This is a great read! Squidmar is giving us a list of things that will hold you back in your hobby. Do any of these sound familiar?
Squidmar usually puts out amazing painting content to help each of us get that much better and inspired to paint our minis. This week however he’s helping us help ourselves by giving us some tips to make our hobbying lives easier on us all. Set yourself up for hobby success!
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7 Things That Hold You Back In Your Hobby
The first step is simple and can’t be understated. You need to have a dedicated hobby space or at least one that can be set up with the least amount of effort. If you have to move a bunch of stuff to get ready to hobby, you are giving yourself a mental block and may not even find yourself willing to get started. After all, just watching YouTube is that much easier.
The next step may seem counter-productive, but Aymil assures us otherwise! Paint fewer minis! When you paint less minis at a time you will paint them better and learn more along the way. Starting a bunch of different minis at the same time will probably result in half-finished, or barely done miniatures that you will wish you did better later.
Number three goes along with the first. Have everything you need within arm’s reach. The less you have to work, the more you will enjoy it and will subconsciously want to do it more! The fewer steps you make for yourself, the better.
Step four is to clean up your hobby mess! Again, along the same vein, the fewer steps the better. If you have to clean an old mess it will be harder for you to get over that first hurdle. Get inspired when you sit down, not drained!
Step five is to sell your miniatures! Having minis to paint piling up, that you won’t ever get to, is just unneeded stress. It sucks, but it’s true. Try to avoid stockpiles, stay focused, and, more importantly, stay motivated.
Step six is to paint better miniatures. Try to get higher quality sculpts. Minis that let you get creative and explore and test! Try to paint minis that you might not have looked at before. This will help your skills and enjoyment grow when you are finished.
The last step is to try to get better tools! A good brush goes a mile further when you’re trying to get better at hobbying. Better tools make the hobbying more of a hobby and less of a chore! A wet palette and airbrush are also great things to get. It’s okay to fork up some dollars and invest in your hobby to make it more enjoyable.
Squidmar Miniatures is a great place to learn all kinds of painting techniques! Be sure to subscribe to Squidmar Miniatures YouTube channel for more tutorials.
About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
Socials: Facebook
About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
