Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Gaming, art, and science? What a combination! Check out these thought-provoking articles at the intersection of technology, psychology, and the world of miniature tabletop wargaming.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are here to stay. Whether it is ChatGPT, AI image generators, or other emerging AI tools that seemingly create something from nothing (a misnomer, by the way), they are becoming more accessible and easier to use. Of course, in my career and artistic pursuits, I’ve often found myself relying on these …
How AI Tools Stifle My Creativity and What I Learned Read More »
Creativity may not be what comes to mind when you think of a mental illness, but it’s worth considering that many creative people are also often diagnosed with anxiety disorders. In fact, creativity is a common trait among those who suffer from anxiety disorders. Yet, it’s not well-known what causes this link or what to …
I’ve found that I’m more creative when painting miniatures at night because I can go into a trance-like state. Painting miniatures in the daytime is draining and it seems like my brain is too busy to focus on any one thing, but it’s amazingly captivating at night. It’s quiet and the light is soft, but …
Do You Paint Miniatures at Night or Day? What’s Better? Read More »
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought a tidal wave of potential applications across a vast range of fields, from healthcare to finance, education to entertainment. One area that is ripe for exploration is the intersection of AI and gaming; specifically, wargaming and tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons (DND). In this …
AI Enhanced Wargaming and Tabletop RPGs (Tips and Uses) Read More »
I write a lot. Most of it is technical academic stuff for work. But, often I’ll pull up a blank page and draft a creative story or some essay on the state of the world—life. It’s something I enjoy doing and it helps me make sense of what’s going on internally in my head. Journaling …
The Silver Lining: How Inflation and a Bad Economy Can Fuel Your Creative Writing Read More »
So, you’ve heard about artificial intelligence (AI) generated art? But do you know about ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI? ChatGPT is a text-generating AI system that can generate coherent conversations and stories in human-like language. I love to write and I’ve been playing with ChatGPT to see what it is capable of. Well, …
Miniature Painting with ChatGPT: 10 Inspiring Ways to Use AI Read More »
As a miniature painter, have you ever found yourself feeling stuck, unmotivated, or doubting your abilities? These feelings may be the result of learned helplessness, a psychological phenomenon that can impact even the most skilled and experienced artists. In this article, I explore the concept of learned helplessness, its prevalence in miniature painting, and its …
What is “Learned Helplessness”? Insights for Artists Read More »
So you paint miniatures and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. But did you know that painting miniatures can actually provide numerous health benefits? In this article, you’ll find 13 surprising benefits for miniature painting that could improve or enhance your health. As hobbyists and artists, we are keenly aware of the joys that come …
13 Essential Health Benefits of Painting Miniatures Read More »
When it comes to coffee and creativity, there’s a longstanding relationship. Countless artists, writers, and musicians have sworn by the drink’s ability to boost their productivity and creativity. And while there’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that coffee makes you more creative, there is some research that suggests caffeine can improve your focus …
Coffee and Creativity: How Caffeine Can Help Your Artistic Side Read More »
The 50/50 rule is a basic guideline for becoming a more effective and productive miniature painter. It states that you should spend 50% of your time on the miniature itself, doing the job as best as you can. The other 50% of your time you spend should be in enjoying the process, being as creative …
The 50/50 Rule for Painting Miniatures, Efficiently Read More »
Did you know that good hobby lighting can help improve your motivation and focus? There’s a scientific reason for how and why this works. If you’re like me, then you love spending hours in your hobby room working on different projects. But, one downside to this is that it can be easy to lose focus …
Psychological Reasons to Use Good Hobby Lighting: Motivation and Focus Read More »
Are you looking to improve your hand-eye coordination when it comes to painting miniatures? The fastest way to make tangible leaps in your ability and model painting results is to hone your body’s ability to control and use the brush as an extension of your own hand. Sure, I could suggest “paint more miniatures”, but …
3 Tips to Improve Your Hand-Eye Coordination for Painting Miniatures Read More »
A lot has been said about the relationship between science and art. Some people believe that they are two completely separate entities, while others think that they work together to create a deeper understanding of the world around us. I happen to fall into the latter category, and I believe that both science and art …
Empathy: Why Science and Art Must Go Together (Editorial) Read More »
Painting miniatures is a sedentary hobby where you don’t exert a lot of physical energy. I’ve wondered whether the activity that we spend hours doing is unhealthy. Miniature painting is not exercise. Sure it’s great fun but the key question is whether our mini painting hobby is contributing to unhealthy habits with food and our …
Is Miniature Painting a Fat Trap or Healthy Hobby? (Editorial) Read More »
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a hard time finding ways to cope, and drugs are often not the best answer. Tabletop wargaming is becoming an increasingly popular way for those suffering from PTSD to take care of themselves without feeling like they’re neglecting their needs. It’s also a form of therapy that’s not …