Freelance painters, love\'em or loathe\'em?

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Propaintjob

New member
I\'ve noticed on a few other sites forums that among several people the attitude towards freelance painters is generally quite negative, almost hostile at times.

It got me to wondering why this is the case. I mean using skills you have, in a job you enjoy, which also benefits other people surely can\'t really be a bad thing can it? To name a few salaried occupations which fit that ethos would be:

Police Officer
Fireman
Farmer
Actor
Florist

In fact, that list could be endless! So why is it then, that freelance painters receive such a negative attitude? Obviously, not everybody shares this opinion, otherwise there wouldn\'t be so many painting services out there.

I paint mini\'s for a living and while I\'m not the world\'s best painter (not by a long shot) I\'m not the worst either. I\'m also very thick skinned so while I\'m not personally bothered by it all I am just curious as to why this should be the case.

I chose to leave a highly paid career (ie the one after GW lol ) to do something I enjoy, for less money in order that I could have more time with my family, something that was sadly lacking while I was salaried.

So, what does everyone think? Are people who paint for money really that bad? If so, why?

Comments from everyone are really welcome as my curiosity just won\'t leave this alone! ???
 
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frenchkid

New member
Well since CMON is the only mini related I regulary go to I\'ve never seen this kind of attitud towards freelance painters. But my best guess would be that people are jalouse, all those people wisching they had the guts to quit their job to do somthing they enjoy just get it all out by flaming at the ones who actually suceded in doing that. then again could be somthing completly different. :D
 
wiccanpony

wiccanpony

Official Freak Bar Witch
envy, plain and simple....

:rolleyes: working for yourself, earning an honest dollar...why..why..thats the American way..bless our little capitalist hearts!:D


\"small proud tear sliding down cheek\";)
 
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tidoco2222

New member
I think there is something in what frenchkid says about jealousy, I cannot speak from a freelance painters point of view although I would love to be able to do it but I can speak from my own line of work.
I am a railway signalling engineer and have been for the last 20 years aka I started when it was British Rail.
When the railway was privatised back in the early nineties I took the opportunity and went to work for an outside contractor and when I began working on the network at various locations the reception I got was very hostile from people who still worked for the mainstream railway. This still persists today and it is down to jealousy over the amount of freedom I had and also the amount of money I was earning.
Recently I went back in house so to speak and started working for Network Rail for reasons that are similar to propaintjobs ie more time at home for less money and there is still resentment at me for being a ex contractor. So I think the answer is jealousy for the most part and also it may appear as it did with me that you are muscleing in on some body elses area stupid I know but we humans can be like that.
 
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finn17

New member
You are being paranoid?

I have never seen any evidence of this attitude you refer to.

I have seen freelance painters called all the names under the sun when they rip people off or misrepresent their services, but that applies to any job.

*EDIT* this site is stuffed with freelance painters and generally, if they are good enough to make a living, they are treated with a respect bordering on awe...
 
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Calavera

New member
Bah !
I don\'t get people who don\'t like freelancers, or Pro-painters(no, not the ones on ebay) Some say it\'s only a hobby and nag on.

Reminds me this one time when some guy on portent was complaining over Proffessional Painters entering the Golden Daemon saying GD was only for hobbyists and not the people that work painting minis. Just how exciting would GD then be ?

I like freelance painters, I\'d like to be one but I don\'t think I will.. I could never be like Tammy, tight schedule all the way.
 
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t_haye2

Guest
freelancers, i hate them! they\'re everything that ruins the hobby, why would you pay anybody to paint your models, while you should do it yourself! I think asking money for painting is immoral, and should not be allowed. It\'s also unfair to the crappy painters out there that people with more money can afford to buy armies to a high standard....freelancers should be shot, they are the scum of the earth, they. ...mmmfmfmfmffmffff.......

**please resume normal programming while Tammy\'s evil twin sister is being subdued by lots of morphine and prozac**
 
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Primeval

New member
I have seen some examples of it, and it is always in reference to the term \"Pro painted\" or some variation of that. The complaint is usually that people are calling work that isn\'t top quality \"pro\". I am not attaching any value statement to this, just saying that is what I have seen.
 
