sanctuary13
New member
I haven't posted on here in a while. I am sorry for that. I'd write a list of excuses, but I think it would be more productive to explain why I am back. We can discuss my punishment for straying at a later date.
Once again I return to "The Hobby", the only hobby I ever return to. This time, however, it's at a request. My wife, Jennifer, asked me to get back into painting. You see, we are early thirties, ex-military (both of us), and going to university on the shoestring budget of the actual G.I. bill payout. With that payout we have been renting a place, and I haven't felt comfortable starting a big nest of a painting area, only to have to clear it out in three months, as the intermittent payout meant we could never be sure of having rent. We have been successful in making it over a year now, however, but that will be changing soon. Despite this, she asked me to begin painting again.
Ophelia Janelle Shelley is the name of my daughter. She hasn't been born yet, she won't be making public appearances till mid April. I absolutely can't wait to meet her, but as any parent I'm sure knows, there are trepidations regarding finances. Being a college student doesn't pay as well as you'd think. This even further makes me hesitate to reintroduce a potentially expensive hobby into our young family. However, my wife has asked me to begin painting again.
We paint together. I got into it first through D&D, and then later through stumbling onto 40K. I painted off and on from middle school to well past my enlistment. Jennifer enjoyed the results and has picked up the brush herself to great effect. Since starting school, however, it has become difficult to dedicate free time. I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to schoolwork, but it means most of my spare time I'm reluctant to spend doing something engaging like painting, and end up playing World of Tanks for 3 hours before cracking a book. Still, made Dean's List so that's good. But this isn't a huge roadblock for a lot of people. In fact, I read stories constantly about people in college, painting miniatures for spare cash. A friend of mine walked me through his methods for eBay profits, and that's a good goal. I'm even quite handy with 2 part silicon molds and resin as well as white metal casting. So my wife felt that even if I only made enough money to pay for paints and the odd mini here and there, then it would be worth it. But really, I think she doesn't want me to stop painting once the baby is here. It's nice to have support!
I'm in finals for the next week and a half. After that my school year is over until fall, so it's all baby and painting. I realize baby will be HUGE, but as Jen and I tend to share workloads, and that will include the baby (she's never even changed a diaper, ugh!) Also we will be living with her mother, with whom I get along very well, so there's a third pair of hands. Anyways, to try to maintain focus through all this, I would begin regular posting back here on good ol' CMON. That includes photo uploads in the future as well.
So as far as trying to set this up, here is what I am still working on:
Technique. This is eternal, of course. Here on CMON my older pieces rated 5-6 generally, not top tier but given the competition I feel pretty good, and I have improved since then (including major shifts like the magical wet palette). Still, I need to work on crispness of lines, less reliance on washes for shadows, maybe try more NMM, and above all else, speed.
Name. Can't think of a decent pseudonym/business title! everything I come up with seems weak. Von Dork? Cobalt Painting? Dreadnought Painting? Seems like a small detail but its easy to get hung on it.
Delivery. I am waiting on several deliveries, both new pieces and restocking. Once these arrive I'll be able to set in on them immediately and with any luck have 4-5 auctions on before Ophelia arrives.
eBay account. I've got a personal one, not sure if that would be appropriate to use or not. if not, new account creation pending name.
Photos. My D80 was stolen 2 years ago, and i have yet to recover. I've got an adequate if clumsy and outdated backup which will work, I hope.
Anyways, my goal here was to start a dialogue and get chatting here on the forums, try to stay focused on "The Hobby" ...If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking with it, my communications proff described me as....verbose.
Once again I return to "The Hobby", the only hobby I ever return to. This time, however, it's at a request. My wife, Jennifer, asked me to get back into painting. You see, we are early thirties, ex-military (both of us), and going to university on the shoestring budget of the actual G.I. bill payout. With that payout we have been renting a place, and I haven't felt comfortable starting a big nest of a painting area, only to have to clear it out in three months, as the intermittent payout meant we could never be sure of having rent. We have been successful in making it over a year now, however, but that will be changing soon. Despite this, she asked me to begin painting again.
Ophelia Janelle Shelley is the name of my daughter. She hasn't been born yet, she won't be making public appearances till mid April. I absolutely can't wait to meet her, but as any parent I'm sure knows, there are trepidations regarding finances. Being a college student doesn't pay as well as you'd think. This even further makes me hesitate to reintroduce a potentially expensive hobby into our young family. However, my wife has asked me to begin painting again.
We paint together. I got into it first through D&D, and then later through stumbling onto 40K. I painted off and on from middle school to well past my enlistment. Jennifer enjoyed the results and has picked up the brush herself to great effect. Since starting school, however, it has become difficult to dedicate free time. I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to schoolwork, but it means most of my spare time I'm reluctant to spend doing something engaging like painting, and end up playing World of Tanks for 3 hours before cracking a book. Still, made Dean's List so that's good. But this isn't a huge roadblock for a lot of people. In fact, I read stories constantly about people in college, painting miniatures for spare cash. A friend of mine walked me through his methods for eBay profits, and that's a good goal. I'm even quite handy with 2 part silicon molds and resin as well as white metal casting. So my wife felt that even if I only made enough money to pay for paints and the odd mini here and there, then it would be worth it. But really, I think she doesn't want me to stop painting once the baby is here. It's nice to have support!
I'm in finals for the next week and a half. After that my school year is over until fall, so it's all baby and painting. I realize baby will be HUGE, but as Jen and I tend to share workloads, and that will include the baby (she's never even changed a diaper, ugh!) Also we will be living with her mother, with whom I get along very well, so there's a third pair of hands. Anyways, to try to maintain focus through all this, I would begin regular posting back here on good ol' CMON. That includes photo uploads in the future as well.
So as far as trying to set this up, here is what I am still working on:
Technique. This is eternal, of course. Here on CMON my older pieces rated 5-6 generally, not top tier but given the competition I feel pretty good, and I have improved since then (including major shifts like the magical wet palette). Still, I need to work on crispness of lines, less reliance on washes for shadows, maybe try more NMM, and above all else, speed.
Name. Can't think of a decent pseudonym/business title! everything I come up with seems weak. Von Dork? Cobalt Painting? Dreadnought Painting? Seems like a small detail but its easy to get hung on it.
Delivery. I am waiting on several deliveries, both new pieces and restocking. Once these arrive I'll be able to set in on them immediately and with any luck have 4-5 auctions on before Ophelia arrives.
eBay account. I've got a personal one, not sure if that would be appropriate to use or not. if not, new account creation pending name.
Photos. My D80 was stolen 2 years ago, and i have yet to recover. I've got an adequate if clumsy and outdated backup which will work, I hope.
Anyways, my goal here was to start a dialogue and get chatting here on the forums, try to stay focused on "The Hobby" ...If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking with it, my communications proff described me as....verbose.
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