Talkin' Twitch

Until now, Twitch was just another app in my XBOX Live TV section. When I tried it out, I was unimpressed. For those that may not be as familiar with Twitch, it's a video platform that features live streams of people playing video games. I've watched Let's Plays for years on YouTube. I didn't understand the appeal of something that was just an unedited, chaotic version of a Let's Play that you couldn't rewatch at your convenience. I'm a busy person (aren't we all?) and just couldn't appreciate scrambling to a computer if & when I see a random "We're streaming in 5!" tweet. If you're available, you watch the live stream. If you're not available, you miss out. LAME. However...

Yesterday I decided to give it another try when I saw a Lead Concept Artist from Privateer Press tweet, "Hold onto your butts, it's time to stream!". I had no idea that non-gaming live streams existed. I signed up (officially, so I was no longer a lurker) and logged in to see Nicholas Kay (@nicholasmkay) rendering a digital painting of a futuristic landscape. His work is amazing! While he painted, he actively answered questions from a chat room full of people from several different countries. Now, keep in mind, the last time I've been a part of chat rooms was back in the 90's where people had about 65 different conversations over each other and emoticons were limited to the text symbols on your keyboard. Chat rooms were all the same-- and my overly-polite nature was evidently a flaming beacon for trolls. Despite not knowing the community on Twitch, I decided to jump in and ask a few questions like:

"What keeps you inspired when you find yourself in a creative rut?"

"Tell us about that 'light bulb' moment that changed the way you thought about painting when you were studying art"

"What's the biggest mistake you made starting out as a freelancer and what did you learn from it?"

Nicholas answered those questions along with several others from the viewers. I immediately understood the appeal of Twitch. I feel like Twitch and Twitter go hand-in-hand. Twitch appeals to people because of its possibility for immediate engagement, feedback, and open conversation you can't have on other social media platforms. One can leave comments on YouTube or Facebook, but the broadcaster and the audience lose something in between that time & space. Twitch is fleeting-- its appeal is based on the sense of urgency and excitement that comes with, say, flash sales or flash mobs. It only happens once so be there.

How does this relate to miniature painting you may ask? Well, for me, it's a form of inspiration. Inspiration can be found in many places, and for me, watching someone paint is absolutely fascinating. You get to see their creative process, their approach, their mistakes and how they fix them, and be present for their "happy little accidents" that occur in almost every artistic effort, whether big or small. The community seemed genuinely appreciative and interested in what Nicholas was painting and just about him in general. "What's your favorite movie genre?" one person asked. Another requested, 'Please say 'boobs'!" He did. Twitch is fun, casual, and totally accessible. I researched a bit more into Twitch and found others who stream interesting creative content. At this point, I'm still fond of the edited Let's Plays when watching others play video games, but I'm no longer opposed to the idea of live-streams. Since I'm still discovering to the less-familiar side of Twitch, I'll be keeping an eye out for Allison (@allisonr_91) where she streams DnD 3.5 with her group Monday nights. Sounds like fun! I'll be tuning in next time. 

Now that I've started to understand the Twitch appeal & community, I'll be making myself available during scheduled live streams. And hey, if I see the occasional "We're streaming in 5!" from my favorite broadcasters, best believe I'm going to scramble to a computer. 

Miniature Monogamy

For the past three years, I've painted exclusively Reaper miniatures. Reaper was the first miniature company I discovered when I started painting a few years ago. I've collected their minis over that time until I amassed this hoard:

I feel like owe a lot to Reaper. ReaperCon 2014 was the first convention I attended-- a four-day convention with tabletop gaming, sculpting & painting classes, contests, and panels with some of the best artists in the industry. It was a great experience learning from kind people willing to share their knowledge. ReaperCon inspired me to paint more, paint often, and keep working to improve my skills. I'll definitely be returning next year.

