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Sana'a, Yemen, the old city: http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/thumbs/site_0385_0018-750-0-20110809151007.jpg https://a630bbb17ae9d1222021-2afb368a5169e2c14e6c1f3083d913b8.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/2013/04/Sanaa.jpg

So I have been struggling with painter's 'block' for quite some time now. I know everyone has been there - you really want to paint but sitting at your painting desk you have no motivation/inspiration to get started - so I am wondering what things have worked for people in getting past it. Also has anyone found a 'trigger' that causes it (for themselves of course - I'd imagine there are as may 'triggers' for this as there are people in the hobby!) Myself I think I have actually found a possible trigger that leads me into not wanting to paint anything. When I see posts either here on my facebook feed (Reaper Miniatures is about the only business I allow to post things in my newsfeed) of these beautifully painted and based miniatures I am, at first, in awe of the skill required to get these results - I truly think people who can paint 2" high miniatures so that they look like they may get up and start walking around as some of the finest artists out there and Reaper seems to attract these experts in droves. My next reaction is often the realization that I will never even come close to the results these painters get - my style is to roughshod and I paint solely to bring miniatures to RPG games (or the occasional miniature-focused board game). I just want them to look decent but I find my self demoralized as I see these works of art. So for the last few weeks I have avoided looking at anything in the 'Show Off' forum and turned off following Reaper on fb. And something miraculous happened 5 nights ago. I picked up a paint brush and finished 2 miniatures I had stopped working of 7-8 months ago. And I have been painting every other night since then.

Hey all, Wanted to take a break from painting big stompy robots (CAVs) and get back into something with curves. Someone in my pathfinder group just made a new character, a female slayer... So I used that as motivation to paint up this awesome sculpt. I looked around and got heavy inspiration from these two posts by Pingo and Evilcoatrack: http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/61985-scáthach-scotswoman-warrior-77389-highland-heroine/ http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/69147-77389-highland-heroine-wip/ I decided to try a few new things with this mini, including thinning using matte medium, and a tartan pattern. Tartan is really hard to make look good... If anyone had any tips, I am all ears. I just finished the hair and am really happy with how it came out, and this is probably the best face I have ever done as well (with eyes, no less!). In fact, the irises went on a bit thick, so there is a little dollop that creates a shadow under strong light to mimic a pupil ... Kind of like the opposite of what Roman sculptures do. A fortunate accident. Anyway, C and C appreciated. I reckon I'll have her done by the end of the week. I'll be trying nmm on the sword and shields. Pingo and Evilcoatrack, thanks for the inspiration!!!

So in the spirit of ReaperBryan's Redecorate My Office thread, I'm going to ask you guys for some help with part of my basement game room. Unlike Bryan and his office, I do sort of have a theme for my game room which is basically medieval times meets Stargate address archive meets nerd cave. (I didn't say it was a good theme). Anyway, my wife, who is a stained glass artist, promised me she would make me six pieces of stained glass of my design for use in the window shutters I started for the three basement windows. The shutters will replace the shades, and by having them glass, I'll be able to leave them closed, but still hopefully let a lot of light in. My problem is that for the last three years, I haven't finished my part of the project because I can't decide what designs I want for the stained glass. Which means my wife can't do hers. The problem isn't coming up with a design or two, but coming up with ideas that look good together, can be paired (each window will have two pieces - one on each side of the shutter), AND can be made with at least 60% lighter translucent colors of glass to allow light in. So what do you think would look cool for stained glass in a game room? Each piece would be approximately 12" wide, by about 14" high, and as I mentioned, each shutter would have a right and left piece. I don't care if the pair in each window are part of the same design, or just along the same themes. I do want them to be somewhere in the sci-fi or fantasy realm. I do have to draw all of the patterns myself (or commission someone to do them, which cuts into my glass budget). here's some pics to give you a better idea: Here are two of the windows in the corner with the video games: Here is a sample of my book shelves with gaming, reference and fictions books, as well as some overflow hobby stuff. like Bones creatures: And finally, here's one of the other walls near the bar area:

People who exist outside the world of our hobby (poor sods) are unaware that the painting of miniatures has been elevated to the level of high art. How many of us have non-gamer/painter friends who frantically attempt to change the subject when we begin talking about sculpts, colours and techniques? My family tends to just nod their heads, pretending to listen, whilst I prattle on. If only I could get them to view the work of Masters. Then, perhaps, they could understand what I'm on about. Here are three examples of works by Master Painters that inspire me and humble me as a painter. This is from Niena Studio and was painted by Igor Baklanov This is a Nocturna Model painted by Pepa Saavedra. This is another Nocturna model, painted by Jose Hernandez. I do believe that it is good for all of us to look at world class painters. It can be daunting as we struggle to learn new techniques, to find our feet as painters and to become the painter we imagine ourselves to be. But I find it worth the while. And let us not forget the gifted sculptors who create these elegant pieces for us to paint. Without them, we are nothing.