Conquering Painters Block [featuring My Stargrave Crew!]

Painter Block kept me from painting my miniatures for the table top skirmish game Stargrave. Almost two full years of false starts and no urge at all to paint these 9 miniatures. Now, I finally got over it, I conquered my Painters Block and wanted to share my experience in this video.
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Thank you to my Patrons for helping out with stories for this Stargrave crew.
In this video I paint Infinity & Die Hard miniatures.

[@52Miniatures]

Support and be part of the continued creation of videos like this on Patreon: www.patreon.com/52miniatures

[@thatotherguy7596]

Hey Alex. As you well know, I'm a huge fan of your color schemes and painting skills. Your narration is what really puts it over the top for me though, but you know this too. Sometimes I get commenters block, but feel I need to say something so that you know who's you know what credits you appropriately. Thanks as always. See you next time. 😁🎨👍

[@52Miniatures]

Thank You ToG!

[@andrewcannon4757]

"And that's when I realized that my painter's block was not only based on the lack of imagination, it was also based on pretentious views of the end result. Somewhere in my mind, I wanted these miniatures to stand out from others. If one doesn't know how to do that, yet sets it as a goal, even unintentionally, that's bound to create a block." "Maybe just putting paint on is enough." You managed to exactly describe my writer's block. Thank you.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Andrew, for listening :)

[@hedu5017]

I've just had a lovely evening painting with your channel running in the background, thankyou! Really enjoyed all the stories behind these characters.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear!

[@Matt-md5yt]

glad you gotten back to the 9 minis my friend, and knocked out that block.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank Matt!

[@bolind5095]

Great video and content of course, but I needed to comment on that window shot in the beginning. priceless.

[@Doppelwulf]

This video was worth the wait. :) I have been struggling with color selection for my new Battletech models and this inspired me to take a picture so I can solicit suggestions on your Discord server.

[@52Miniatures]

Great idea!

[@keithmunro4944]

LOVE the backstory way of coming to a paint scheme as part of bringing the figure to life. They turned out great!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Keith!

[@siraujus101]

I really enjoyed the back stories. I always enjoy how many different ways you paint and add color. Thanks for sharing how I am not the only one who gets strong painters block.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Trent. I think everyone get some kind of a block. If not… we should check they are not robots here to conquer us.

[@jeramyneeley3351]

hope you're all doing well today

[@TheRocco1971]

Tim Prow from Diehard here, loved the video and great colour schemes! I tend to think about what colours I would use on the figure while sculpting it and yes I tend to give them back stories as well while they are made. When painting i'm very old school, I tend to use a basic set of paints and bend up with these limited paints, I dont have a vast collection of shades. Thx again for the mention!! :) Tim

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear from you Tim and thank you for what you do. Great miniatures. I enjoyed painting them.

[@sevanimal8675]

Hey! Im glad u received help Alex. Especially cause u helped me get (back?i was a teenager) into the hobby with a humane, unormalized view of it. Your content is soothing and beautiful, thanks!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Sevan, and that is great to hear 💜

[@plaidpvcpipe3792]

Phraxt’l looks like a lizard doom marine. Love it. Your videos are great.

[@Carbide-1]

Great post Alex! I'm sure many will benefit from your approach to this particular problem!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks C!

[@gianhao]

One of the most enjoying painting videos . The voiceover of the interesing backstory of the characters is ASMRIIIIFIC! The backstories for characters is something common for artisits to get their creative juice flowing and hold that interest over a figure enough to finish it. This and looking at different artist's styles and their preferred painting schemes works for me. And marvelling at Frank Frazettas masterful works... Just looking at FF's paintings will transport you into new worlds and form stories...Great job sir!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you greatly G, I appreciate it.

[@LukeSteichen]

I absolutely loved the backstories that got chosen. I decided to pick up a few Die Hard and Infinity miniatures for my Stargrave and Space Station Zero crews.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear. Thanks Luke

[@precioushobbytime]

i love it. you are such great inspiration

[@rmfberry261]

Just wanted to how glad i am for finding your channel. one thing you mentioned in this video stood out to me, and that was how you didn't want to see others mini works because you didn't want to be told the right way if doing something, i find that to be the magic of your channel, i watch and learn as you tell the story of your thought process and see your techniques but never feel like your telling me how to paint, you show tools and thought processes but dont say exactly where to apply them but leave the idea to be implemented when we see fit.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Ryan. I appreciate your comment humbly. It’s honestly hard sometimes, trying to be “just doing my hobby”, while attempting entertainment and dueling with the algorithm. And so comments like yours go a long way.

