I am a prodigal hobby sculptor-- I enjoy it, but seem to let every thing else in the world occupy my time. Put some clay into my hands, and I'm back to it, but it feels like taking that first step is so hard, like I am seeking distractions. That being said, your comment about "do at least one thing a day" rings so true. It does create and motivates progress.
Great content, Tom! Hell yeah I'm distracted. The big culprits are full time care-giving, managing a community garden, and taking care of the homesteading chores. I've just started sculpting again after a 6 month hiatus. My plans are abbreviated. Organizing the space was a real motivator. Putting in the time is key. It doesn't even need to be a long time just consistent. "Sit in the chair" - Tabletop Alchemy
I'm not happy to hear you face the same struggles, but it's good to know I'm in good company. What's your latest project? I still can't thank you enough for sharing your techniques for sculpting in 15mm!
Thanks Tom, thanks no small part due to your kind comments, I'm back in the saddle. I am 90% done on my 1st sculpt in 2 years, and well on the way with number 2. Now for the bad part. To make that time I let my DM prep slip. I guess there are no easy wins :-)
It's great to hear you're sculpting minis again. I once heard Todd McFarlane say he could only keep so many plates spinning at one time. If he ever added one more past that number, he would end up dropping 1-2 plates. I think that's the same for most people. I know it is for me.
Thanks , Tom. Great stuff. I am very similar in a lot of ways, and I have recently done something similar - setting specific times and short term achievable goals to , just like you said, move the needle. It works. I am that much closer to setting up my printable mini store. Keep trudging, but treat yourself no harsher than you would want your boss/manager to treat you, but at the same time, deliver in the way you would expect an employee of yours to.
This is such great advice, "but treat yourself no harsher than you would want your boss/manager to treat you". It's so easy to hold ourselves to too high a standard.
Great video Tom! Just what I needed to get back up and running myself. I have been so busy the past months moving across the country but I finally got settled in, broke out my sculpting kit and set up my station. I am sculpting my first miniature in my new home. It’s going really well! I was worried that I would lose the skill in between the time of not sculpting.
Welcome back! It's definitely nerve-racking to get back into something. I would definitely like to keep at something long term to have created more, but I've always found that whenever I came back to a creative endeavor I performed better than the last time I did it. Once you knock the rust off, of course.
It's ussually procrastination for me. I feel like I shouldn't be starting anything for fun until I've done every small chore and task. Massively need to focus on step 3 to get to sculpting (I'm a night owl so do my creative work when everyone else is getting ready for bed!) Thanks for the video
For me it is definitely the summer months. When it gets real hot my desire for sculpting goes down. All i want to do is some easy entertainment, be outdoors and laze about. And i get the whole problem with wanting to sculpt more. For me it is very much the "clean work space, mix putty"... it is an hour to two hour commitment i need to make (because i don't want to waste putty) and making that commitment on top of all other commitments takes effort. But i find it is largely that... the issue of needing to make the commitment. It isn't an issue once i have made the commitment. It is easy to get going once i got going. That being said, this video very much sounds more like a sculpting is a chore for you, not a hobby. I mean, i suppose having goals is nice and all, and if you work for commissions then definitely that is important, but if its just your hobby... i feel that is undue pressure to put onto yourself to have a goal like "i have to sculpt X miniatures by the end of the year". I'd much rather only produce one, i am really happy with, than put pressure onto myself because i feel obligated that i need to have a certain output. And sure, my Instagram suffers for it... i am sure more reliable content would help with my social media, but then we are talking work flow and productivity of a potential business, not so much about sculpting miniatures. The only time i really feel pressured is when i look at other people in the mini sculpting community and see their output.. but i don't think that is sculpting related.
Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful comment. If I can give you one piece of advice, it would be to stop caring about wasting putty. The amount that is wasted is so minor in terms of cost and actual waste. Don't let that stand in the way of sculpting. If you just can't bare it though, you can always make a putty catcher. An extra side sculpt that you only work on when you have a bit of extra putty to use up. You observation of sculpting as a chore is not wrong. I love making things, but my biggest struggle is pushing through the labor needed to get there. It never feels like a chore once I'm in it, but when I'm in a pre-sculpting state (like I am now) it does feel like "one more thing". I think it's a symptom of entertaining too many interests (distractions anyone!).
