Value Of Painting Miniatures - Warhammer A Waste?

[@Elfhelm]

Nice video, good subject. Personally, I don't play at all, as I find that aspect of the hobby utterly boring. Painting, however, allows me to indulge "artistic" part of me, makes for a great stress relief and this way I feel like I can challenge myself with getting better and better. I guess now, post-pandemic, it will be easier to connect to others within the hobby too.

[@PocketPigments]

Very much how I feel! I do love gaming in general, but find I much prefer board games, RPGs, etc. There aren't many miniature games that I really enjoy as there tends to be a lot of downtime, competitive mindsets, etc. The miniature hobby for me is more about the art of it - painting, creation, etc. I love it all though! I do wish I knew more folks in my area that were more into the painting side though. Mostly gamers in my area it seems.

[@omniming]

Absolutely true, it is all about having fun! Putting something that you love to do feels great! It's just like every other thing in life. Wanna cook cos you enjoy cooking? do it! Wanna go out for a walk cos you enjoy the outside world? do it! If a passion is starting to dwindle, it's all good to take a break, and then come back anytime you feel like it. But all in all, HAVE FUN!

[@worldbreaker7987]

Painting and assembling models can be really therapeutic and gives a great sense of accomplishment

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely agree! It’s definitely my #1 way to decompress :)

[@kinkaid8553]

100% painting for me calms the mind. its a good way to just chill out, i credit mini paiting for saving my sanity during the lockdowns in the UK.

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely! I actually came to the realization that I much prefer painting over playing miniature games during Covid. I couldn’t play much so just spent my days painting and realized I was still enjoying the hobby just as much if not significantly more :)

[@kinkaid8553]

@@PocketPigments i also think its just like any skill too, sometimes learning it and doing it well and striving to do better is a reward in and of itself.

[@PocketPigments]

@@kinkaid8553 yup! Finishing up a project, taking a look at it and saying "man I did that!" feels really good, especially when you've tried something new - even if you nailed it or not. You did something different and followed through to the end :)

[@knightkhornate1974]

I believe that for motivation it is very important to see the meaning in your activities and this video gives such a meaning

[@PocketPigments]

Oh geez, thank you very much for saying that :-) I really appreciate it, truly! And thank you for watching my video, it means a lot!

[@timbuktu8069]

There are two categories of figures: gamming figures and bell jar figures. If I am painting an army- a group of 200 figures that will all be on bases of 3 or 4 figures, and they are viewed from across a game table then the bare minimum is required. Bell jar figures are those that you really take time with. There are multiple layers of depth to it all. When they are done, they are put on a display shelf. It depends on what you want.

[@PocketPigments]

I think it definitely depends on the person. There are a lot of people that can’t help but paint things to a high standard, regardless of whether they are for display or for gaming. I have a problem with that myself quite often and need to tell myself it’s ok to paint to a lower standard in order to get my armies painted. Doesn’t work most of the time though lol.

[@timbuktu8069]

@@PocketPigments The big problem with figures used in gaming is the other guy. I had a friend with a highly detailed army. During the course of the game "the other guy" picked up a unit of twenty figures and moved them off to one side with one massive hand. In my case I was playing an RPG with some very detailed figures. The "Other Guy" said "My character is going over to the cave." He then picked up the figure he was using and threw it across the table. I use Parcheesi pieces now.

[@PocketPigments]

Yeah I’ve definitely experienced those situations…have even seen kids let loose in a game store, running table to table grabbing at people’s minis…very unnerving. I think at that point it’s more of a social contract and being aware of surroundings. I honestly don’t do a lot of gaming these days and when I do it’s often at my place as I have a nice gaming room. But I’ve definitely experienced similar situations and it’s 100% something to both be aware of and afraid of lol.

[@ChezzyKennedy]

Great video. Where is your model from it looks so fun to paint?

[@PocketPigments]

Thanks Chezzy! I got it from Loot Studios' Sci-Fi Welcome Pack which you get when you sign up (link below). I printed it a while back, I believe at 200% or 250% size - it's probably in the 54mm - 72mm range. Honestly wish I had printed it even bigger, it was a blast to paint :) Thanks for watching friend, hope you enjoyed! lootstudios.com/plans/scifi/#wpackIntro

[@DjREVERENDSCAR]

Glad this video came across my feed. Thanks for the different perspective.