[@brokenheroics8223]

Every day struggle. Thank you for sharing and helping those of us feel, not alone.

[@atin8996]

I definitely feel the over whelming-ness seeing other painters sometimes provides. Breaking through that block is tough. Im glad to see you got though it. I decided with my army that i didn't have to stick to one type of base, which felt really freeing. I decided that each unit could have a different type of base to reflect the background of where they came from/were. So it was somewhat cohesive yet varied. It felt weird at first when you have only one that's different but I kept and it felt like it made sense. I always enjoy your paint schemes. They turn out so well. I really like your use of contrary colours in ways i wouldnt have thought on my own. It has the right amount of subtle and pop at the same time. Cheers, mate! Thank You once again for the inspiration.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank A. It’s surprising how many things we never consider doing because we se so many “not doing it”. Now, there’s plenty of proper ways to go about building a space rocket… not so many when it comes to mini painting.

[@Gumlass1]

I came for the painting, but the back stories were the absolute highlight. I really enjoyed that.

[@manuelcolazo6752]

More infinity minis please!! Also an idea, this could become like a little serie: paint a couple new minis for your game, coming up with awesome backgrounds

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Manu. I mean, I do come up with stores for most of my minis. As that is the way I come up with colour schemes mostly. So there should be more stories :)

[@CryptMane]

Hey there! I wanted to thank you very much, because you are inspiring me to paint my Zona Alfa-warband today. Greetings from Germany!

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear CM 👍✌️

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

As always, very high quality content. Plus the minis all look very cool. Awesome. Cheers!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks friend 🙏 Hope you are well

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍 Thanks for sharing your journey with us

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Mark!

[@david1274]

I am glad you overcome the block and quite happy it led to such a great video!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you David

[@MarcinEstkowski]

Great final thought. It's important not to paint as other expected, and as "it is supposed to be painted". Thank you Alex.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Marcin

[@rodagoose]

That is one fantastic looking crew!

[@eastoforion]

oh i love that robot model!

[@johnnycooper7019]

Dear 52M, an outstanding & very inspirational tutorial - Thank you. Best Wishes Johnny

[@52Miniatures]

Many thanks!

[@malorens]

Those final display shots are so satisfying to look at.

[@RyMar87]

This is going to help me A LOT when it comes to painting my miniatures! The idea of escaped prisoners in space really reminds me of the show Farscape. Might have to go back and watch that again. So good.

[@MrAxebane]

Dang! Now I'M feeling highly motivated to paint a bunch of miniatures! Excellent paint jobs on your crew, and I enjoyed hearing each character's backstory a lot!

[@countryfriedminis]

Lovely work, as always😉Your storytelling is such a pleasure, and the painting is fantastic. Your Oktavia Grímsdóttir... I mean Dr. Hoshina - is especially nice.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you very much!

[@lapre7872]

Great Video, like most always.... Thank you.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you LP

[@jameskyle7943]

This is inspiring me to finish my Averland Blitz bowl team that I got %75 finished and then intimidated by the free hand at the end needed to finish them.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear James!

[@laurenb9479]

These are fantastic! I also enjoy getting color inspiration from other things (especially birds! My sister was recently in Florida for a work trip. She sent pictures from the Everglades and I now want to paint one of my models with the color scheme of a purple gallinule!) What a great idea to reach out for help with backstories...I feel like you now have the great beginnings for a TV series or something, lol! By the end of your video, I'm hooked and want to see what adventures this mishmash of a crew go on 😁

[@52Miniatures]

Birds are great Lauren. Also insects :) I’m kind of exited to see what the crew might be up to as well.

[@templar1701]

This is an awesome video Alex! The miniatures are incredible and the narration of the stories was wonderful to hear and really something I hadn’t thought about before but I definitely want to try! Thank you once again for inspiring me in this hobby.

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoyed it Templar!

[@J-Hell]

Thank you. I find your calm and hopeful tone and your self-awareness very enjoyable to hear. I love you sharing your process and I enjoy seeing the results.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks J 🙏

[@ionminiatures]

I loved this so much. The narration as always is amazing. Hearing the stories and hearing how it helps your painters block. Just everything. And those Minis look spectacular.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Ion! I appreciate it.

[@andrewbeasley]

Super story and set of figures. Sorry to hear about the canary...

[@52Miniatures]

Indeed, it was a fine canary.

[@spice6828]

I can get behind painters block, but wow you overcame it in huge style. That crew is gorgeous, and the back stories absolutely make them.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Spice! I appreciate it.