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Sturmhalo

Guest
Never really noticed any animosity myself. As has been mentioned, painters who rip off clients get what they deserve though. There\'s probably more animosity between free lance painters than against them.

:D
 
Chrispy

Chrispy

New member
It depends. I consider myself a Freelance, and thus consider all others competition (i.e., the Evil One) but then I DO respect their work and learn from it (i.e. the Cow Girl, Verzani). But yes, these so called \"pro painted\" models on eBay disgust me. Those I hate beyond all compare. So. basically it depends on who we\'re talking about.

Also, did you know the term freelance started in the middle ages? A Freelance Knight was a mercenary not tied to a particular Lord or government and sold his sword to the highest bidder (The lance was free)... :p
 
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t_haye2

Guest
ypu, i can\'t stand Sturm, he\'s a git! lollollollollollol

There is some animosity towards freelancers, but mostly from the staff of a certain miniature chain of stores we all know and love. I always get really weird looks from the Friar Lane staff when I reply \'it\'s for a client\' to their questions of \'you play *insert army of models purchased here* then, por is it for your boyfriend? lollollollollollollollollol

Cow girl??! COW GIRL???!! what? MOOOO!
 
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supervike

Super Moderator
Not only have I never really seen the animosity you\'re are talking about, I would have never even given it a thought if not for your post.

Why would someone loathe a freelance painter?

I can\'t even imagine an intelligent argument.
 
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t_haye2

Guest
it\'s something seen more in the toury circuit. Because the grand tournaments do not acutally require you to paint your army yourself, a lof of hardcore players buy pro painted armies to get the hioghest score, this rubs the kiddies who slaved over their armies the wrong way. I\'m not saying they don\'t have a point, but itn is silly to blame the painter, whilst it\'s obvious the rules for the tournweys should be revised.
 
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Sturmhalo

Guest
Originally posted by t_haye2
ypu, i can\'t stand Sturm, he\'s a git! lollollollollollol

There is some animosity towards freelancers, but mostly from the staff of a certain miniature chain of stores we all know and love. I always get really weird looks from the Friar Lane staff when I reply \'it\'s for a client\' to their questions of \'you play *insert army of models purchased here* then, por is it for your boyfriend? lollollollollollollollollol

Cow girl??! COW GIRL???!! what? MOOOO!
Click to expand...

I got a serious case of cold shoulder from one of the wanker store guys in the Derby branch a couple of years ago! He seemed to be a bit put out that I was better than him (I think he thought he was the best painter in the store!).

Oh, and that Tammy... f***ing hate that bitch!

lol

;)
 
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supervike

Super Moderator
on the reverse...

Upon further thought, I would have to say that if anything, I admire freelancers for several reasons.

1. They are usually very good painters.

2. They paint so economically. For instance it takes me quite a long while to paint a decent mini, they have to do it quickly and efficiently enough to make their \'hourly wage\' worth something.

3. I\'m sure there\'s more, but I think I should become a \"freelance poster\"..Anyone care to pay me to post?
lol
 
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Sturmhalo

Guest
Originally posted by supervike
Upon further thought, I would have to say that if anything, I admire freelancers for several reasons...

2. They paint so economically. For instance it takes me quite a long while to paint a decent mini, they have to do it quickly and efficiently enough to make their \'hourly wage\' worth something.
Click to expand...

lol

You\'re funny!
 
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supervike

Super Moderator
see...

Originally posted by Sturmhalo
Originally posted by supervike
Upon further thought, I would have to say that if anything, I admire freelancers for several reasons...

2. They paint so economically. For instance it takes me quite a long while to paint a decent mini, they have to do it quickly and efficiently enough to make their \'hourly wage\' worth something.
Click to expand...

lol

You\'re funny!
Click to expand...


and you said us Americans couldn\'t be sarcastic....lol
 
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