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[Homburg]

After this job, I'm hanging up my brushes. It's become a job again, a chore. I hate it when I get like this.

I am not cut out for commercial work even on commission like this. Wish I was

 

[DiscusDave]

After this job, I'm hanging up my brushes. It's become a job again, a chore. I hate it when I get like this.

I am not cut out for commercial work even on commission like this. Wish I was

Aww, Homburg, I'm sorry to hear that.

It must have been getting pretty tough.

I just hope you don't hang up your brushes completely. Maybe stop doing it for pay, but someone with your talent shouldn't stop.

Are you going to paint for yourself, from time to time, at least?

 

[Homburg]

I dunno, man. I have had neither urge nor desire to paint for myself for a while. I'm not actively doing any tabletop gaming, and that takes a lot of the motivation away. And, honestly, I'm not fired up to do any gaming. I'm not really happy with the direction the system's gone, nor with the way the local group have started playing (full cheese, all the time).

The closest I've done to enjoying it was painting some stuff for my kids for this past Christmas, and it was likewise the best work I've done recently as well.

This has happened a coupla times before. I think it is more realisation that I can't stand doing lots of commission work. I'm not cut out to pimp my brushes because I still feel like it should be art. And, wow, I'd like to not think that way. I wish I could be like my former business partner, and just see it as a craft. He didn't remotely care about his product itself. He just cared about satisfying his commissions. Much healthier attitude, though my clients were generally happier with what they got than his were with his work. Still, aiming for "satisified" pays the bills and doesn't wear you out. Aiming for "Wow!" is just not good business in this case, especially as I'm having a tough time summoning up "satisfied" level work right now.

This is depressing.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

The bunny blanket is super adorable!! It looks so warm and soft.

I particularly like the bunny blanket. I can see it being very cuddly to a baby. The floppy ears are nice.

It really is way soft. I'm hoping she'll like it. She turns one on October 2nd, so I'll be sending it off shortly.

 

[DiscusDave]

I dunno, man. I have had neither urge nor desire to paint for myself for a while. I'm not actively doing any tabletop gaming, and that takes a lot of the motivation away. And, honestly, I'm not fired up to do any gaming. I'm not really happy with the direction the system's gone, nor with the way the local group have started playing (full cheese, all the time).

The closest I've done to enjoying it was painting some stuff for my kids for this past Christmas, and it was likewise the best work I've done recently as well.

This has happened a coupla times before. I think it is more realisation that I can't stand doing lots of commission work. I'm not cut out to pimp my brushes because I still feel like it should be art. And, wow, I'd like to not think that way. I wish I could be like my former business partner, and just see it as a craft. He didn't remotely care about his product itself. He just cared about satisfying his commissions. Much healthier attitude, though my clients were generally happier with what they got than his were with his work. Still, aiming for "satisified" pays the bills and doesn't wear you out. Aiming for "Wow!" is just not good business in this case, especially as I'm having a tough time summoning up "satisfied" level work right now.

This is depressing.

I'm sorry to hear that. The way the system is going is something I always considered to be out of my control. Any of the games I play it's always a, how am I just going to deal with stuff now. Especially since I use a force that has not been updated for years.

Maybe a sabbatical from painting in general is needed, but as someone who is a proponent of keeping talent alive, I hope you don't turn your back on it.

And maybe you're being done with commissioned work is a good idea. Doing something like painting for pay can really lead to being drained on it very quickly.

I guess I would just say don't forget there are people out there who appreciate your gift.

 

[Homburg]

Y'know, I appreciate that. I really do.

A sabbatical is what it will likely be. I never seem to completely turn my back on it, and learned a long time ago to not sell off my minis. It seems like the moment I "get out" of a hobby and sell off my stuff, the timer starts counting down to me getting fired up again and having to buy entire new armies. So I am content to basically sit on a few thousand dollars worth of cool old figs with the idea that I'll get to em... someday.

Commission may be out of the picture though. I can see doing favours for friends, but not actually soliciting work. It's not worth it.

Oh, and to add a cherry of disappointment to my sundae of disillusionment, my favourite brush finally went belly up. So I took a trip to the art store to buy a new one, and they no longer carry that line. At all. In fact, they don't carry ANY line that I like. They're just toting the bargain basement garbage, and no one is even vaguely trying to maintain the brush section, so the brushes are all raggedy.

Very unhappy was I.

 

[DVS]

Y'know, I appreciate that. I really do.

A sabbatical is what it will likely be. I never seem to completely turn my back on it, and learned a long time ago to not sell off my minis. It seems like the moment I "get out" of a hobby and sell off my stuff, the timer starts counting down to me getting fired up again and having to buy entire new armies. So I am content to basically sit on a few thousand dollars worth of cool old figs with the idea that I'll get to em... someday.