[@PocketPigments]

Thanks for watching, truly appreciate it and glad you enjoyed. Have a great one!

[@BlackKara]

Loved the video, totally subbed. It was a lot of fun and you had a lot of cute jokes. Can't wait to see more.

[@PocketPigments]

Awesome thank you for the sub! And I really appreciate the feedback, thanks a lot! Hope you have an awesome day!

[@TheGodOfWarhammer]

So here’s the thing. I prefer to spend 8 hrs painting a figure rather than playing a video game. You will have something to show at the end of the day, and you will have a solid talent that is healthy and productive. You could even parlay this into a business

[@PocketPigments]

Definitely! I used to play a ton of video games, still play some occasionally. Once I really started painting more my game playing dropped off hard as I found it far more rewarding to finish a project and have something to display and be proud of. Not that I don’t like gaming anymore, I love it, but most days I’d much rather hang out and slap some paint down :)

[@elvolgantagaming2507]

A lot of positive and well formulated arguments in here. Well done Opus! Sidenote: It would have been nice had you acknowledged in it, that a single miniature of a type can be used in TTRPG's, and that miniatures aren't just for wargaming.. I have hundreds upon hundreds of miniatures, but I've never even considered wargaming 😉

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely! I have a ton of miniatures just for RPGs, one of my primary hobbies! Collecting miniatures or miniature painting on its own can have zero connection to wargaming for sure, and every variation of this is a totally valid hobby. No one should feel the need to explain themselves for doing things that make them happy! :) Thanks for watching friend, hope you’re having a wicked weekend!

[@oscar.p3214]

Yes … it’s worth it to me and that’s all that matters.

[@PocketPigments]

That’s all that should ever matter :) Do what makes you happy! Thanks for watching!

[@caryv1402]

Eric! Amazing! Extremely Inspiring! You have a great flow and an ease in the camera. I loved how you VO'd over your painting this beautiful mini! You are an artist. Love your logo as well! The nail polish is amazing!

[@PocketPigments]

Thank you very much I really appreciate it! Truly :)

[@trivialpershoot]

Glad this came across my feed. I agree with lots of what you say, however.... As a mental health streamer that paints minis for peace and distraction from physical/mental issues I couldn't help but be heavily distracted by the parts of that viewers note that you passed over. The state of their mental health and the "I'm done" tone of the message. Have you privately reached out to the person for anything other than "can i use this in a video?"? Point them my way I would love to chat with them. Fantastic mini btw

[@PocketPigments]

Hey there - thanks for watching, and for your concern. I agree with your assessment and did try to discuss it with them (trying to find happiness in the hobby, turning to others for help if they're struggling, etc), but they weren't too responsive. I could point them in your direction for sure, though not 100% on how they would take that suggestion (I don't want to offend anyone). If you have any thoughts on how to approach it though, feel free to send me an e-mail and we can discuss (go to About on my channel page, can find my e-mail there). Thanks for watching and keep looking out for each other :)

[@chestersleezer8821]

You can understand the poster point when you have several hundred miniatures that need to be painted and they only have 5 armies across two different games. Now expand that to 15 armies across three different games and that is only the miniatures for Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer 40K and Warhammer 40K Epic. Now add in both 15mm and 28mm Napoleonics which required around 240 - 300 miniatures just to field a single Division. That is a ton of painting and all you really want to do is put them on the tabletop and get games in. Last spring/summer I decided to finally go through my Fantasy Miniatures that were still in boxes and get them onto bases and give each unit movement bases. A lot of work but I basically got my Empire/Renaissance Infantry mounted and in some cases rebased around 27 units & 600 miniatures, Dwarves Infantry 15 units & 320 miniatures, and Elves 13 units & 290 miniatures. Still have my Orks & Goblins which number about the same as my Empire and Undead which will be in the range of the Dwarves and Elves and still have around 100 more Empire and that is just the Infantry. As you can see I do not believe in small armies and love to see lots of miniatures on the tabletop. Most of those miniatures need to be painted so it is a good thing that I am retired because they are going to take a long time to get done. But I have been painting since the late 1980's and early 1990's and one thing about painting longer you get better at it and you find ways to get quicker but it still takes time to do just one miniature.

