Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
So you want to be different? As an artist and miniature painter, I find myself driven to find out how I can differentiate myself from the crowd. With digital media’s escape velocity connecting us globally, embracing individuality becomes increasingly important to me. And, as such, I’ve continually searched for ways to change how I do …
How to Be Different in Your Miniature Painting and Art Read More »
Ever feel stuck? Creativity often comes in waves; especially for those of us in the creative industry. We can be on top of the world one day, and the next we’re questioning everything we’ve ever created. It’s normal to feel creatively stunted at some point in our lives–but that doesn’t mean we have to accept …
How popular is miniature tabletop wargaming nowadays? Well, an easy to way to know if something has reached mainstream culture is to see what’s on TV. At some point, you’ll notice your favorite hobby turning up in the most unlikely of places. When that happens, you know that your hobby has gone mainstream. In this …
I have a large collection of models that I’ve painted. Too numerous for me to count. The ultimate driving force that motivates me to paint is discovery. Whenever I feel my toes are hanging off the edge of burn-out (e.g., the loss of desire to do anything), I find that I can retreat safely on the knowledge that …
Discovery and Passion: Keys to Improving Your Miniature Painting (Editorial) Read More »
Ever walk through nature and stumble upon the unexpected thoughts? Discovery is a thrill I need. Although I’m all grown up, the childlike sense of wonder continues to put a smile on my face. During this tough time across the globe, I decided to visit a local State Park. Of course, the cold blustery weather …
Chaos and Purpose in Nature: A Photography Walkabout Read More »
Did you know we all play the same secret game? No matter what you play, a board game, a tabletop miniature skirmish, or roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons, the rules make games happen. As I watch my kids play with their toys, I notice that they make rules. They have rules for have a …
Every miniature paint job is way to discover a bit about yourself. In art, the opposition to progress is your resistance to explore outside your comfort zone. This is true for athletes and erudites looking for the next metaphorical hill to climb. Of course, all this soul-searching and boundary pushing leads to a chaotic mess …
Painting Complexity with Simplicity: A Miniature Painting Philosophy Read More »
Ever wonder why you can’t seem to finish a project? Procrastination, it’s like a road block that holds you back. Whatever thorn is in your side, you can’t name it or pull it out. The bogeyman stalks all artists and miniature painters the same, and makes the work that much more scary. I’ve said it …
Procrastination: The Bogeyman of Artists and Miniature Painters Read More »
We live in a world of infinite possibilities. Anything can happen; Murphy’s Law and all that. But, there are some events that are so far outside the realm of expectation that we consider them impossible. They are miracles. In sport’s games, we often see feats that would shock even the most experienced player. For example, …
Are you facing something hard? Is there some circumstance that requires that you make a hard decision? A hard decision is any choice you make that may have serious or even irreversible consequences. They are tough, because there is a small margin for error. This could be a professional career making decision, an issue about …
These are weird times! Stuck inside, perhaps, or forced disruption in “normal routine”? Time. My, how does time fly? Ever wonder why you lose track of time when you’re compelled to change your daily routine? Or, perhaps why do you feel as time speeds by as you’re having fun (or not)? Your sense of time …
In a typical tabletop wargame, two forces meet in a pitched battle: one against the other. Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, or even an accurate recreation of a real-life historical skirmish, it doesn’t matter. There’s something enjoyable and thrilling (perhaps, a tad sadistic) about miniature wargaming. Of course, a major draw for games is the …
Wargaming: The Illusion of “Balance” (Editorial) Read More »
Do you doodle while held captive by a long wait, work meeting, or school lecture? As a neuroscientist, I’ve spent countless hours looking through a microscope at brain and spinal cord tissue samples of the nervous system. What I see through the lens has not only informed my research, but has also shaped my creative …
It’s simple, really. When you start taking day-to-day life too seriously, even when things go bad, there is a part of you that can still do things. I’m not talking about watching TV or seeing a movie. I mean hobbies where you make stuff from nothing. You take a part of you and inject it …
Candy Land is not really a game. I’ve been playing the Candy Land board game with my daughter. But, my introspective self has decided that Candy Land isn’t an actual game. What am I talking about? Candy Land has survived generations of competitive professional game design. But, I perhaps I’ve over-thought myself. Stuck in an …