Do you NEED to paint

[Orcs]

is ist just me or does anybody else get "up tight" if they do not paint fora week or so?  

While I realised that I found painting relaxings, Mrs Orcs has observed that if I can't paint for a week or so I get tetchy or uptight.   Coinsequently I get encouraged to go to my Den and paint  

[d_Guy]

Really interesting question.
Sometimes painting is relaxing - sometimes it's compulsive (like scratching an itch) - sometimes it's driven by guilt - all those bare figures piling up. Usually I can forgo painting for days on end until compulsion or guilt takes over then I may paint for several hours a day for ten to twelve days until the urge is satiated!

[fsn]

I have a number of ways of relaxing - drawing, writing, reading, photography as well as painting.

However, when the need is on me ... 

[Ace of Spades]

I have to paint on almost daily basis... it's an addiction I guess.
I must say reading military history or re-enacting are good distractions but really only give me inspiration to start something new or pick up an abandoned project thus pushing work that's on the table to the side again... It's an addiction; must be!

Cheers,
Rob

[petercooman]

I used to love painting, i would paint every evening untill late at night.

Lately it has just become a chore actually. I feel that i don't enjoy it anymore. Luckily i have enough painted up for solo games untill the pleasure comes back!

[Ithoriel]

Painting is a chore made bearable only by my delight at the final product (however poorly it may stack up against some of the paint-jobs I see on here!).

As a result I paint fitfully, when lack of palatable alternatives or the imminent arrival of a game for which I need an army drive me to it.

Painting is therefore largely a displacement activity for me.  

[Bodvoc]

I enjoy painting, usually an hour or so most evenings after work, I find it very relaxing.

[paulr]

I enjoy painting, typically a couple of hours in the evening but also sometimes half an hour in the morning before work

I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated painting table close to the lounge and kitchen so I can be painting but still am connected to what is going on. It also means I can sit down and do one colour on a batch of figures for a few minutes if that is all the time I have

After the month in the Philippines it was a joy to be back at my painting table

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Painting is my zen state, especially with all the stresses of teaching.
It helps destress a heck of a lot!

[Steve J]

Sadly these days I get very little time to paint. When it seems time is becoming available, a project at work will rear its ugly head and then the last thing I want to do is paint .

[Sandinista]

I don't like painting, I tend to do small numbers not very often. I can paint very well but I'd rather get someone else to do it for me.
Saying that though, I am painting some pikemen for my Montrose army, will post pics when complete.

cheers
Ian

[Subedai]

When I was a sprog I could paint all day and well into the late evening but nowadays...not so much. I paint, I research, I write, I read or watch a bit of tv -not too much of the latter though- whenever the mood takes me. I am luckier than some in that I have my own man-cave -or Narnia as the family calls it because you have to go past the hanging coats to get there- with a separate painting and computer table, bookshelves and all my other wargaming impedimenta so I can leave stuff out. I enjoy all of the wargaming activities -apart from rebasing- and consequently spread myself across them all but in rather unequal measures.

[Tawa]

Painting is a chore made bearable only by my delight at the final product (however poorly it may stack up against some of the paint-jobs I see on here!).

As a result I paint fitfully, when lack of palatable alternatives or the imminent arrival of a game for which I need an army drive me to it.

Painting is therefore largely a displacement activity for me.  

Glad it's not just me..... 

[Orcs]

I am fortunate to have my own den with a permanent painting table and loads of storage and shelves.  I paint to an OK standard, nothing like some of the stuff on here, but i do get appreciative coments at club sometimes.

I paint most days if only for an hour or so.  When I get into the flow I can paint for hours without noticing the time go by.   As I work shifts I often paint for several hours, as Mrs Orcs likes her own space too.

I think Ace of Spades is right, it is an addiction and i need my fix.

[paulr]

...a permanent painting table...

I paint most days if only for an hour or so... 

I think these two are the key to making progress on projects, sometimes I will grab even half an hour