Thursday, February 7 2008 Feeling Blue
Picture: an Ultramarines Vindicator. See the rest here.
My day started at 2:30am. I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. So, I finished up posting the high elf display videos.
I crashed around 4:30am. Then up again at 7:00am to get Kenna off to school. I did the whole thunder run so Tamie could sleep in. Then I came home, almost cleared out the inbox, nearly. Then off to the local barber with my six-year-old son. This was an old school barber-pole-barber-shop with straight razors and neck-powder. After “Megan” finished trimming our manly heads of hair, we heard the sad news that Romney had dropped out of the race. I met several distraught Mormon-folk throughout the day.
After dropping the boy off at school, I headed into the studio where Heather was finishing up a huge High Elf army.
Then I headed to the MTC to translate Spanish. When I was done with my duties I headed out to the residence halls just to wander around. As I walked past the corner of a building, I saw a snow-covered pine tree where I had taken a picture of myself in 1990 before I headed to my two year mission to Chile. That sudden memory was like a lightning bolt. The MTC is quite a magical place.
Translating is tough work because you have to listen to someone in English in real time with no breaks. I’m getting a little better every week.
Man, it was a slow news day. Well, I’ve got a game tomorrow. I really wanted to use my IG, but I think I’m going to whip out the Dragons of Moloch. We’re playing a 1500 point game. The mission is indeterminate.
Tuesday, February 5 2008
Picture: an Imperial Guard Sentinel, ready for action. This is what I painted for Paint Fest January 2008. And yes I’m proud of them.
Hear my expert testimony.
See them closely.
Buy them.
As I write this I’m eating a chocolate chip cookie, drinking a glass of ice cold milk and watching Scrubs with my sweetheart.
First thing I did this morning was head to the polls and cast my vote.
Today at the studio was insane. At one point there were like eight people all crowded in. It was great. There is a great Esprit de Corps. I got to help a rookie with a Tau army, and that turned out very well.
The following projects are going under the brush this week:
Tzeentch 01 JS
Necrons 01 TA
Witch Hunters 01 JD (bitz order shorted one Exorcist– working on it)
Amazons! GT rush (sorry, I really wanted to get them done in three days)
Empire 05 JM (please contact me- I have a question)
Road Warrior Orcs 01 RT (some delays with move trays)
Daemonhunters 01 BC
Imperial Guard 02 RF
Lord of the Rings 01 GM
Vampire Counts 01 JC
Menoth 01 JR (turning out very well, a bit different than the original idea, though)
Fantasy Figures 02 PM fixes
Dwarfs 01 AS
Eldar 01 TB fixes (needs magnetization of dowels)
Aaaand what about last week? It was chock full of HUGE projects.
High Elves 03 DL (finishing up then working on the display board tomorrow)
Orks 01 MP (waiting on paaaaaayment)
Ultramarines 01 JD (due in by Thursday)
Urban Tau 01 AF (delayed a week for some extra attention)
Skaven 01 TB (underway)
As usual, if you don’t see your project, and you’re wondering what’s going on, by all means contact me.
What’s on my mind? The last thing I thought I would ever be thinking about: Imperial Guard. I got those Sentinels up and running and I just want to play a game. It’s been too long. I think Ren is working on some Guard, too. I think he might need a good smack-down. He brought them in today for me to do a little interview, but we didn’t have time (did I mention it was insane– it was like a ten hour sprint, eat your lunch with one hand and type with the other type of crazy).
I’m expecting some of the Orks in tomorrow from assembly and that means that I can start in on them. I’ve settled on Goffs, though I will probably include more red.
Tau 01 AF- We took the project in a slightly different direction by adding battle damage and weathering. I think it looks good. I’m stoked.
I am shutting down the terrain room for six weeks. I don’t think that affects anything.
Are you Ready for the Tuesday of Destiny?
Twenty-four states are scheduled to hold caucuses or primary elections on Super Tuesday, 2008. Blue denotes Democratic-only caucuses (3), Red denotes Republican-only contests (2), and Purple represents states holding elections for both parties (19).
Are you in a state that is holding its Primary tomorrow?
Call 877-766-7285 and someone will look up your status and can tell you where the polling place is.
Good Grief! First religion then politics! Will it never end? I promise there will be some juicy wargamer stuff tomorrow.
