When I'm modelling or painting, I like to listen to abridged audiobooks on CDs. Whilst renovating my latest batch of figures, I've listened to:
Interestingly, when I am writing, I like to do it in absolute silence. I suspect that is because I often read out loud what I have written in order to make sure that it makes sense. It's a trick I learnt from another author, and it helps to prevent me from ending up with sentences or statements that do not make sense. That's the theory, anyway ...
- THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson, read by Martin Venner
- THE BECKONING LADY by Margery Allingham, read by Philip Franks
- MYSTERY MILE by Margery Allingham, read by Philip Franks
Interestingly, when I am writing, I like to do it in absolute silence. I suspect that is because I often read out loud what I have written in order to make sure that it makes sense. It's a trick I learnt from another author, and it helps to prevent me from ending up with sentences or statements that do not make sense. That's the theory, anyway ...
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I sometimes listen to appropriate music to the figures on the painting table on Spotify (free with ads) or YouTube playlists whilst painting. I'm sure it is imbibed into the spirit and paint of the figures. Thankfully I have no Waffen SS to paint ... other times I paint in silence.
ReplyDeleteI can't really listen to audiobooks whilst painting. I do listen at other times. My local library operates a Bolinda based BorrowBox scheme for listening to audiobooks and reading ebooks, ordered online through my library card and easily previewed, downloaded and returned. Saving me much cash ...
Mark, Man of TIN,
DeleteI've tried listening to music, but there are only so many times I can listen to appropriate military music before I begin to lose concentration.
I can't remember the last time I visited our 'local' library. There used to be a small branch within walking distance, but it closed some years ago and library services were 'centralised' into just a few locations.
All the best,
Bob
Gone are the branch libraries of my childhood which were so important a source of Featherstone rules books, uniform books, history books and, like many, the answer to my homework before the Internet. Books especially colour ones were so expensive then.
DeleteSadly like you the mobile libraries and small branch libraries (in my case the rural southwest) near me have also gone, replaced by unstaffed community libraries or micro libraries in public buildings with a couple of hundred (mostly fiction) books and very slow rotation of stock. I can still walk to mine but it only opens weekdays, not great when I'm working. At least you can still order a book etc in online and a month or two later it gets dropped off there for you and with free renewal online too. It sort of works. The alternative is nothing, except in the major towns.
Mark, Man of TIN,
DeleteI live in London, so one would expect that the local library service would be good ... but cuts and centralisation have had an impact. Looking at the borough's website, it appears that some branches are open during the evening and on Saturday and Sunday ... which is a good thing. Almost all of the branches are in the centre of shopping areas, and are reachable by public transport ... but not from where I live.
All the best,
Bob
I like to paint and model in peace and quiet, probably as an antidote to the noise of my day job. It allows my mind to wander as I work, which is rather relaxing.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteHow interesting! I suspect that we all have different ways that help us concentrate (and relax) when working on a modelling or painting task.
All the best,
Bob
Interesting: I hadn't heard of abridged versions of audio books. I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteEd M,
DeleteI bought most of my abridged audiobooks from THE WORKS, and own quite a few (at least fifty, the last time I counted).
All the best,
Bob
I'm a big fan of audio books (easy on the eyes and your hands are free.) Great for long distance drives, household chores and painting.
ReplyDeletehad a growing collection of audiobooks on cassette which I listened to largely while driving until cassette players when out of fashion and I started buying cd's which...
Anyway now I'm subscriber to Audible and get digital downloads which I listen to at home or by 'bluetoothing' (is that a real verb?) to my car's sound system .
One can also listen to an amazing variety of free ebooks on youtube and from libravox.
Ross Mac,
DeleteI used to have over one hundred audiobooks on cassettes, and listened to them until my last cassette player broke (and I couldn't get a new one) and the cassette tapes became impossible use due to damage.
I have yet to try Audible, but it is something that I really ought to think about trying as I have quite a few Bluetooth devices (e,g. iPhone, iPad).
All the best,
Bob
I've tried audio books - though only unabridged ones - and found that the only time I did not get distracted from the book was whilst driving, so when regular car commutes ended the tapes and CDs were put away. Quite a few people I know listen to books whilst doing manual work/housekeeping but this just doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteAs for libraries, I've just checked and the one I haunted as a boy - which stocked Featherstone's Naval Wargames and so changed my life - is still there and still in the same place. The two within walking distance (about 15 minutes) of where we've lived for the last forty years remain open and if my memory serves still have roughly the same opening hours. I have no idea how well stocked they are or if they have succumbed to the modern ideas that emphasise things other than reading books but the basic infrastructure seems intact. I suspect that there is significant variation between London boroughs though all have cut funding.
Mike Hall,
DeleteI do find it interesting that some people like no sound whilst they are working whilst others prefer music or the spoken word. I used to record any Masonic ritual that I needed to learn, and used to listen to the recordings - and talk along with them - whilst I was driving. It helped me to learn the words.
Libraries are places that should be easily accessible to everyone, but thanks to the cuts imposed on local councils, many have been closed or 'repurposed'. For example, I understand that in Kent it was planned to merge libraries with the Registrars of Births, Deaths, and Marriages ... much to the consternation of Librarians and Registrars.
All the best,
Bob
I like listening to classical music, Baroque music especially. Vivaldi and Telleman are great to paint and built terrain to.
ReplyDeleteWolfgang Blum,
DeleteAn interesting choice. I've tried listening to classical music whilst I paint, but got too engrossed in the music to concentrate on what I was trying to do.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteWhen Computing in my Study I do my writing-posting in silence. When in my Shed model making-painting figures etc...I fluctuate between silence, Talk-Back Radio and AM Music- sometimes I'll put on some CD Music...though I do tend to like Silence the best- particularly when planning things and thinking out solutions. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteIt is interesting to see how everyone has a different approach to working on something that requires concentration and/or serious thought. Some require silence whilst other need some sort of background sound.
It only goes to prove that there is no one way that is the 'correct' way to work ... even though there are some people who will insist that there is.
All the best,
Bob
I tend to listen to either podcasts or classical music when I am painting. For my commute on public transport it is usually podcast too. Lots of the podcasts are history or wargames themed.
ReplyDeleteDave,
DeleteI must admit to only every listening to a few podcasts, so that is something that I ought to consider trying. Thanks for the suggestion.
All the best,
Bob