[@PocketPigments]

That’s awesome, I’m jealous of all the Fantasy Battle stuff! I have no idea what happened to all of my old High Elves, Empire and Orcs & Goblins - I imagine my mother sold them at a garage sale or something, not certain. I still have my Grimgor Ironhide though! Probably my favourite mini that I own. Thanks for watching friend! :)

[@chestersleezer8821]

@@PocketPigments Grimgor is my Ork & Goblin Warlord but I took the axe from Azhag the Slaughterer and put it on Grimgor so that he would be armed with two weapons. This also makes him right in with his unit of Black Orks who all have two weapons. Yes I was willing to take a $50 miniature and use it to convert another miniature. Oh and on Ebay he goes for around $150 or more.

[@PocketPigments]

Azhag is a great model too, the old wyvern design is classic!

[@Hercules1-v9m]

Anything that brings you joy is not a waste of time and money.

[@Tewi7Inaba]

Building and painting nighthaunts is the most rage inducing thing there is. Love how they look tho + you get to rebuild them after every time you take them for a match cause they break so easily

[@PocketPigments]

Hahaha I laughed out loud at that :P They do look great though, I've been tempted to pick them up multiple times...such a cool army.

[@piotrjeske4599]

If you like doing it ? It is never a waste of time. If you have to do it, because of event or store policy. It ain't a waste either. It is only a waste of time , if you REALLY don't like it and the models ended up looking bad, and you didn't have to paint to Play/Enter.

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely agree :)

[@Primogen1988]

That leather looks fantastic!

[@PocketPigments]

Thanks man I appreciate it! Was a fun model to paint, though I wish I had printed it bigger haha.

[@iphatbass]

I personally hate playing with gray minis. When I get new board game I usualy play few games with unpainted minis, so I can see if game is good and if it's worthy of painting all those minis 😁 So yeah, painting is important to me as much as gaming.

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely hear you there, I always try to get my stuff painted for any games I play (though there's no way I'm painting you Zombicide...we have like 8 boxes of it lol). I just wish I could paint faster! I take forever sometimes. The 40 zombies on my to-be-painted desk stare me down daily... Thanks for watching man!

[@jamesshearer3936]

Beautiful model that you painted there! I don't know nor care if it is playable in any game, it just looked like you were having fun painting it! We live in an absurd world, and we do ridiculous things all of the time. We may as well enjoy ourselves when and where we can! Peace, man. Have some balloons! 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

[@PocketPigments]

Thanks for the balloons! My son (1.5yo) loves them, so I'll be sure to share! It was a blast painting that model, though I should have painted it bigger, it's a sweet little sculpt! But yeah, paint if you enjoy it! And if you don't just do whatever makes you happy, we're only here for so long. Peace friend!

[@mau48310]

Honestly everything is dust , we're all really without meaning beyond what we assign for ourselves . This has value for me , I get to disconnect and practice painting skills I use in digital art . My jobs are my grind , this is my imaginative outlet. And blood , lots and lots of blood . Ooh let's not forget to pick up more skulls too, silly me.😅

[@PocketPigments]

So, so much blood…my hands meet the wrong end of a hobby knife far more often than I’d like lol.

[@MrCrystalwarrior1]

I find many videos today about the hobby to be very de-motivating, mainly as they seem to focus on being a "professional" figure painter with a studio, an expensive 3D printing set up, airbrushes and walls full of paints from every manufacturer to choose from, or, alternatively, what you MUST have for your WH30k/40k army in order to get more views. I have been in the hobby for just over 50 years now, and have loved just painting toy soldiers as a way of losing myself in creativity, more than anything. So, yeah, just sit and paint something you LIKE, not because a codex book says you need it, as that keeps your hobby fun, fresh, and inspiring. I have tried going to gaming shops, but gaming is so much less enjoyable for me (Says the man who's just dropped over €300 buying the entire range of Zombicide Undead Or Alive, just because I wanted to collect Cowboys and more Zombies for my collections :-D, and this new game combined both my passions). So I just paint other people's minis for their games, as it keeps my costs down, and allows me to see what's new in the hobby at the same time. I write my own fantasy/sci-fi stories as another pastime, so began collecting some very odd figures that seemed to fit the characters in my stories, and painting them has made them come to life both on the page and in my figure cabinets, so I'm getting both hobbies combined now, and fallen more in love with the hobby than I ever thought possible as a result. I know of so many people like myself, who just enjoy painting figures but don't like gaming, and so many people who love gaming but hate painting figures, so the hobby balances out when you take a good look at it. Some days I can be painting something for fun, for my stories, or for other people, so the variety keeps me going, I learn more techniques as I go (Just also got the new Army painter Speed Paint 2.0 set, to see what all the fuss was about, and am loving learning just how different the finish is with them :-D), and never get bored. I don't have a fancy studio set up, just an old kitchen table and an angle-poise lamp, and a set of artist acrylic paints/inks that I mostly use to paint with, but I am still loving just sitting and losing myself in a painting session, forgetting the world outside, and connecting with the Universe inside me, where everything is creative and fun. It's pretty much open for debate whether the game side of the hobby is the reason why people paint figures, or the painting side of the hobby is why people paint figures. It doesn't matter to me what people are doing, so long as they're enjoying the hobby and themselves at the same time. That's the main reason people started doing artistic pursuits in the first place, to bring their imagination and inner beauty out into the world, and games came about because people liked to gather and have fun together, so it's the same now as it was way back when. people coming together, being creative and having fun. That's my take on the whole debate, anyway :-) Thanks for posting the video, as it's opened up a whole new vista of discussion for many people :-)

