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 and playful with the process. They key is to balance play and work. This simple rule can help you focus your efforts, avoid getting bogged down in the details, and ultimately help you improve your skills as a miniature painter.
In this article, we’ll explore the 50/50 rule in more depth, and look at how it can help you become a more efficient and productive miniature painter with less stress.
Summary of the 50/50 Rule for Painting Miniatures
It’s easy to remember the 50% rule. All of your time spent painting miniatures should be divided equally into two parts.
- Part 1 – This part of painting your miniatures should be time you spend doing anything to improve your skills. Maybe this means learning a new technique or mastering a method you’re already applying to your model. The time spent here could also be watching or reading tutorials, going to a class, or simply doing exercises with your paint brush or airbrush.
- Part 2 – The goal of this half of your time should be for painting miniatures that you do for the sake of painting and creating. To put it another way, your job is to play. Discover. Simply letting yourself go and giving yourself complete liberty to just give it a try, even though the outcome may be terrible.
The 50/50 rule is a pain for most miniature painters, and it’s not uncommon for them to despise it. Many people would regard the difficulty of it as a justification for avoiding or skirting this process, so be assured that you are not alone in your struggle.
I know that many artists who learn to balance the need to “study” with the joy of “play” in their art or hobbies will find a more rewarding experience as a result. And, for those looking to become more productive without burning out, the 50/50 rule can be a great way to keep things fresh and prevent stagnation.
Read on to learn more about the 50/50 rule.
Who is the 50/50 Rule for?
Do you paint tabletop gaming miniatures, such as Warhammer 40k or Warmachine? Are you painting 3D printed models and sculpts? If so, then the 50/50 rule is definitely for you!
I often struggle getting a miniature painting project finished for two reasons: I get bored or frustrated with my color formula, and I get caught up in the complex techniques I tried to implement. The 50/50 rule has helped me combat both of these issues by reminding me to focus on the big picture (i.e. the miniature itself) and to enjoy the creative process.
For those looking to relax and the enjoy the process of painting without losing momentum with a project, the 50/50 rule is also a great way to focus your efforts and achieve better results.
The 50/50 Rule is a Guide and How to Use it
The 50/50 rule in miniature painting is not a law. It is more of a guideline to help you find a balance between spending too much time on a single project and becoming bogged down, and moving on to the next project before you are really ready.
The 50/50 rule in miniature painting says that for every hour you spend working on a project to improve your skills, you should spend the next hour working on something else that you enjoy. That last 50% should be play! This can be another project entirely, or just some other aspect of the same project.
For example, if you are working on a commission and spending an hour painting, spend the next hour planning out your next project. Or, if you are working on a painting for a competition and spending an hour sketching, spend the next hour researching other painters or looking at reference photos.
The 50/50 rule is meant to help you find a balance between working on your art and enjoying your art. It is not meant to be a hard and fast rule that you must follow all the time. There will be times when you need to spend more than 50% of your time working on a project, and there will be times when you can spend less than 50%.
The important thing is to find a balance that works for you and to be mindful of the time you spend on each project.
Time is Your Best Friend and Enemy
One of the best things about the 50/50 rule is that it can help you make the most of your time.
If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated or make progress on a project, take a step back and ask yourself if you are spending too much time on it. It is easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of the big picture. The 50/50 rule can help you focus on what is most important and get the job done more efficiently.
On the other hand, if you find yourself rushing through a project, the 50/50 rule can help you slow down and take your time. This is especially true when painting miniatures. Rushing can lead to mistakes and a subpar final product.
Here, the first 50% of your time keeps you focused on the project in front of you. You’re working on doing the best job you can. The second 50% of your time is spent on creative things, such as making sure those fancy effects look good. Maybe you simply want to experiment with a cool technique like airbrush glazing.
Overall, the 50/50 rule is a great way to stay focused and efficient when painting miniatures. By taking your time through this process, it can help you make the most of your time and get the job done right. So next time you sit down to paint, remember the 50/50 rule and see how it can help you!
Conclusion
Well, I hope you enjoyed this quick article on the 50/50 rule. This rule can be applied to many different aspects of painting miniatures and helps keep you focused and efficient. I’ll leave you with one final tip: have fun! Painting miniatures should be enjoyable, so make sure to take your time and enjoy the process.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment below 🙂
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