[@torbjrnalvestrand1044]

Magic!

[@michaeltribou4261]

Thank you for a wonderful video. Sharing what inspired you is sparking the kindling within me

[@jamiem9490]

Love those colours and those stories, as well as the wider story of battling and overcoming painter's block. "Good things come to those who wait"...as an advert in a far away galaxy (to those guys anyway) once said.

[@52Miniatures]

Was that the ad for recruiting folk for building the Death Star? Thanks Jamie!

[@jamiem9490]

@@52Miniaturespossibly around the time they had a big push to hire sanitation workers. "Recycle (your enemies corpses into fuel/foodstuffs) - the possibilities are endless!" Seemed too clunky...

[@52Miniatures]

@@jamiem9490 Advertising is difficult at time. "squeeze more out of your life"

[@jamiem9490]

@@52Miniatures "all's fair in love (for your secret sister) and war" was felt to not convey the seriousness of the Jedi mission and infringed on Skywalker family privacy injunctions...

[@52Miniatures]

@@jamiem9490 Jaba's "Chone manya weesh asha beecho" also did not bring in the right croud.

[@tftf60]

Never considered the backstory to get me motivated. Will try it for my next one.

[@52Miniatures]

Pleas do! 👌

[@13Robzilla]

Loved everything about this video, great topic.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Rob!

[@axelhackbarth9559]

I really enjoyed this video and I think it's the best one of yours I've watched. The lore created by your patrons, the paint schemes to match the stories and the inspirational materials for a colour palette is wonderful to watch and listen too. Thanks!

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@isisnmagic1812]

Love the video and your paint scheme, hearing the back stories was like listening to Asimov's foundation audiobook ( I've listened to that series a few times), your videos always makes me want to add something outside the hobby as in now getting a book or Googling pictures just to see other colour schemes for miniatures other than the box art, one reason I like to buy on the sprue sets online rather than boxed sets, being cheaper helps as well. Cant wait for your next video.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear I! Thanks

[@bluefangs867]

A crew to be proud of! ✨

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks B! Also thanks for the stories :)

[@garyjenson8262]

Beautiful

[@angerworm]

I loved hearing the stories alongside the slices of painting progress! I bought the Garox and Becky minis for the exact same purpose recently. Another wonderful video!

[@magnusmillerwilson]

Absolutely love this video, even more than usual for your videos! Especially thanks for sharing the background stories for each character.

[@MartyBucholz]

I love to hear the back story its a lot of fun

[@Tectonicbg]

always a pleasure to watch your journey. Thanks for sharing

[@observantowl1726]

Love the minis and the backstories!

[@Daydam]

Man, all your Stargrave-related videos really make me want to try it out. Hopefully I will in the not-so-far-away future! Great job on those minis btw, I love the result on all of them! And love the stories behind each of them, and how it influenced the paint jobs!

[@Wijkert]

11:47 how satisfying !

[@vryc]

The SoFlat paints are now pretty much my only go-to paints. Phenomenal coverage, and they just mix so damn well. Awesome vid, Alex!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks V!

[@JoeDaly983]

This just helped me get over my painters block, thank you greatly :)

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear, thank you for telling me

[@alexanderuth3989]

I laughed hard when you pulled out the mini with the huge rocket launcher just to introduce her as the doctor of the crew.

[@lehannaallen]

Thank you for the story inspiration! I have 10 cyberpunk gang minis to paint that I've been procrastinating on. Each one shall get they're own story to help 'em along.

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear LR

[@nickhowell2573]

Wonderful to see these all done, love the backstories and execution as always, inspired me to finish my last few Hearthkyn this evening.

[@52Miniatures]

Good luck Nick

[@chipboy3108]

As Normal ....Brilliant production - Narration - video.... thankyou Alex. Though the Stardestroyer flying through the background @ 1:19 - 1:30 just nailed for me... pure genius.....;-)

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you C!

[@klug5916]

Very nice. I like how you so easily go and come back to the GW unavoidable minis to bring something new and imaginative. By the way, your vibrant color schemes actually make me think about the 90's crasyness of GW, with their colorful schemes. Unlike now, where all is "grimdark", aka the same and dark scheme tones. Please keep up.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank K! Yeah, colour is a great thing on tabletops. This crew is rather easy to play as well. Like. "where is the yellow one" and so on.

