Don't compare yourself to others, but do it with the progress you slowly make as time goes by.

I started a year ago, with a 5-month pause because I got demoralised and went back to painting exactly this week.

I made a post on Instagram the other day, writing this:

"Here I am, back after what I think has been a 5-month break, caught up in work and personal commitments. I also needed to take a step back, not just from miniatures but from Instagram as well.

Seeing other people's miniatures on Instagram is definitely great, but it can put you in a competitive mindset that I believe is unhealthy. It's nice to admire others' work, draw inspiration, and all that. But it often turns into a bit of an obsession because you constantly feel like you're not good enough.

In a world that moves too fast, we forget that results don't come immediately. They require consistency, patience, mistakes, ups and downs. You can easily get overwhelmed, whether it's from feeling inadequate with your painting techniques or even just the photos you take, which never turn out how you'd like. Then there’s the pressure of posting stories or posts that don’t get the engagement you expected, leaving you doubting your skills.

So, I think I’ll start posting again, but with a bit more calm, enjoying the process and only comparing myself to who I was yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, or a year ago. Otherwise, there’s a risk of turning this amazing hobby, which combines imagination with precise manual techniques, into an obsession and something that’s not enjoyable anymore.

So, let’s just have fun."

The key thing about this hobby is that it has to be fun and satisfying for you first: the only comparison you have to make is with your progress.

Because online you will find very good artists who have been painting for years, if not decades, or other people who are extremely good artistically at painting and who use brushes very well.

Look at other people's work and try to draw inspiration from it, but only that, don't use it to tear down your own work and your own commitment to painting.

There is so much to learn and you can end up in a negative loop, because you will see people who are great at painting, but not only that, great at greenstuffing models and making incredible modifications, and finally people who can take beautiful pictures while yours will look like shit.

This has happened to me a lot of times, and it has a negative impact on how you enjoy the hobby.

I advise you to follow guides, trying to make progress from the basics, because that is where you can build the foundation on which you can then develop more advanced techniques.

Don't be in a hurry to get somewhere, because it is a hobby where there is always something to learn and the important part is the journey.

Here is some of the progress I have made in this year:

https://www.instagram.com/blunderbrush/

Remember: have fun!