Professional Rates?
- Thread starter kirara
- Start date
generulpoleaxe
New member
Miniature companies will have their own rates for what they will pay full time staff or freelancers (many will try to pay in miniatures.)
For any freelance work charge what you need for your time and expenses.
My advice is not to bother, rates are generaly dropping due to an increasing amount of people doing it on the side, thus not needing to charge as much.
Keep it as a hobby mate, you will continue to enjoy it then (stacking shelves often pays better.)
For any freelance work charge what you need for your time and expenses.
My advice is not to bother, rates are generaly dropping due to an increasing amount of people doing it on the side, thus not needing to charge as much.
Keep it as a hobby mate, you will continue to enjoy it then (stacking shelves often pays better.)
ScottRadom
Shogun of Saskatchewan
Y'know, I am not in the calibre of most of the people who do commission painting on this site. I tired it, and at the begining it was kind fo an ego trip to have someone select you, but then it really turned my hobby into work.
If you NEED money, I reccomend a part time job. If you want your hobby to pay for itself and sort of maintain a buoyancy I reccomend just painting mini's and selling them on eBay. You still get to pick what you paint, and how you paint it. Won't pay as much as commission stuff and for me selling them now barely pays for the cost of the unpainted miniature but there is ZERO stress, zero obligation, and it keeps the hobby as a hobby.
Follow Chris/GenerulPoleaxe's advice, it's wisdom!
If you NEED money, I reccomend a part time job. If you want your hobby to pay for itself and sort of maintain a buoyancy I reccomend just painting mini's and selling them on eBay. You still get to pick what you paint, and how you paint it. Won't pay as much as commission stuff and for me selling them now barely pays for the cost of the unpainted miniature but there is ZERO stress, zero obligation, and it keeps the hobby as a hobby.
Follow Chris/GenerulPoleaxe's advice, it's wisdom!
Chern Ann
Only when they're green
Rates for professional work vary, ranging from a couple of bucks an hour to $400 for a completed 32mm figure (something that would score high 8s or into the 9s on CoolMiniOrNot). This is similar to how professional sculpting rates vary.
You need to be either very good or very fast to make a living as a catalog painter. Very few companies have enough new releases and care enough about the paint jobs to pay for a good job, but if you can demonstrate your talent and your professionalism (which is very important when trying to make a living on it) then it can be viable.
Since you don't have a gallery, it's hard to comment on what kind of rate you can charge, or if you should be doing this at all.
You need to be either very good or very fast to make a living as a catalog painter. Very few companies have enough new releases and care enough about the paint jobs to pay for a good job, but if you can demonstrate your talent and your professionalism (which is very important when trying to make a living on it) then it can be viable.
Since you don't have a gallery, it's hard to comment on what kind of rate you can charge, or if you should be doing this at all.
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R
Roy Rogers
Guest
Definitely agree that at first it is exciting to have people love your work and ask for commission jobs to be completed. But it does lose it's luster, and become work with a deadline. It kinda sucks the life, and fun out of the hobby. I still paint, and convert minis and occasionally sell them on ebay. Mostly because I still love the idea that someone is playing warhammer 40k in Denmark with my minis
I would echo what the others say about keeping it as a hobby. I paint stuff in the evenings mostly and sell some pieces on Ebay. Those bring in enough money to pay for all the stuff I need ( paints,minis, brushes ,etc)and sometimes even makes a profit. If you were to sell everything that you paint; depending on your quality and speed, you could probably make a couple of grand a year.
I have been asked about commission work but on the whole I have turned it down as I like the freedom to paint what I want when I want with no outside pressure. Plus it takes me so long to paint a squad of 5 that I struggle to finish them. So the thought of painting up an entire army - especialy if it was something like space marines would just do my head in.
I have been asked about commission work but on the whole I have turned it down as I like the freedom to paint what I want when I want with no outside pressure. Plus it takes me so long to paint a squad of 5 that I struggle to finish them. So the thought of painting up an entire army - especialy if it was something like space marines would just do my head in.
Wyrmypops
New member
I'd echo the sentiments of others. Keep it as a hobby, retain the fun.
I spent 5 years painting for stores. Hardly ever painted anything for myself in that time. The fun had faded, being replaced by the stress of having to paint figures one didn't particularly favour, and maintaining a required speed for completion rather than being able to give them all the touches you know you could add. Even years after I'm still having trouble finding my way back into the zen state of painting for pleasure.
Keep it fun. The money made from it is trivial anyway.
I spent 5 years painting for stores. Hardly ever painted anything for myself in that time. The fun had faded, being replaced by the stress of having to paint figures one didn't particularly favour, and maintaining a required speed for completion rather than being able to give them all the touches you know you could add. Even years after I'm still having trouble finding my way back into the zen state of painting for pleasure.
Keep it fun. The money made from it is trivial anyway.
Joek
New member
I've only done three commissions since I came back to the hobby in 2008, and quite honestly that was more than enough for me. I found it a fairly unpleasant experience painting up things for others really. Whilst the clients never imposed any time-constraints - nor would I have even contemplated them if there were - I always felt under pressure to get them done as quick as possible as I knew these were paying customers. Much better idea painting up what you want to paint up and selling a few on eBay really!
BPI
New member
Hi Kiara, have you been approached with a commission or are you just feeling your way before starting out? If the latter I'd suggest following the advice above: shift some pieces you've enjoyed painting on Ebay. After a dozen or so sales I imagine you start to see a benchmark figure evening out. That's what the market says your work is worth. Helpful as a starting point without commiting to too much.
If you've been approached by a company & they're offering what you calculate to be more than minimum wage for the time involved, go for it. Got to start that professional portfolio sometime. Don't work for free or goods, that's not professional.
Not that I'm in the game myself
Good luck :good: B.
If you've been approached by a company & they're offering what you calculate to be more than minimum wage for the time involved, go for it. Got to start that professional portfolio sometime. Don't work for free or goods, that's not professional.
Not that I'm in the game myself
Good luck :good: B.
In 2004 I was paid £8 per figure by Foundry Miniatures. I only did other commisons for tabletop armies but for those I charged £2.50 inf £3 cav (28mm). If you want to do commision work go for it but listern to the guys above it does change you view on the hobby.
As for a price work out how long it takes you in hours to doa figure then work out and hourly rate you feel right working for and charge more than that.
Keep us informed with how it goes. Cheers James
As for a price work out how long it takes you in hours to doa figure then work out and hourly rate you feel right working for and charge more than that.
Keep us informed with how it goes. Cheers James