As always an interesting talk point. I always wonder why i have a tough time sitting and actually sculpting? It happens even when I have sculpts unfinished, yet when I actually start to sculpt I will sit for a couple hours. So mine seems to be more of a "get started" problem.
Summer months are my bane. I just recently restarted hobbying, and mostly out of desperation - here in Italy we're experiencing a way too long summer weather, today another 30°+ C (about 90°+ F). It's unsettling.
Is the summer hard because you want to be outside or because it's too hot to sculpt? I've heard many sculptors say that and have experiences this issue myself.
I've not sculpted in years, though I do plan on doing so... Some time... Digitally or organically (preferably both). Right now my biggest distractions are my day job and taking care of my five kids and wife. So, good things to set aside my passion for at the moment. I do still hobby, painting lots of 3D printed models mostly. So, I'm keeping the skills sharp in that realm once in a while.
I love your new profile picture, it really displays your skills. I think if you showed painted versions of your minis more often it would add to your videos. Even for someone who is very into sculpting, it is hard to imagine how much color can add to a great sculpt. Thank you for your channel. I moved last December, and my new house has poor lighting. I guess I’ve been too lazy to fully fix my light source issue so this has been part of my issues of not sculpting. I don’t want to get epoxy on my new floor either. Also I don’t feel like I have much of a small sculpting community in my area; although I would probably have to go online to find one despite where I lived.
Thank you for saying so. That's a great suggestion to show more of the minis painted. It's a goal to have all of my sculpts painted some day. You definitely need a good desk light. I can't stand sculpting or painting without one myself. It hurts my eyes. The one I use isn't available anymore, but my son has this one which works great and is very similar: amzn.to/3FlRGog When the time is right, you'll get back too it. Smart move not letting putty mess up your floor. I've been there!
I need a good fountain pen. I love nice writing/drawing instruments. The black pen in the thumbnail is a Pentel Brush Pen. I used it a lot when I first started to dive into ink drawing, but it never clicked for me. I'll use it to fill in large areas still, but mainly I've been using the Zebra Disposable Brush Pens. They're called brush pens, but they really have a flexible tapered felt tip. A lot more control but with the ability to get some thick and thin lines in a single stroke.
@@steveis33 my current project is a barbarian sculpt. I've started a few other things for the goblins as well as on old sculpt I want to finish. I'm itching to get started (resume?) on those.
@@TomMasonSculptor distractions was a topic today with other sculptors when we had a meet up for coffee. We all know about them but we did conclude most of us come to life at night . Haveing young kids can be the biggest distractions. Also many of us has multiple sculpts on the go at once rather one after another.
Those posters are from the comic book series Warlands. I'm fortunate enough to have 2 of the original pages sitting between the post as well. That comic was a big inspiration for the kind of fantasy I liked to create when I first started sculpting.
@@seancampbell720 YES! Warlands is totally inspired by Record of Lodoss War, though completely unrelated. Record of Lodoss War came before Warlands for me. I was so into the former that when I saw Warlands I was so excited for more of the "same". It's a fun little series that clearly borrows a lot from Lodoss, but it stands on it's own.
My living conditions don't allow me to have a dedicated workspace. Having to make room, clean and get everything ready before I can do anything, and then having to store everything again and put stuff back in its place to do some chore and then get back to do everything again takes away my will to sculpt.
I am a prodigal hobby sculptor-- I enjoy it, but seem to let every thing else in the world occupy my time. Put some clay into my hands, and I'm back to it, but it feels like taking that first step is so hard, like I am seeking distractions. That being said, your comment about "do at least one thing a day" rings so true. It does create and motivates progress.
Thank you for sharing!
Great content, Tom! Hell yeah I'm distracted. The big culprits are full time care-giving, managing a community garden, and taking care of the homesteading chores. I've just started sculpting again after a 6 month hiatus. My plans are abbreviated. Organizing the space was a real motivator. Putting in the time is key. It doesn't even need to be a long time just consistent. "Sit in the chair" - Tabletop Alchemy
I'm not happy to hear you face the same struggles, but it's good to know I'm in good company. What's your latest project? I still can't thank you enough for sharing your techniques for sculpting in 15mm!
