Hello once again everyone! It's been a while, but I bit the bullet last night, after several months away from the painting table, and worked for an hour on the final nine figures and horses of that monster dragoon regiment (45 figures and horses in all) begun almost one year ago. Mostly applying small flecks of acrylic gold to buttons on the men's and officer's coat lapels, pockets, and cuffs.
I find that buttons turn out best when you apply just the tiniest fleck of paint to the very center of the sculpted buttons, to catch the light instead of attempting to paint the entire button and risk having the paint end up where you don't want it. Of course, holding your breath, bracing your forearms against something steady, and painting beneath very bright lights help immeasurably too.
As does perching one's spectacles down on the tip of one's nose. Yep. Sadly, it has come to that point. The long, slow, inevitable slide into old age. No matter. The Swenor roller skis (classic diagonal stride), which should arrive before long, and recent not insignificant weight loss should stave off total decrepitude for a few more years with a little luck. Not going down without a fight as they say. But I digress!
Back to figure painting and looking ahead in the painting queue. There was less to do on the final nine dragoons and mounts than I recalled, which was a pleasant surprise because I want to get moving on a large regiment of infantry this summer. Possibly either an Austrian or Reichsarmee regiment, or some AWI Germans in a composite unit. I am going for colorful units and flags in as varied a mix as possible.
And, of course, The Young Master and I will continue work on his battalion of Prussian garrison infantry that we began in late December 2020 during the Christmas break. He has been very patient with ol' Dad in the meantime.
As for the long pause in hobby activity, well what can you say? The refrain is the same as for many other painter-wargamers around the globe this last year. Too much work at home with related stressors plus a general malaise that has made reading during the evenings, or binging on one or another TV series via Netflix with The Grand Duchess, a more attractive prospect.
The path of least resistance. Utter passivity. "Languishing," I think, is the term some have taken to calling it. In any case, all of this has meant that the elusive painting muse has not visited as often as she might have done since January.
But, with the end of the semester/term here, barring the calculation of final course grades for about 140 students this coming week, the decks will be clear for a while, and I can devote the evenings to painting and related hobby pursuits. With perhaps also the occasional game too?
I know The Young Master would be up for pushing some lead around the table as we play through another Charles Grant scenario or tabletop teaser. On that note, I have continued to tinker with my morale and cohesion rules during my absence from the painting table, but of that more anon.
-- Stokes
P.S.
On a totally unrelated point, I received the second of my anti-Covid shots almost two weeks ago (of the Pfizer variety), and except for a sore shoulder for a couple of days, had no adverse reactions either time. I'll continue wearing my mask out in public, plan to teach online for the 2021-2022 academic year, and will continue to avoid large gatherings though. After all, why tempt fate?
Immunologists have already told us that we can still catch it, and the after effects for people who survive a bout with the Covid-19 virus are long-lasting and exceedingly unpleasant. Periodic booster immunizations may also be necessary later, so it pays to remain vigilant in my view since this thing could be with us for some time to come.
It's preferable, then, to err on the side of safety than throw caution to the wind only to wish one had been more careful later. After all, I hope for a few more decades of relatively joyful painting, collecting, and playing with my toys.
Comments
Totally agree with your views on vaccines and precautions against Covid. My 2nd AZ jab is due this evening.
I have painted some figures now and then, probably about in line with my usual slow intermittent pace. I have some sitting here to be prepped for painting now, but have been dealing with some minor non-covid health issues lately. Path of least resistance does make it easier to languish languidly. But I think renewed interest will come sooner or later.