Sunday February 3, 2008
It snowed today, nine inches in Salt Lake Valley and now it’s our turn.
Since I moved to Utah Valley, I’ve had the feeling like I’m in an afterlife. When I look out the window at our neighborhood once I was moved to tears. It was so beautiful.
Warning! No game-related material today. It’s not too late to turn back!
I expect an Messenger to come to me and say “Shawn, you died on the way to Spanish Fork. You’ve been dead three years. This is the afterlife.”
This year, I decided not to shovel the driveway. There is now an impenetrable six inch slab of ice. It would take a monumental effort to chip away at that. I think that is perhaps how it is with grudges, bad feelings, and bad habits. It takes a continuous effort to keep them clear– to forgive often and make small course corrections.
Today, I feel inclined to say a word of encouragement to young readers (ages 12-16). Keep your chin up. Life gets better. Whatever you are going through, it gets better and you will get past it and be a stronger person for it.
This life is a great voyage of self-discovery. We are half-blind for a reason. Without the veil between us and the Celestial World, there would be no need for faith, and indeed faith could not be developed. Being human, we would remove from our lives all misery and suffering, and thus deprive ourselves of one of the greatest things a soul can have: to KNOW good from evil, bitter from sweet, sickness from health.
Before this earth life, we lived with Heavenly Father. We knew each other well as a great family. Now, we are in mortality to learn by our own experience. There is no other way. When we make mistakes we can repent and get things right. Sometimes, something that seems so bad at the time ends up to be a great blessing.
Tragedy or Destiny. This is one of the greatest discourses on this subject that I have ever read in my life. If you take time to read it through, you’ll be glad you did.
It occurred to me that if Heavenly Father were to reveal himself to someone, so that he knew for a fact that He was real, that it would take away his freedom of choice to some extent. There would be a tremendous burden to now act on that knowledge. Rather, Heavenly Father gives a little light here and there depending on the level of obedience, which must be given of free will.
Matthew 13:45 ΒΆ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
46 Who, when he had found one a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Cost of the pearl: everything you have. The pearl is to know for a fact that god lives and to know him personally; what is He really like? Casual curiosity is not enough.
I want to express my deep love and gratitude to those that have sent kind emails, kept the business afloat with orders, and helped with advice and labor.
My heart is full of kindess to you young people, going through your tumultuous young years. I assure you that the thunderstorm in your mind does pass and there is calm.
PS- Every once in a while I get the urge to make a post like this. I don’t want to come across as “preachy”. I don’t make any pretentions to being a good person. Anyone that knows me can attest to my irreverence and imperfection. If this was helpful to you, please drop me a line, otherwise I will probably just keep it to myself.
Saturday, February 2 2008
Picture: a Nephilim from Privateer Press. See the other figures. I never get tired of this model. I own one!
Today was hectic, like every day it seems this week. It was insane.
I am currently booking projects for March.
Last night I headed up to Salt Lake for a nephew’s “court of honor” where he was given the rank of Eagle Scout. That was really something. One of the speakers brought a real eagle and that blew little Griffin’s mind. All our local family is just outstanding. Tamie and the older kids stayed up there with her sister and I headed back home with Griffin where I put him in his own little bed. Once I put on the little rain forest noisemaker he passed out in like 0.5 seconds.
Today we had a huge Paint Fest at my house with like six artists. It was a blast. I plan on doing another one in about three weeks. I didn’t get much done. I was working on a Blood Bowl Amazon team for a friend and some Sentinels for the studio Guard army. Those are all part way done. I hardly got anything accomplished. In fact, I even petered out on the taping of the show. Ah, well, next time we’ll do it longer and better. Likely it will be held on February 23.
As usual, we’re working on about twenty projects. There are a couple of projects in digital photography that I wasn’t able to get to this weekend like I hoped (Ultramarines and Tyranids).
Tonight I headed back up to Salt Lake for a farewell to my brother-in-law who is being deployed to Kuwait for fourteen months. That’s pretty rough on his family, but we’re here to shore up.
PS- Angela turned me on to a new singer called Mika. So far, I like it. Here’s a sample.
Thursday, January 31
Picture: a mighty Ork Warlord, the leader of a mass of greenskins. This army was huge. The painter came in today as if shell-shocked. And after painting 190 orks you would be too! See my masterful narration.
