I’ve been painting my Ultramarines for over six months. Blue armour, gold trim, blends, highlights, battle damage… repeat. It’s been rewarding, but somewhere around the twentieth model I hit that familiar wall. The “I know I should paint, but I absolutely cannot face it” wall. We all know it. It’s tougher to crack than Helm’s Deep. 

Who better to pull me back from the Eye of Terror than Garfy? Below are the key blockers and potential solutions we’ve been discussing recently to keep us painting large batches of models to a good standard – without losing your sanity. It turns out… motivation isn’t the real issue. 

Marneus Calgar in Gravis armour and two of his Victrix Honour Guard on a white background, painted by Dunk
Some of my beloved Ultramarines
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The real issue is the slow build-up of mental blockers that make the brush feel heavier than a Dreadnought’s Power Fist.

Dunk's cat Starbuck napping
Suddenly, a “tactical nap” like my cat Starbuck feels far more appealing than painting, yet another black bolter casing.

Below are the three biggest blockers and the three tactics that helped me break through them, including the unexpected cure that reset my hobby brain: switching to my bright, clean, colourful Seraphon and hitting the pause button on my beloved 40K models. 

Seraphon Jaws of Itzl Underworlds warband, painted in turquoise and green by Dunk, on a white background
Three magenta-purple Kroxigor models on a white background, painted by Dunk
An orange Seraphon Old Blood on a lemon green Carnosaurus, on a white background, painted by Dunk

Top 3 blockers that stop us painting 

1. The Monotony Grind 

Painting an army is repetition on an industrial scale. Helmets, bolters, purity seals, layers, blends… again and again. At first it feels productive. By model twelve, you feel like a lobotomised Servitor on an AdMech assembly line. 

And it’s not just repeating tasks. It’s repeating quality. Every model must match the one you painted months ago when you were fresh, caffeinated, and full of New Year optimism. Consistency becomes a stealth tax, and the joy quietly drains away. 

2. The perfection pressure 

The longer a project drags on, the more you expect from yourself. Every model becomes a test of your skill. That pressure kills momentum faster than Garfy’s Aeldari killed my Repulsor on turn one of our last games… 

3. The “all or nothing” mindset 

We convince ourselves that a painting session must be big, meaningful, or at least an hour long. If we can’t commit properly, why bother? Days slip by, models gather dust, and the brush stays on the bench. 

Five Seraphon Saurus Warriors models with Champion and Standard Bearer on a white background, painted by Dunk
Five Seraphon Saurus Warriors models on a white background, painted by Dunk

Top 3 tactics that actually keep you going 

1. Shrink the session 

Forget the heroic painting marathon. Paint for ten minutes. Do one highlight. Base one model. Small wins build momentum, and momentum is what gets you through the low‑motivation days. And often, once you start, you keep going. 

2. Build a ritual, not a mood 

Waiting to “feel like painting” is a trap. A ritual bypasses that entirely: lamp on, water pot filled, favourite playlist or podcast on, sit down. Once the ritual starts, the painting follows. 

3. Switch projects before you burn out 

This was the game changer for me. After six months of Ultramarines, I was screaming into the Void. Garfy suggested a full palette cleanse, so I jumped to a completely different range with bright, clean, colourful models. No edge highlighting every microscopic ridge. No weathering. No battle damage. It was a breath of fresh air. 

Switching projects isn’t distraction, it’s maintenance. It keeps the hobby fresh, your brain engaged, and your skills sharp. 

Closing Thoughts 

Painting armies or large batches of miniatures to a good standard is a long game. Some days you’re unstoppable; some days you’d rather reorganise your pile of shame in alphabetical order. Don’t beat yourself up. Build habits that keep the brush moving even when the spark flickers.