[@PocketPigments]

Absolutely agree with everything you said :) And props to you if you end up painting all the Zombicide Undead or Alive stuff... My wife and I have been playing it (Zombicide is one of her favourite board games) and yeesh it's a lot of minis! But yes just paint what inspires you and have fun with the hobby - that's the point of it, to have a good time and to keep stress levels down! Thanks for watching Paul, really appreciate it!

[@ryenschimerman2127]

Miniature painting is absolutely a waste of time, just like gaming, and all my other pastimes. One thing I don't need is anything else in my day that has some sort of socially acceptable time value to it. What I need is to sit in my basement, away from everyone who needs something from me, and crapply slap paint on my little man-child toys. If that robot, goblin, or knight doesn't get painted right the consequences are meaningless. I NEED that. Moreover, what I really love about the community is how (predominantly) unserious everyone takes themselves - because it totally an extravagant waste of time.

[@PocketPigments]

Haha agreed my man, when I paint it's for me and gives me joy, I don't give a crap what anyone else thinks. If my sitting down and painting in my room, or reading, or playing a game, or whatever, makes me happy, then that's more than enough.

[@brendantheawesome1]

I am feeling a bit better

[@PocketPigments]

Are you the person I originally spoke to? If so that's great to hear man. If you ever want to talk paint/hobby or even play a miniatures game online, I'm open! Keeping painting friend :)

[@attemptedunkindness3632]

They say when the artistic desperation to create forces one to paint over a previous painting, it is a sin akin to cannibalism. Have those artists named their painting to remember and honor the God Emperor, forgetting their own namesake? Given it not just the tools, but comrades in arms to fight and die, fight and die again on the battlefield for _mere entertainment_ ?? Have they then, after all the glories, all the heartaches, all the apexes and nadirs the Grim Darkness of the future could throw at him, you *in shame* bathe your hero in a heraldry stripping Final Bath of Isopropyl Alcohol because their chapter hasn't had a shred of love for three editions??? I say we should paint over Mona Lisa before another mortal experiences what I've done.

[@PocketPigments]

Haha I don't think I've ever re-painted one of my own models. They're like a progress marker in my personal history as a painter. Now stripping someone else's models that I received second hand...I have no qualms lol.

[@Lelldorin84]

No one is "ON" 24/7, we all have hobbies and activities that are purely leisure time. Don't let people who surf tiktok or tinder for hours a day disparage your hobbies. painting miniatures is not a waste of time or money. Its all about balance and time management in life. Nothing wrong with leisure time, passion projects or hobbies as long as they are not causing issues with your ability to take care of yourself or your family.

[@renegade_ando9622]

I agree with everything you said

[@martienpost2234]

Making something that looks better than what you buy pre painted is not pointless for me.

[@PocketPigments]

I can absolutely agree with that - plus it's just plain fun and relaxing.

[@skeller87]

The hobby is built on artists. Awesome perspective. Why paint? For the love of painting! Love the model, too. The shadows in the clothing are fantastic. Well done!