Life is good. The long winter has brought clarity to my mind. They sky is like a great dome of pale blue ice. When I got home tonight, the mountain wind was pulling curtains of powder from the roof of the house. It was unreal.
I got up this morning to find the two boys watching Storm Hawks. Tamie and I were having fun with oranges, showing Griffin how to do an “orange smile”. I wolfed down some OJ, and milk with five Oreos and headed to the studio.
After doing some of my regular work, I headed to the MTC to translate into Spanish. I’m going on a different day now. I always feel uplifted coming out of that place.
I am a bit behind in my email Inbox. I have about thirty emails to respond to, so bear with me. It’s been a good week!
I uploaded a bunch of new spreadsheets for Warhammer 40K: http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_files.php?download_categoryID=7 The new High Elves and Vampire Counts sheets are up, too.
Everyone is gearing up for the paint fest this weekend. I’m painting up an Amazon blood bowl team as a favor for a friend, plus some Sentinels for the Lions rampant.
The following projects are in digital photography:
- Arctic Tyranids 01 JS
- Ultramarines 01 JD (for alterations, which are done)
- Warmaster Bretonnians are still getting some extra loving attention!
My wife came in this afternoon and got out like six packages. There’s on straggler (Nurgle 01 BH) going out tomorrow.
Right now, I’m working on my laptop in the living room. The kids are all in their jammies watching Pokemon. Everyone has had a big day!
Adepticon
My wife and I are going to Adepticon this year (April 11-13). We are completely stoked. The studio will be working on a few secret projects to be unveiled there. We went last year, too. This time I’m going to take a lot video.
It’s not too late to have us do your army! I even have a few on hand ready to go. You can also borrow a studio army to display for us while you play.
Projects Completed
The following projects are done and are in the process of going through digital photography:
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Nurgle 01 BH
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Legion 01 DM
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Mordheim 01 SS
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Dark Eldar 02 LG
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High Elves 02 CA
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Daemonhunters 01 AT
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Eldar 01 TB (fixes)
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Urban Tau 01 CG
Monday January 28, 2008
Picture: an Eldar Biel Tan Falcon. This is part of a trio of fully magnetized tanks. I know they’re good because I wish they were mine!
Yesterday was insane. I had a huge inbox of inquiries, now all answered. I’ve also been working on house formulas for painting glazes.
I spent several hours working with a rookie painter. Invariably, we bring on experienced artists, but almost all are rookies with regards to painting miniatures full time. Nothing could prepare you for doing this full time professionally. The battlefield is littered with the bodies of those who thought this would be a good idea.
See Angela have a nervous breakdown. I will probably not keep this up for long. This is not the typical sentiment of artists, BUT I recorded it to lend credence to my warnings to new painters. Painting for personal satisfaction is one thing: painting a relentless load of figures week in and week out is another.
I am very picky about who I bring on board. I am merciless for those first six months. All artists must learn the three inch punch. You’re more likely to wash out as a painter at BTP in the first three months than you are joining the Navy Seals. However, once an artist is over the hump, the retention is really good.
Speaking of which, we are light in the area of Assembly. I need to find someone who can fill that need, doing Assembly mostly and filling in as a Painter as needed. You need to be able to assemble a lot of figures week after week, and do it cleanly and with expert, narrative conversions, bases, and (basic) green stuff. If you’re interested, drop me an email with some information about yourself. This is a full-time deal! Several people have even moved here successfully.
It takes about a year for a BTP painter to really get his or her “sea legs”. That’s when it gets good.
This weekend I’m having a Paint Fest out at my house for Blue Table’s artists. I plan on working on the Sentinels for my Imperial Guard Lions Rampant army.
Various Artists dropped by and it was ever so nice to chat with them. I was at the studio until 10pm. My wife wasn’t happy about that, but that’s what it took to get the job done!
As some may have heard, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has passed away. My wife and I were very sad. It is likely that he will be succeeded by Thomas S. Monson. Both are grandfatherly figures to us, full of wisdom and encouragement. Gordon B. Hinckley was always so optimistic, telling us young people that we had everything to live for and that life would just keep getting better.Manic Monday
I’m really working on catching up on a giant email Inbox. Please bear with me!
If you are ready to “place an order” please IM or call me. I will take care of you right away. See contact information in the lower right column.