NaMoPaiMo is coming

 In December 2016, I had an idea for a fun, educational event that would bring the hobby together in a creative way.

I wrote a proposal, sat on it for a few days, then shared it with some of my most trusted hobby friends. We batted ideas back and forth, then I wrote a new and better proposal. After a few more discussions, plus one good solo ride on Santana - I always did my best thinking on his back - and NaMoPaiMo was born.

I deliberately chose the month of February for my event. It's a cold winter month without many hobby happenings. Perfect.

And it was perfect in 2017,

2018...

and 2019.

In 2020, something both wonderful and terrible happened: BreyerWest, moved from Albany, Oregon to my hometown of Denver, Colorado. 

I love BreyerWest, so this was amazing.

But the timing... Oh, the timing was horrific. Instead of being held in the middle March, BreyerWest was now the last weekend of February. Specifically, it overlapped with the last three days of NaMoPaiMo.

Both events were successful, but for me personally, those last three days were a nightmare. I tried so hard to do all the things, to lead my event and participate in Breyer's. It was too much. For the first time in years, I started contemplating a February without painting.

As it turned out, the next year was a pandemic year. BreyerWest was virtual and NaMoPaiMo went off without a hitch.

In 2022, I experienced my second NaMoPaiMo/BreyerWest overlap. I was much better prepared and had a generally good weekend. Still, it was fairly overwhelming.

Last year, I decided not to put myself through that again. Instead of NaMoPaiMo, I hosted a related but less formal event: International Model Horse Painting Party.

It was a good compromise. I was a lot less stressed and the people who participated seemed to enjoy it. 

Although I missed the structure of my original event, I was prepared myself for another Painting Party in 2024. Then Breyer announced the dates for this years BreyerWest. It is in March.

Well, that changes everything.

Forget Painting Party. NaMoPaiMo, and I am so excited.