Creative/Geeky Hobbies

[MoreThanSmooth]

Anyone else here got some artistic hobbies? Carpentry, brick work, painting? Skilled labour? Maybe something a little geeky you'd never admit you'd do to girls?

My secret geeky man-cave hobby is model assembly/painting. Been doing it about a year, I find it really relaxing.

I do historical stuff like tanks and vehicles, also some fantasy stuff because you're free to paint it whatever colours you want.

Recently did my first ever Warhammer 40k model, an Imperial Guard Shock Trooper. Check him out below, he's 90% done (going to add some mud/blood) and I think he's pretty badass

 

[Billtx49]

I would get out of models and into some real world things. Models are purely fantasy unless you get into building a ship in a bottle.
Woodworking comes to mind as a good start. Easier projects don’t need the really expensive tools. Imgur is full of pics of the things that guys made from scratch combined with some personal imagination…
Hobbies can be fun, but try to focus on the ones that also add to your mental capacity and future skills.

 

[MoreThanSmooth]

I would get out of models and into some real world things. Models are purely fantasy unless you get into building a ship in a bottle.
Woodworking comes to mind as a good start. Easier projects don’t need the really expensive tools. Imgur is full of pics of the things that guys made from scratch combined with some personal imagination…
Hobbies can be fun, but try to focus on the ones that also add to your mental capacity and future skills.

Well, I do basic woodwork and all that jazz too. Converted my garage into a mini-gym and a workshop! I think if you spend time on a model it certainly improves your artistry and creativity. Painting something tiny like this has given me hand-eye coordination I could only have dreamed of in the past.

Personally I think when 90% of your stuff is hardcore practical "real" activities (working out, DIY projects, basic construction, your job) it's nice to have some leisure activities that aren't strictly practical (creative writing, models, music).

 

[Spaz]

I wonder if fishing, camping outdoors and hunting is considered a creative hobby..

I fish weekly. Hunt and camp occasionally.

 

[dustmuffin]

I used to do models as a kid. In fact most boys did it. There was no cable TV, video games or internet.

 

[FairShake]

I don't really think of carpentry or brick work as creative OR geeky. Or hobbies actually. I own two properties now and DIY is a drag but necessary.

As for geeky hobbies just about the only thing I get to do now for fun is disc golf. And it's about as geeky as you can get while being outside. Other than bird watching and stargazing. Which I also do.

 

[MoreThanSmooth]

I used to do models as a kid. In fact most boys did it. There was no cable TV, video games or internet.

I used to like videogames when I was a teen but I feel like many of them are just a waste of time now. Models can be painted to a professional standard and sold for a ton of money too, actually. It's one thing I'm considering doing on the side. I've seen large models unpainted at $900 go for $1500 when finished well.

Here's the model I meant to show in the initial post, image hosting is useless.

I wonder if fishing, camping outdoors and hunting is considered a creative hobby..

I fish weekly. Hunt and camp occasionally.

Hunting is definitely creative if you're using the meat/hides too. And I used to do a lot of sea fishing a few years back, had a small motor cruiser, still eating frozen cod to this day

 

[Deep Dish]

I would get out of models and into some real world things. Models are purely fantasy unless you get into building a ship in a bottle. Woodworking comes to mind as a good start.

I have to disagree.

I do 3D modeling. With the growing popularity of 3D printing, taking the models into the real world is more readily available than ever. 3D printing isn’t just about a piece of plastic, but can be precious metals like gold, bronze, steel, platinum, or materials like porcelain and sandstone. There are also CNC machines for woodworking.

Someone can create a store at Shapeways and sell their models for some passive income on the side, with no product overhead to worry about since the models are virtual until it’s sold.

 

[Desdinova]

My two big ones are restoring vintage electronics and playing music. I don't care if a girl knows about that stuff. It's something for her to compete with for my time.

 

[MoreThanSmooth]

Proud of this guy I did at the weekend, so I'mma show him off too. (Yep okay enough model spam from me ).

I think I'm now at the standard that I can sell these professionally, I'm going to try it as a side line and see what I can make.

My two big ones are restoring vintage electronics and playing music. I don't care if a girl knows about that stuff. It's something for her to compete with for my time.

What sort of vintage electronics are we talking? Old gameboys, radios, music equipment? Because that sounds pretty cool to me

 

[Desdinova]

What sort of vintage electronics are we talking? Old gameboys, radios, music equipment? Because that sounds pretty cool to me

Pretty much all of the above, although I enjoy working on old computers from the 1980s the most

 

[zekko]

Proud of this guy I did at the weekend, so I'mma show him off too.

Nice job.

 

[Xenom0rph]

This is a great thread! I've been looking for a new hobby as an outlet for all the stress from the daily BS of life. I used to play video games a lot as a kid but stopped around the time that the PS3 came out and haven't gamed in a while.

Weight lifting, swimming, running and cycling have always been a part of my life and it's a good physical relief.

For creative and mental relief, I got into writing short stories, mostly horror, mystery and crime dramas. What I do is I go on Netflix and watch shows like Forensic Files, Underworld Inc, CSI, and other investigative documentaries so I can learn how law enforcement really tracks down criminals and I incorporate those ideas into my stories. I've posted some of my stories online and have gotten some pretty good feedback on my crime/noir stories. I'm working on getting my horror stories improved.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that so many women started showing interest in me when I told them that I write crime drama stories - I always thought I was a dork for doing it. I then learned from reading articles online that the target audience for shows like CSI and Law & Order are primarily women because they love those murder mystery type stuff.

Maybe someday I'll try to get my stories published or (and this is a major stretch) maybe pitch my ideas to a hollywood studio and get paid for it.