Info on commission painting

[Hovis]

So I was wondering if anyone could give me any info on starting to paint models for commision.

Mainly I would be doing this because, in the long run, I would like to be able to paint for \'eavy metal (preferably before next September so I don\'t have to go to uni), though I feel abit silly saying that because, well, everybody wants to.

But I\'m thinking, whatever, I might as well give it a go

In essence, painting commisions would just be a way to get as much practice in as I can before next year, without having to buy lots of models myself.

So, um yeah, is there anything I need to know before starting? Or is it as easy a saying I\'ll paint models for you if you want me to

I know I need to get some pictures up of my work. As a rough guide, I was good enough to make finalist in Lotr\'s at GD. I\'m working on getting some pictures done but I\'ve camera issues.

Anyhoo, thanks in advance for any info any one can give me

 

[darkartminiatures]

You would need a price guide and a gallery of your work IMHO oh and the need to not need any money to survive

all the best!

Klaus

 

[ScottRadom]

Hey! I\'ll share what I found out from just starting this not too long ago. I\'m not fantastic as a painter or anything, call me a 7-7.5ish typically for my commission stuff byt he CMON scale. If you made finalist I have no doubt you can push past it.

Getting started! Best advice I got, and it worked, was to paint a few pieces up and put them on eBay. In your item description make sure to put a blurb listing \"Now available for commission\" and I go tsome action that way.

Actually painting commission stuff is different. At first (and still!) I was excited by the fact that people would even WANT me to paint their stuff for them, let alone pay me. BUT, my goal was to find a way for the hobby to pay for itself, and a little extra. If your goal is simply to push yourself to be the best painter you can be, I don\'t know that taking on pure commission work is the way to go.

I think from your description of what you\'re after that I would paint a few models at whatever speed your comfortable and put them up on eBay. The pro\'s are you don\'t have a \"boss\" telling you to change colors, make choices you wouldn\'t have etc. and you can focus on mini\'s, techniques and all that where you get to prioritize things. The con is, there\'s no gaurantee that you\'ll get what you wanted to price wise. Which is a big con, but only really if you NEED that money.

For commission work what I liked was the ego boost of getting hired, the money is a little better typically (Though I think I charge very cheap. it\'s mostly a labour of love) and I have painted models I wouldn\'t have picked myself, and enjoyed most fo them.

The con\'s are sometimes having to meet the customers expectations where they have run contrary to mine. Also a lot of the approval/revision process has been slightly frustrating. Not so frustrating that I have packed it in or anything!

Good luck!

 

[Hovis]

Thanks for the replies

Getting some models up on ebay deffinatly seems a step in the right direction, I really, really, really need to sort my camera out with macro attachment/ thingies.

I only want to do it as a way to get better, I\'m 18, so I don\'t have any bills to pay (yet), and really, I\'d only be looking to charge the price of the model, plus the price of P&P and maybe a little extra but I\'m not overly bothered about making any money, it\'s just a happy extra

Thanks

 

[generulpoleaxe]

Originally posted by Hovis
Thanks for the replies

Getting some models up on ebay deffinatly seems a step in the right direction, I really, really, really need to sort my camera out with macro attachment/ thingies.

I only want to do it as a way to get better, I\'m 18, so I don\'t have any bills to pay (yet), and really, I\'d only be looking to charge the price of the model, plus the price of P&P and maybe a little extra but I\'m not overly bothered about making any money, it\'s just a happy extra

Thanks

ebay and paypal take a cut remember of the total so factor in the cost of the mini after ebay and paypals fees have been taken off.
no point in working for ebays profit margin if your not making anything yourself.

 

[james9487]

I\'m about to do the same thing, I\'m painting the new Space Wolves Njal and then sticking him on ebay to advertise.

I used to do a commissions for a few years, a few years ago, and I got really tired of it, so be careful that you don\'t try to turn a hobby into a job, and then end up getting sick of something you used to love. I\'m personally not going to accept much or anything I\'m not interested in (provided anyone is interested in my painting in the first place, this time around).

Also, I\'d paint and sell/advertise the types of models that you want to get orders for and also put ads in the most popular categories (space marines, chaos, imperial guard) and maybe a few others [warhammer fantasy, warmachine (although they don\'t seem to sell for much painted compared to GW stuff. But, my biggest customer collected warmachine and paid very well)] to get a wider audience. Even if you can get clients from one category of advertising (which shouldn\'t be hard), try to get people lined up for orders, and then you can pick the most interesting ones and the ones that are willing to pay the most. There is a big difference in what people are willing to pay and taking some extra effort in the beginning will definitely pay off in the long run.

Good luck future competitor!

 

[SkelettetS]

i would say that advertising by putting up a couple of decent mini\'s at cmon is a good way to start. i myself had no intentions when i started up painting to actually paint for cash, but now people ask mer every now and then. and if you dont actually need the money you have the oppotrtunety to choose jobs. i only choose to paint minis that i think is cool, just so i dont kill my interest in this hobby.

 

[Hovis]

Thanks for the help guys

I\'m going to get some pics up on Cmon eventually but I think to start with I\'ll just put up models on ebay