[@pavelalfimov]

this story stuff is amazing, thank you! the minis are matt but somehow shine:)

[@chiefchurpa5739]

loved this vid m8,,,i enjoyed the naming/story process and think i'll encorperate this to some degree into my own..head....cheers

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks CC 👍

[@streetbushido2999]

Another excellent video! Lovely to see that you broke through your painter's block. Will you post battle reports for Stargrave one day?

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks S. I don't know, I've thought about doing battle reports but that is probably quite some way of.

[@backlogbravery653]

looks great!

[@ludwigvannormayenn8657]

such an interesting story - very inspiring I think I have a similar problem like you, but with writing great video :)

[@52Miniatures]

Good luck with the writing Ludwig

[@rafaelguasco]

GORGEOUS VIDEO! Great story, superb painting! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you very much!

[@G_Threepwood]

Great crew! You've inspired me to start painting my own cyberpunk crew that have been in various boxes for a at least 6 months

[@52Miniatures]

Go for it!

[@Breazer_]

Loved this video! I actually have a similar issue with the same game

[@anibalgonzalez7990]

Story of my Space Hulk. Half of the space marines are missing a coat of paint.

[@Palon1983]

Awesome video, so much of your insights regarding the creative process resonated with me. Gotta say your videos remain my favorite outside source of inspiration.

[@52Miniatures]

Paul, I appreciate it immensely. Thank You.

[@rohanalmond]

What a great way to overcome the block we all have at some point. I have this with my Moonstone characters. And the final result is awesome! It’s also very interesting seeing you wet blend as it’s something I’ve been intimated by

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Rohan, I have an old video on wetblending specifically as well.

[@Isteak80]

This is really interesting to watch (admittedly after the fact) given I just watched your first video on Stargrave. A fascinating insight into the elements of painters block, or really any sort of artists' block.

[@Snikrot40K]

I have this problem as well. Thank you for this. Great video

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks for watching!

[@andersnothzen8145]

As always a very good and inspiring video! Love the humor!

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markhanson9508]

damn this has got me psyched up to paint something! ...but it is 1 in the morning...

[@MrMagicchrisi]

It is amazing to see how you managed to turn such a long lasting block into an opportunity and to see the beautiful result of the story-inspired paintjobs. My favorite is the Doctor and her orange jacket. I simply love this result!

[@ursinecanine9657]

This really helped me understand and overcome a thought process that was crippling me. Thank you.

[@mosestaff]

Phenomenal job. Thanks for the inspiration and help

[@Artmesa]

Love it! I like Stargrave and have played a few games but the kind gaming you might be looking for would be better suited by Five Parsecs from Home. It is a "tabletop adventure game", so more adventure and storytelling within a tabletop experience.

[@RoofusKit]

Congratulations overcoming your block. I saw a lot of my own excuses in this video.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you!

[@TheFipsdotcom]

Love your contetn! Fantastic stuff :)

[@ZweenNewFarmer]

Ok... I know I'm late but why is there a star destroyer in you backyard and you are so chill??? Ruuuuuuuuuun 😁😂

[@tabletopsidekick]

Spectacular.

[@spcwolf]

Love the stories and the color schemes you came up with for the minis.

[@Wijkert]

Great message and great result!

[@dodgethejester9553]

Great video 👍 loved the stories

[@njabruzzo]

Inspirational and great as always. Finding a color story that works (and is interesting) is a regular challenge I face too. And when I get it wrong I lose interest in painting those miniatures. I'm going to try your method of thinking about the story before painting.

[@52Miniatures]

Great Nicholas!

[@NiceHulk]

Älskar att repair-boten ser väldigt Star Wars ut men verkar ha jobbat på ett Star Trek-skepp (med plasma manifolds och hyperspanners)! 😃🖖

[@aylaktavsan]

This video reminded me how cozy your videos can be. I love all the back stories of the minis and I'd definitely would like to hear more stories like this if possible!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks M!

[@ThijsSchrijnemakers]

nice result and nice tale!

[@matthijspuppels8119]

Inspirational content, thank you

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WasiKaBooM]

Well done Alex :)

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Mr Boom. I hope you are well.

[@otackle61]

Fantastic!!!

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you like it!

[@ovan2190]

This was an awesome video, I've been facing my own painter's block recently. Seeing a video about how to to tackle it is great, It's also great that the good Dr of your crew is my favorite Infinity model she had two variants and I definitely think you got the perfect one for your crew especially for her story Great video Alex always an inspiration :)

[@52Miniatures]

Glad it was helpful Ovan!

[@CaffeinatedMiniatures]

Masterful storytelling, as always. Great video and I love the crew.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Man!