Lately, I've challenged myself to become more involved in the community and research as many different companies as possible in order to expand my knowledge of the hobby. Here's what's in my mixed bag so far:

Privateer Press - Hordes

Mantic Miniatures

Infinity Miniatures

Alkemy Miniatures

I know many people only paint a certain type of miniature-- especially ones specific to their particular gaming system. Others find a miniature sculptor they like, either within a company or one who sculpts for multiple companies, and purchase their work knowing the quality of the sculpt will make a difference. This past Monday, I received a shipment of Infinity miniatures I purchased when I became obsessed with the dynamic style and detailed quality of Corvus Belli's miniatures. I admit I had a hard time paring it down and when I opened this box, I knew I'd gone overboard:

Like I mentioned in my "...and Beyond!" post, I appreciate well-proportioned 25-28mm miniatures with dynamic poses, expressive faces, and well-rendered details. I haven't painted enough different types of miniatures to have specific preferences-- that's the main reason why I'm running this experiment. So far, I only know what I don't want to paint. For example, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I don't care to paint skeletons or zombies-- it's just not my cup of tea. I find it difficult to stare at a mini for hours at a time when all I think when I look at it is, "eww" (I often sound like a 5 year old). However, I have a great appreciation for painters who are able to use many different styles to paint a broad range of miniatures-- from beautiful ladies to ghoulish monsters, terrain, mecha robots, and everything in between. I aspire to one day be that experienced and well-rounded in my own painting. I also realize that once I'm able to paint faster, I know that painting miniatures I don't particularly care for will become less of an issue since each one won't be a serious time commitment. 

In the meantime, I'll continue to research more companies and find as many different examples of miniatures as I can to find out what I like (and dislike) about the materials they're made out of, the quality of the sculpt, style, and overall experience. I find that I'm inspired to try new painting techniques on different miniature styles-- it can't hurt to mix it up!

While I'll always have a special place in my heart for Reaper miniatures (and Lord knows I have enough in my stash and will be painting them for years to come), after three years, I'm ready to branch out and paint some other types of miniatures. I admit, I feel a little guilty ending my monogamous relationship with these Reaper minis. At the very least, I'll be able to speak from experience when I talk about the pros/cons surrounding the different types of miniatures. First up will be a Privateer Press miniature and an Infinity miniature. I'll start each of them this weekend and have some Works In Progress pictures to show next week. We'll see how it goes!

Miniatures & Scale

When I tell people about my hobby, the first question they usually ask is, "Just how small are they?".  Since my blog is about the discovery of miniature painting, my goal is to make it accessible to everyone. Recently I was asked to include a basic overview of miniatures & scale for those less-than-familiar with the hobby. Happy to oblige!

The majority of miniatures I paint are 25-28mm. For those of us who were not raised on the internationally recognized decimal system of measurement, they're about 1 inch tall. Some are a bit larger and others are considerably smaller, and once the 25-28mm minis are attached to bases, the finished product is usually under 2 inches. Of course, bases can range anywhere from a simple, flat square to a hand-carved custom display base. To help put miniature scale in perspective, here are some pictures: one with a measuring tape & push pin, the other featuring my less-than-manicured thumbnail.

"What are they made out of?"

While some minis are made from plastic or resin, the majority of miniatures I've painted are cast in pewter. They come out of the box looking like this Reaper miniature:

Some are cast as one piece, others are in several parts and require assembly like this Privateer Press miniature:

"How long do they take to paint?"

For me, generally anywhere from 4-32 hours. It's a big range, and I personally choose how long to spend on a mini by asking myself this simple question:

What is this mini going to be used for?

• One-time tabletop game: 2-4 hours. 
• Many games: 8-24 hours (depending on how many people I want to impress!)
• Display & Collecting: 12-32+ hours (depending on the projected detail & quality)
• Personal enjoyment: however long I want!

And lastly, the final question I'm asked is, "Why do you enjoy painting these tiny things?"

Truly, I enjoy working with small-scale figures. They require a smaller volume of paint, less room needed for my painting setup, and the best part is that a $5-15 miniature is much less expensive than a large canvas. I also like the challenge of refining controlled painting techniques for the best possible results. It's a great exercise in patience!  

If you have questions, keep 'em coming! I'm happy to share my discoveries and look forward to learning from others as well. In the meantime, I'm waiting for my Infinity miniatures to arrive in the mail today-- I'll have more for you on Thursday!