On the rediscovery Of Painting For Oneself

 

Last night, I finished the final 12 figures for the first of my 15mm sci-fi forces:

 

 

 

I want to thank those of you who have commented on my ongoing projects in the last few weeks.

I paint for a living - full time for the last 16 years - so for me painting is a job and not simething I do for personal pleasure. It's quite clinical as I have a very specific worth ethic (as my clients would, I think, confirm) and so, my own stuff has been sent to a part time leisure painter since 2020, as after a 45 hour week under 4 lighting rigs, hunched over like Quasimodo, I generally want to go out into the countryside and fine a nice restaurant or go to the theatre at weekends.

My own requirements are clean, neat and above all, what I would call '80s style' paint jobs and my painter does them very well, working as he has through about 10000 28mm figures so far, and having done so with a tight brief from me. 

 

It does mean I have some nice (and immense) armies, but nothing I have painted myself, save a few command bases, for about 20 years, and nothing of consequence since my years of doing quite nicely at Salute in the 90s in the competitions. 

So, finding that I have really enjoyed rediscovering 15mm, and moreover that I'v eenjoyed painting like I did when I was 14, (I'm 58 this year) has been a surprise.

I was inspired as a callow youth by early to mid 80s games by South London Warlords and The Player's Guild as were I guess many of my generation, and I was fortunate to have been 'at the knee' of the late Pete 'Greblord' Armstrong, when I was coming up around 81/82 who was the closest thing GW had to a staff painter before the 'Eavy Metal days, and who, wrote the painting guide in the 80s Citadel catalogue (used unofficially by RAFM, too). He worked in the Sheffield GW and so put up with me pestering him, and didn't kill me.

I'd forgotten just how big a thing 15mm sci-fi was for me, and I am stoked (I think the kids say that?) to have rediscovered my love of it in old age, and want to thank you all again, as well as Jon Tuffley, Tony Francis, Gavin Syme, South London Warlords, Pete Armstrong  and Messrs Treadaway and Dallimore for all playing a part in my reawakening and rediscovery of enjoying painting for myself.

Mark