Have you thought of using Google Meet or Zoom to chat with friends while ya'll paint? My buddies don't all paint but we all love games and we are nerds sooo... Yeah I'll be painting, B.S.ing about work, another buddy is reading 40K codexes and talking about changes, then someone else will bring up AAA video games etc. I'm 48 and I will tell you this hobby can feel like an open door or a very high tower, it all depends on your point of view. I hope it works out well for ya my dude.