After the last two weeks of planning and plotting the Young's Branch scenario, playing the battle three times, and writing up two battle reports, the painting desk lays fallow. Adding in increased late-spring/early summer cycling mileage and domestic duties reduces painting opportunities further.
Looking back at my seasonal painting tendencies from 1996-2020 (see graphic below), late spring typically sees a seasonal lull in painting activity. 2023 seems to stick to form although June will not see much increase in productivity over May. Perhaps I can turn productivity around in July? I ought to update this seasonal analysis at year-end and see if these tendencies are still in play since the 2020 analysis was published.
As a parting shot, a view of La Marina marching away and into storage.
More SYW/WAS figures on deck including the first of the Hanoverians and a mass of artillery for a variety of combatants. Maybe July will see more activity?
With a cool morning and sunny skies, time to head out on the bike...
Impressive that you've been at this long enough to do a meta-survey like that. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteAny remote games coming up?
I have been at this for a long time.
DeleteAs always, remote games regularly on the schedule. I will send you an email to determine your availability and interest.
Snazzy uniform!
ReplyDeleteNeil
I agree!
DeleteCool looking regiment
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSome finely turned out fellows there Jonathan 👍
ReplyDeleteI am glad you approve!
DeleteThat's a fine looking body of men Jon. Hope you had a good bike ride too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith! Cycling was windy but satisfying.
DeleteI always find my painting slows down over the summer months, it's either too hot or I'm out with the family. Gotta say I do like the new units. Red and green always make a great combination.
ReplyDeleteFor those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, seems like summer slows many down at the painting desk. I wonder if similar occurs to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere?
DeleteGlad you like the latest regiment!
Beautifully done Jonathan. I wondered if cycling had taken precedence now that weather is more conducive to bike rides. Summer is the most productive for me as the sun is up by 4:00am which means I'm usually downstairs painting at 5:00am each day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence! Cycling may not take precedence, but it does eat up more time and gaming and battle reporting has been active too.
DeleteUp at 0400 and painting by 0500? That is dedication!
Ditto with the painting, especially this last two weeks with the heatwave, which we used to call summer. Nice troops.
ReplyDeleteSummer typically has a two-week duration? That is funny and sad.
DeleteA good looking unit and you seem to put those cold winter months to good use with your painting output.
ReplyDeleteThanks! In the Frozen North, we have limited activities available during the long winter months.
DeleteAnother great addition to the gaming army! I imagine the majestic view of the entire army! Great, Jonathan...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Valentine! Piedmont artillery up next!
DeleteAgree with all. Beautiful work Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Michal!
DeleteNice unit, I am going to start to insert mounted leaders into a few of my line bases, I like the focal point of interest they bring.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the heavy schedule of gaming and reporting yo have, it is impressive that any painting is getting done.
Over here, it has been very hot, so good for rattle cans and good light, but too hot to actually paint… there is a saying here that ‘it is always about the bloody weather’!
Thanks, Norm! These Piedmontese will look better once I source flags. One day!
DeleteSometimes I am surprised any painting gets accomplished as well!
Omigosh, you are human! I thought you more demigod of the diminutive armies; straddling tech , artistry and athleticism effortlessly in a wargaming etherealness. :-)
ReplyDeleteJonathan, really nice figures, that collection gets better with each unit. I also find late spring/early summer slowspainting (although like Norm, priming becomes important) due to yardwork , beach living, general outside activity increasing. Fall brings back crisp air, games are played with an eye to crummy winter weather, painting ramps back up. Tabletop warfare is a mirror image season wise to the real thing.
BTW, Great AAR's on the Young Branch actions.
Joe, you are both very funny and very kind! Increased outdoors activities during the warm months are a great distraction from the hobby. Here, yardwork is never done and cycling increases dramatically. "Beach living"? You are one of the lucky ones! The only beaches in these parts are along the many lakes. I do not start actively thinking about primering figures until about October when I lay in the supply for winter.
DeleteI am very pleased to see that you enjoyed both Yng's Branch Battle Reports! I keep wondering if they are actually worth the effort. Comments like yours offer me encouragement to press on.
Definitely worth keeping up the battlereports, always both interesting and entertaining!
DeleteBest Iain
Excellent looking unit, there's usually other demands on time in the summer, family and gardening!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you, Iain! Attending to family and gardening, to seemingly unending tasks during the summer months.
DeleteVery nice Jonathan! 18thC is starting to pique a bit of interest with me after replaying the old Cossacks game on my laptop :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tony! Tempted by 18th Century wargaming? Excellent! By the way, i enjoyed your recent Cannae battle reports both with and without figures.
DeleteYes, for now I have a lot in 6mm (99% unpainted) for AWI, I do have some Hessian allies, could morph into SYW, of course I'm buried under the classical ancients!
DeleteThanks!
You definitely are buried under Classical Ancients especially with all of your lovely 20mm Newline figures.
Deleteoh boo hoo. At the end of the year you might only have painted 1100 miniatures instead of 1300. 😜
ReplyDeleteon a more serious note, everyone has dips now and then, and you have been living the good gaming life of multiple LONG game sessions so some decreased time at the painting desk is expected. I suspect that for a lot of us the hobby slice in the pie chart of our time can be spent either painting or gaming. 😀
Well, I not looking for sympathy but I accept! I may be lucky to reach 1,000 painted figures this year. Even to do that, I need to pick up the pace.
DeleteWith limits on the number of hours in the day, we must make choices. My recent choice has included much more gaming in long sessions. Battle reports draw off a lot of time and energy too. More ACW games are planned soon after I retire Young's Branch.
Nice! Makes a change from all those white coated units in the Catholic armies in the 18th C. Impressive output on all fronts as usual.
ReplyDeleteChris/Nundanket
Finding something besides white to paint is a nice change, for sure.
DeleteHaving the same regiment myself I'm very happy to see your very nice outcome painting the La Marina regiment. Great work!
ReplyDeleteThanks, André!
DeleteA lovely looking unit Jonathan…
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite colour combinations.
All the best. Aly
Thank you, Aly! The color combination is a pleasing one and reminds me of Christmas.
DeleteBeautiful unit Jonathan. The summer takes my painting production from my normal slow to snail pace with a limp.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Richard! Well, at least your painting output has not fallen to sub-glacial pace, yet.
DeleteFine work as always Jon and am impressed you can still find time to paint. I know my painting, which is sporadic at best, certainly dips from late Spring and into late Summer, when it tends to pick up again.
ReplyDeleteAt least the high heat has broken here and I even dug out some stuff to possibly paint, given that I feel the urge too and also to get some games in. At least the garden needs less attentionas we've finally had some good and heavy rain, so no watering for a day or two!
As for getting out on the bike, well still work in progress for a variety of reasons...
Steve, you are very kind!
DeleteBased upon you painting cycle, my seasonal pattern in the graphic may be more generalized than I first though or expected.
Very good to see that your heatwave has passed and that the possibility of painting returns. If the cooling temperatures did not bring in rain alongside, perhaps cycling will more enjoyable when the opportunity returns?