Thanks Tom, thanks no small part due to your kind comments, I'm back in the saddle. I am 90% done on my 1st sculpt in 2 years, and well on the way with number 2. Now for the bad part. To make that time I let my DM prep slip. I guess there are no easy wins :-)
It's great to hear you're sculpting minis again. I once heard Todd McFarlane say he could only keep so many plates spinning at one time. If he ever added one more past that number, he would end up dropping 1-2 plates. I think that's the same for most people. I know it is for me.
Thanks , Tom. Great stuff. I am very similar in a lot of ways, and I have recently done something similar - setting specific times and short term achievable goals to , just like you said, move the needle. It works. I am that much closer to setting up my printable mini store. Keep trudging, but treat yourself no harsher than you would want your boss/manager to treat you, but at the same time, deliver in the way you would expect an employee of yours to.
This is such great advice, "but treat yourself no harsher than you would want your boss/manager to treat you". It's so easy to hold ourselves to too high a standard.
*** Sits distracted by new Tom Mason video ***
Right back at ya!
Great video Tom! Just what I needed to get back up and running myself. I have been so busy the past months moving across the country but I finally got settled in, broke out my sculpting kit and set up my station. I am sculpting my first miniature in my new home. It’s going really well! I was worried that I would lose the skill in between the time of not sculpting.
Welcome back! It's definitely nerve-racking to get back into something. I would definitely like to keep at something long term to have created more, but I've always found that whenever I came back to a creative endeavor I performed better than the last time I did it. Once you knock the rust off, of course.
It's ussually procrastination for me. I feel like I shouldn't be starting anything for fun until I've done every small chore and task.
Massively need to focus on step 3 to get to sculpting (I'm a night owl so do my creative work when everyone else is getting ready for bed!)
Thanks for the video
Thanks for sharing Jamgeoso. I'm right there with you.
For me it is definitely the summer months. When it gets real hot my desire for sculpting goes down. All i want to do is some easy entertainment, be outdoors and laze about. And i get the whole problem with wanting to sculpt more. For me it is very much the "clean work space, mix putty"... it is an hour to two hour commitment i need to make (because i don't want to waste putty) and making that commitment on top of all other commitments takes effort. But i find it is largely that... the issue of needing to make the commitment. It isn't an issue once i have made the commitment. It is easy to get going once i got going.
That being said, this video very much sounds more like a sculpting is a chore for you, not a hobby. I mean, i suppose having goals is nice and all, and if you work for commissions then definitely that is important, but if its just your hobby... i feel that is undue pressure to put onto yourself to have a goal like "i have to sculpt X miniatures by the end of the year". I'd much rather only produce one, i am really happy with, than put pressure onto myself because i feel obligated that i need to have a certain output. And sure, my Instagram suffers for it... i am sure more reliable content would help with my social media, but then we are talking work flow and productivity of a potential business, not so much about sculpting miniatures.
The only time i really feel pressured is when i look at other people in the mini sculpting community and see their output.. but i don't think that is sculpting related.
Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful comment.
If I can give you one piece of advice, it would be to stop caring about wasting putty. The amount that is wasted is so minor in terms of cost and actual waste. Don't let that stand in the way of sculpting. If you just can't bare it though, you can always make a putty catcher. An extra side sculpt that you only work on when you have a bit of extra putty to use up.
You observation of sculpting as a chore is not wrong. I love making things, but my biggest struggle is pushing through the labor needed to get there. It never feels like a chore once I'm in it, but when I'm in a pre-sculpting state (like I am now) it does feel like "one more thing". I think it's a symptom of entertaining too many interests (distractions anyone!).
As always an interesting talk point. I always wonder why i have a tough time sitting and actually sculpting? It happens even when I have sculpts unfinished, yet when I actually start to sculpt I will sit for a couple hours. So mine seems to be more of a "get started" problem.
Starting really is the hardest thing. Thanks for sharing!