Commission may be out of the picture though. I can see doing favours for friends, but not actually soliciting work. It's not worth it.

Oh, and to add a cherry of disappointment to my sundae of disillusionment, my favourite brush finally went belly up. So I took a trip to the art store to buy a new one, and they no longer carry that line. At all. In fact, they don't carry ANY line that I like. They're just toting the bargain basement garbage, and no one is even vaguely trying to maintain the brush section, so the brushes are all raggedy.

Very unhappy was I.

You know? It's amazing how I can relate to some of your issues. I've had times when I was so fed up with the music business that I almost quit it. But, I always changed my mind after a while, because it's in my blood. It's not something I can stop for any length of time without going out of my head with a certain amount of stress.

The stress isn't something I can relate straight to the music or lack of it, but I can tell when I'm missing it and I start to feel the urge to create or at least play. It's something I get totally engulfed in and the rest of the world does not exist for me. I can spend hours on something, and not even realize it.

You talk about the changes in the system and not liking how it's going? Again, I can relate to the changes in the music business. If you ask me, it has dummy-ed down an awful lot, in the last 20 years.

You also mention your brushes are no longer carried and they instead carry a lesser brand as if they don't seem to care about the creative flow of the individual...just the bottom dollar.

The music business is the same way, because record companies are looking for the next big star, meaning they are looking for the next heavy metal band, the next new country band, hip hop attraction, pop sensation, etc.

That's OK, but they aren't looking for new and unique talent as much as they're looking for the next Van Halen look alike or the next Garth Brooks, etc. because they assume the public will latch on to them just as much as the original.

It's the cookie cutter idea, not wanting to take a chance with something new. They don't care about the individual. If you look the part, and act the part, they give you a chance. If you're unique and untested, they don't want to spend any money on you. You take what they're dishing out, just like you take the brushes they offer.

Maybe I'm generalizing things a little too much, but I don't think I am. And as for your giving it up, I'd keep what you have, just in case you get the urge again. I could never sell my musical equipment, because it's worth more to me to keep than what I could ever sell things for, and I could never afford to buy the same things again, or anything similar for what I paid for them.

So, to make this long story short, should you take a break? Yes. Should you sell anything? No. Should you plan on coming back to it some day? Maybe (probably). Force yourself to make a decision one way or the other? NEVER! You can't force creative juices to flow. They flow on their own terms.

Take a break. Let your creative urges tell you when it's time to start up again.

 

[Homburg]

*nod* That's pretty much where I am. The urge to paint is flat gone. And, honestly, part of it is the cookie cutter thing.

See I like the ability to paint what I want within bounds. The client says "I want this particular colour," so you go with that colour, but the detail work, the complimentary colours, etc are mine to deal with. Recently, I did some work for a client that I really like, but he wanted a line I don't like, and, worse, gave me photos from their website and said "Make it look like this." This is another moment when I wish I didn't give a shit about what I produce.

It does not help that the money is just flat not good. Yeah, it beats minimum wage, but I can spend my time doing other things that will make me more money easily. I do this because it is something I theoretically enjoy and can make some money off it as well. Now that the enjoyment is gone, the money is not enough of a motivation.

 

[the captians wench]

I get that way too. Usually I just make up a bunch of costumes that I like and post them up on ebay, then mention that I do custom pieces as well and I'll get a few orders here and there for special things.

But part of doing custom orders means that I have to do the costume they want in the colors they want, and let me tell you some people just have no taste at all. Durring certain seasons I'll get lots of orders and I just get frusterated doing things the way other people want them. Then I made the mistake of posting custom auctions. Will Never do that again.

It really made my costumes a chore.

 

[Homburg]

I get that way too. Usually I just make up a bunch of costumes that I like and post them up on ebay, then mention that I do custom pieces as well and I'll get a few orders here and there for special things.

But part of doing custom orders means that I have to do the costume they want in the colors they want, and let me tell you some people just have no taste at all. Durring certain seasons I'll get lots of orders and I just get frusterated doing things the way other people want them. Then I made the mistake of posting custom auctions. Will Never do that again.

It really made my costumes a chore.

Ha, I remember one guy that wanted a truly awful colour combo. I told him it would look bad. He didn't agree. I stressed that it would look awful, and even offered to paint a test mini. He disagreed angrily and said he could just take his business elsewhere. Like a dumbass, I told him I would do it. It came out looking bloody awful, as I'd explained, and he had the gall to bitch.

I reminded him of the email conversation where I'd warned him multiple times, and his cranky response. Then I asked him to examine the technique used and made sure there were zero quality complaints. Then I told him to not come back, and if he posted any gripes about the army anywhere, I'd just quote the email conversation on whatever board he posted on.

