wasn't on the table for me, as I wouldn't let that happen. I needed to recover faster and still come out strong, if not more vital. Especially since I had one of the most significant commissions right at the time of my injury (*Qin Xa Keshig Terminators*).
So I got to work and built out a recovery plan with research on active recovery from this injury and went to it. Besides the exercises I did several times a day, I took a page from my painting journals and started to write down (left-hand typing) how my hand was performing/feeling after each day or two. Treating it as a progressive skill, but instead of its recovery, the most important takeaway is that you can better see the little progress. Injury recovery is slow with little changes, just like painting is the same. There will be days of minor to no difference, and other days of more significant jumps, just like being on the brush. Coming into its own on the mental side of things, motivated to do another round of exercises and treatment. I focused on applying a steady and disciplined action into the recovery while slowly seeing progress. It was very tough to pick up a brush again after several weeks. My hand would start to seize up after 20min of painting, and panic began to set in. I put the brush down, icing my hand and thinking about how to overcome this obstacle. Well, the best is to look for those small victories again, record them, and be persistent. Now it was all about writing down how long I could paint, what my strokes were producing, and what techniques were available to me without an abundance of pain. It was starting to feel like training for my half marathon in early March 2022 and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable; more on that later.
Visualizing what the end goal would look like and techniques were also essential on the mental side. A great video shot from TED Talks - How to Practice Efficiently...for just about anything
It explains the importance of visualization and using it as a learning regime. Since I couldn't perform specific techniques to the best ability, I would paint in the window what my hand could accomplish, stop, and then visually paint the rest in my mind. Yea, it kind of sounds dumb, but honestly, it helped me keep sharp. It still got me thinking about the process, visualizing the painting, and solving the creative problems through a thought experiment. These actions were a lifesaver for me through recovery and into the post-era. I didn't lose skill but instead came out of it more robust. Completed the commissions and continued the drive forward. So if you get hit with an injury or something related that keeps you from painting, take a look and find some relatable actions to keep you sharp so you can return to your hobby and passion.
Knowing where you stand and where you should be looking towards
Comparing yourself to others
I know we've all been there with that sense of dread and self-worth washing over us as we envy the incredible paintworks of others. Asking ourselves, "how the hell is it possible to get that good?" A terrifying prospect for many, and even experienced painters of the highest calibre have to face. I faced that daemon again this year (I think he likes to come out at least annually). But with some help from online gaming, I used a new tool to combat it that I want to share with you. That tool is your SR score.
SR (stands for Skill Ranking) is a number that accumulates your skill level in the competitive ladder in Overwatch. All competitive games have a system in place, whether it's a visible or hidden SR ranking that's attached to your account. This ranking is in place to better the quality of games and match players with a similar skill set. Don't worry; I'm not going around like an asshole and openly handing out SR scores to painters everywhere! But instead, I'm using this as a mental model, setting myself amid my peers and gauging the progressive ladder.
To start, you must be honest and evaluate your painting ability. Looking at yourself subjectively and not in a biased and attached way. Look at the community of painters and who is in your Elo (relative skill level). This is your competitive bracket, and the painters you should be concerned about comparing your works. Painting within this bracket is where you will find healthy competition and progression. You want to avoid thinking you're in or deserve a much higher bracket than you are or expect to move through brackets very quickly. Both have a root problem with poor assessment and needing to be more honest with yourself. Leading to a self-destructive mindset and possibly abandonment of painting together (becoming a bare plastic gamer!)
With the visual tool in place, a solid assessment of your SR, and a strong bearing of your Elo. We can then take steady action to push forward and steady into the next Elo. Just like the journey of progression and even recovery, as mentioned earlier. It's a slow, steady climb with small changes over time that will win you the day. Record your progress and make it easier for yourself to see and notice the small things that will accumulate over the hours, weeks, months, and years. Through that, you will climb, making the process much more enjoyable, and you can be proud of your gains.
Signs of uncertainty are a path toward a fantastic project.
At least the most significant potential to be…
Painting miniatures can come with doses of doubt and uncertainty. These feelings come from doubting our ability to create the desired effect, even figuring out the workflow and steps needed to complete the miniature. Regardless of the exact problem, please treat this as a roadblock; things are in our way and can entirely stop a project. For myself, these feelings come from more significant projects with a great creative idea from me that I've told the client. Only after they signed off on the concept and had the deposit down do I get to work figuring out, "how the hell am I supposed to pull this off!" (*Yes, for my clients who read this, many ideas I pitch I don't know how to execute at that time.) I work this way as I want a painting to be fuelled by creativity as much as possible. Creativity doesn't just mean coming up with unique ideas for positioning, effects, colour choices etc. Creativity also comes into its own with problem-solving. I can't tell you how many times, as a Graphic/Web Designer, that required to do research and learn new skills to finish the job. If an Agency or freelance designer only took jobs that encompass work, you knew exactly how to create each component. In my eyes, that will leave you only with a particular scope of work as "safe work." Stuff is solid, little to no challenge presented, consistent, yes, but leaves for small chances of change and progression. Please don't get the idea that "safe work" is terrible. Sometimes it's the nature of the project and the client's request. What I want to bring from this is spotting the "unsafe work" as an opportunity for real growth!
This "unsafe work" is where we are forcing the hand of change. You need to be creative to find a solution to the problem, which gets you turning new gears and finding the solution. Whether learning a new technique or studying other work relatable to your goal, this all falls under adapt and change. The essential component is to progress and get better at something. An example this year was at the time I injured my hand climbing and painting the White Scars Keshig Terminators. Not only was I battling recovery, but also my airbrush needle tip was worn down, meaning I needed more accuracy with it, and I also had to figure out how to freehand paint a dragon which I've never done in that style before. I was stressed and losing time on a commission which could be better for creativity and the pocketbook. It would've been easier to postpone or cancel the project entirely, but that wasn't going to be an option I wanted to entertain.
The solution came through first off by identifying this situation. I was in "unsafe work" territory and anchored this idea to the most positive outlook that this presented to me in the past. A few of my favourite models painted in the past have come from these situations.
Kragnos
Qin Xa - Both Gold and traditional White armour versions
Mauler Squigs
Each of these presented situations required me to battle this uncertainty, learn a new skill and adapt to finish. And there is the reminder that this path can lead to real growth. It's the kind of project you will remember because you've had to overcome something. That's how you will move up the ladder toward your painting goals. So when I see these signs, I have to push forward and know this is the right path. These are the ones worth pursuing and giving my best.
Thanks again for being with me throughout 2022. It's been a fantastic year of painting miniatures and travelling to London and Nottingham to Warhammer World. Getting to meet some wonderful hobby hero's in the flesh and continuing to make new friends connected through our beautiful art form. Please spend some time reflecting on your hobby year and coming up with new plans to continue and crush it into 2023 with me! All the best, and Happy Painting!