Summer months are my bane. I just recently restarted hobbying, and mostly out of desperation - here in Italy we're experiencing a way too long summer weather, today another 30°+ C (about 90°+ F). It's unsettling.
Is the summer hard because you want to be outside or because it's too hot to sculpt? I've heard many sculptors say that and have experiences this issue myself.
Agreed. Planning and list making is a must for me. But then I get addicted to making lists. Oops.
Making lists is almost as awesome as Hero Quest! And Hero Quest is the best!
I've not sculpted in years, though I do plan on doing so... Some time... Digitally or organically (preferably both). Right now my biggest distractions are my day job and taking care of my five kids and wife. So, good things to set aside my passion for at the moment. I do still hobby, painting lots of 3D printed models mostly. So, I'm keeping the skills sharp in that realm once in a while.
Thanks for sharing Michael!
I love your new profile picture, it really displays your skills. I think if you showed painted versions of your minis more often it would add to your videos. Even for someone who is very into sculpting, it is hard to imagine how much color can add to a great sculpt. Thank you for your channel.
I moved last December, and my new house has poor lighting. I guess I’ve been too lazy to fully fix my light source issue so this has been part of my issues of not sculpting. I don’t want to get epoxy on my new floor either. Also I don’t feel like I have much of a small sculpting community in my area; although I would probably have to go online to find one despite where I lived.
Thank you for saying so. That's a great suggestion to show more of the minis painted. It's a goal to have all of my sculpts painted some day.
You definitely need a good desk light. I can't stand sculpting or painting without one myself. It hurts my eyes. The one I use isn't available anymore, but my son has this one which works great and is very similar: amzn.to/3FlRGog
When the time is right, you'll get back too it. Smart move not letting putty mess up your floor. I've been there!
Now I'm curious what Tom Mason's fountain Pen is... I imagine something like a Muji or Steel or AL Kaweco🤔
I need a good fountain pen. I love nice writing/drawing instruments. The black pen in the thumbnail is a Pentel Brush Pen. I used it a lot when I first started to dive into ink drawing, but it never clicked for me. I'll use it to fill in large areas still, but mainly I've been using the Zebra Disposable Brush Pens. They're called brush pens, but they really have a flexible tapered felt tip. A lot more control but with the ability to get some thick and thin lines in a single stroke.
No problem starting a sculpting project… my problem is actually finishing it… when I’m in the final stretches motivation disappears.
Keeping that fire can be so hard. Even when it's a concept you love. Once you get into that dead spot new projects become very inviting.
Ohhhh dude distracted by your video 😂🤣 but very true
Hahah. UA-cam is a double edged sword!
@@TomMasonSculptor what u working on now?
Im on some squidd dogs for client👍
@@steveis33 my current project is a barbarian sculpt. I've started a few other things for the goblins as well as on old sculpt I want to finish. I'm itching to get started (resume?) on those.
@@TomMasonSculptor distractions was a topic today with other sculptors when we had a meet up for coffee.
We all know about them but we did conclude most of us come to life at night .
Haveing young kids can be the biggest distractions.
Also many of us has multiple sculpts on the go at once rather one after another.
Odd question, the posters behind you look familiar, but I can't place them, what are they from?
Those posters are from the comic book series Warlands. I'm fortunate enough to have 2 of the original pages sitting between the post as well. That comic was a big inspiration for the kind of fantasy I liked to create when I first started sculpting.
@TomMasonSculptor Thank you. Their style reminded me of a series called Record of Lodoss War, and I was seeing if they might be related.
@@seancampbell720 YES! Warlands is totally inspired by Record of Lodoss War, though completely unrelated. Record of Lodoss War came before Warlands for me. I was so into the former that when I saw Warlands I was so excited for more of the "same". It's a fun little series that clearly borrows a lot from Lodoss, but it stands on it's own.
@@TomMasonSculptor Cool, thank you again fornletting me know! Have a great day!
My living conditions don't allow me to have a dedicated workspace. Having to make room, clean and get everything ready before I can do anything, and then having to store everything again and put stuff back in its place to do some chore and then get back to do everything again takes away my will to sculpt.
Thanks, Tom, you are an inspiration!
My pleasure!