 

[the captians wench]

Ha, I remember one guy that wanted a truly awful colour combo. I told him it would look bad. He didn't agree. I stressed that it would look awful, and even offered to paint a test mini. He disagreed angrily and said he could just take his business elsewhere. Like a dumbass, I told him I would do it. It came out looking bloody awful, as I'd explained, and he had the gall to bitch.

I reminded him of the email conversation where I'd warned him multiple times, and his cranky response. Then I asked him to examine the technique used and made sure there were zero quality complaints. Then I told him to not come back, and if he posted any gripes about the army anywhere, I'd just quote the email conversation on whatever board he posted on.

I had some one once order a dress from me but she refused to let me measure her properly. She insisted that her waist was lower than I set it at and insisted that her bust was bigger. Well the first one I made for her of course was too big like I had expected it would be. Then she let me measure her properly

I don't know why people seek out specialists if they are just going to insist that they know better.

 

[DiscusDave]

*snip*

I don't know why people seek out specialists if they are just going to insist that they know better.

It just doesn't make sense.

I do know though, that a reason why people go to specialists is because they just don't want to expend the 1) resources, 2) skill, or a majority of instances 3) the time, to do said project.

It still doesn't give them liberty to bitch. Some people just don't know how to appreciate someone else doing something for them.

 

[ultramarineblue]

Commissions seem to stifle my creativity. I have to make sure it is good and get it done within a certain amount of time. With that I tend to fall back on techniques that always work but the work tends to lack something that exploration gives. Besides, I'm pretty hardheaded about my art. A really quick way to piss me off is to tell me how to do it or what to do. I guess I'm just selfish that way. I paint for me and no one else. It's nice when I sell a painting but it isn't necessary.

 

[the captians wench]

Okay, I have decided not to go with a third material on this costume, but I still can't decide on which material to use.

So which do you all like best? The sleeves are going to be kind of fitted if that helps any, and remember, this is all just pinned onto the dummy right now.

ETA:

I'm working on this costume. Dress "A".

 

[Etoile]

wenchie, if I bought you a pattern, could you sew me something? I need a star trek dress in black. *smirk*

 

[the captians wench]

wenchie, if I bought you a pattern, could you sew me something? I need a star trek dress in black. *smirk*

*giggles*

It would be a new genre for me, but I'm always up for a challenge.

 

[Etoile]

*giggles*

It would be a new genre for me, but I'm always up for a challenge.

I'm quite serious! It's the next to the last item on this page. I've been wanting to commission it for a long time, but I didn't think I knew any dressmakers! Let's PM if you're interested?

Edit: This is the right pattern...comes in my size.

 

[bridgeburner]

Oh my lord, Wenchie! That's amazing --- are you sure you have no desire to hire out to a costume house? I know the local university theater would kill for someone with your skills.

 

[the captians wench]

If I could quit my day job and do nothing but costumes I would in a heart beat.

 

[wicked woman]

Okay, I have decided not to go with a third material on this costume, but I still can't decide on which material to use.

So which do you all like best? The sleeves are going to be kind of fitted if that helps any, and remember, this is all just pinned onto the dummy right now.

ETA:

So you have a choice of the pink of the main colour for the sleeves? If that's the case I prefer the lighter one that looks like a damask for the sleeves. My guess is you're thinking the pink so the peek a boo bit of pink in the skirt ties in more, but I like the idea of just the peek a boo pink and I prefer the damask fabric. It looks more suited to the costume to me.

If you want to have a bit more of the pink to co-ordinate, I might suggest the addition around the waist could have a few pieces of the pink fabric...if it's not already done...but personally I prefer the pink in the skirt alone.

It's fabulous though.

 

[bridgeburner]

If I could quit my day job and do nothing but costumes I would in a heart beat.

Have you looked into it? Good semptresses (hmmm, sounds like temptresses) --- especially those who excel in period costumes --- would seem to be pretty coveted assets.

Ooooh! What if you could sew for the Royal Shakespeare Company!!!!

 

[Etoile]

What's a semptress??

 

[00Syd]

I'm quite serious! It's the next to the last item on this page. I've been wanting to commission it for a long time, but I didn't think I knew any dressmakers! Let's PM if you're interested?

Edit: This is the right pattern...comes in my size.

Oh man I want one too. But that light blue, like Spock's uniform. There is a costume store near me in NY that has this costume, but it would be awesome to get one custom made.

And its not even like I'm the biggest trek fan or anything, I just LOVE those uniforms! So great looking.

 

[Etoile]

Oh man I want one too. But that light blue, like Spock's uniform. There is a costume store near me in NY that has this costume, but it would be awesome to get one custom made.

And its not even like I'm the biggest trek fan or anything, I just LOVE those uniforms! So great looking.

TOTALLY your style, yes, I absolutely see that!

 

[00Syd]

TOTALLY your style, yes, I absolutely see that!

I once saw a trek-uniform style CORSET. Oh man.