[@PocketPigments]

Thank you very much, love! Was a blast to paint him up

[@B4MBI72]

People play games with minis? Print it, paint it, repeat. Although I tend to print more than I paint, but everyone needs a pile'o shame

[@HO-bndk]

But when was the first time a caveman drew an outline and someone else less talented filled in the colours?

[@PocketPigments]

Next time you go to your FLGS, maybe ask one of the cavemen there, they might have the answer - you'll know them by all the hair and BO :P

[@teddyrva2779]

Of course it's a waste. Unless you like producing art. Then it's totally not a waste.

[@PocketPigments]

Exactly! Art is never a waste of time if you’re enjoying it. Thanks for watching man!

[@kerel995]

72000 years ago people played wargames with cave walls. Now THAT IS INSANE GIGACHADDERRY!

[@PocketPigments]

Ahahaha imagine that. "OK Zug-Zug, I move my unit of Space Buffalo over towards your Cyber Lions...give me about 60 mins to scrub them off the wall and repaint them"

[@manintveld_nl]

No.. But detail is when you are a player..

[@PocketPigments]

Not sure what you mean, can you elaborate? :)

[@manintveld_nl]

@@PocketPigments When I started playing Space Hulk when it first dropped. For me in about 1990. I dove into the painting part of it about a year later or so. And I made meticulous work of it in all wargames after this. Making perfect faces. Eyes. Glares. Etc. Then after about ten years of doing that I realized that absolutely NOBODY ever picked up one of my minis and said: "Wow! Your dudes actually have faces!" So, I quit wasting time. When playing Warhammer.. Nobody cares.. Sure, they bicker when you drop a grey plastic army. But nobody will sit there pregame and look at how cool and super detailed your 2,000 point army is. That is left for paint showoffs.. Stuff that stands in a display case or on a diorama. Or even that Golden Daemon debacle, where 75% still wonders how the hell this won over that one. And as you said: Art side.. Play side.. Pick one. And paint accordingly.

[@PocketPigments]

@@manintveld_nl I get what you're saying, but I think you can absolutely put a ton of work into an army, put it on the table, have fun playing games and the painting still matters. It just needs to matter to you - we need to paint for ourselves and not worry about what others are thinking :)

[@manintveld_nl]

@@PocketPigments True. 100% agreed. But many creators make it seem as if your opponents in the game care. And yes, by all means spend a year on creating an army. More power to you. But for many years now I'd rather drop down one in a week, and get the same in-game results. It's just an opinion. After all, I am also a guy who spends four hours creating a character in a first person computer game.. We all have our vices.

[@PocketPigments]

Oh for sure. If I’m playing a game, I love if my opponents army is painted, but I honestly care more about the state of my own than theirs.

[@Smilomaniac]

Not sure what warranted a deleted comment but best wishes to you, peace.

[@PocketPigments]

I didn’t delete a comment? Sorry, that’s weird. Maybe KZbin did? Sometimes it flags certain strings of words as malicious, but idk what would have been, your comment was totally fine in my opinion!

[@Smilomaniac]

@@PocketPigments In that case I apologize for my presumption, sorry. I don't know what I could've said that would've warranted youtube to do that. I swear it's getting more censorious by the day.

[@PocketPigments]

Haha I hear you :) Would take a lot for me to delete a comment honestly (like directly being a total dick for no reason lol). Sorry that happened, I thought it was kosher!

[@BannisterNicholas]

So... Yes?

[@PocketPigments]

Not sure where that conclusion came from but I personally don’t think it is in the slightest. Cool if you do though, to each their own :)

[@zipperdan3969]

I swear i paint a mini it looks great then next mini i paint looks shit, no one wants to play the fucking gane with me it costs too fucking much, im throwing all this worthless shit out

[@PocketPigments]

Sorry to hear you’re having a rough time with it. I felt somewhat similar at one point before realizing how much the hobby can be enjoyed even without gaming. If you ever want some help figuring out where your struggles are coming from with painting, feel free to hit me up!

[@erinweatherly6539]

No

[@PocketPigments]

Haha precisely :)

[@ralphjune9798]

Yeah it's pretty wanky

[@PocketPigments]

Lol I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean but it made me laugh :P

[@ralphjune9798]

@@PocketPigments wankers are wanky and i was just answering the question 'Is mini painting a waste of your time and money?'

[@primozimo3041]

I've come to the conclusion that I'm more of a miniature painter than gamer

[@PocketPigments]

Me and you both :)