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so, pretty sure i need to put this in the Painting service list, not sure, will probably copy this and put it in there, but anyway, onto the point, I'm eventually wanting to do a painting service, I'm not half bad, nothing like some of the folk already offering PS, but my main problem, is my lack of experience, as I've only painted a handful of orks, afew genestealers, a small group of tau, and a $#!% ton of space marines. So what i'm wanting to offer( and this sounds like a scam to me, so i know it will probably sound like one to you all) is that if you have any models that you either don't want to, or just haven't been able to make time to paint, or anything of that sort, you send them to me, with you covering the S&H, I paint them in whatever way you want, and then I send them back(me covering S&H). Like I said, sounds like a scam, but it isn't, i just want to gain painting experience. I'll post some pics of what I've done so far once I get some good pics of them.

This is my favorite conversion


this is an ork a friend gave me


A guardsman I'm experimenting with


a crappy pic of a favorite


Yes I know they're not that good of pics, I'm sorry. Another quick side not, sorry for the yellowing on some of those, just figured out why that happened, fixed now.

yea... doubtful this is gonna work out. I mean if you had a few thousand posts or something I personally would see you as possibly being legit, but I don't really.

If you want experience, just buy a few models from every codex, and paint them over and over again (stripping paint off with brake fluid between paintings) to get better.

I'm with Honersstodnt really sounds like a scam. He also gave you the best idea for getting more experience or you can buy a battleforce from some of the other armies if you want variety too. A lot of websites you can get stuff 20-25% off.

as i said, sounds like a scam to me, and i'm the poster, so i can't rightly blame ya for thinkin that now can i. and thats what the tau and orks are, pretty much for, just figured i'd be neighborly and offer to paint some blokes figures for him and we'd both benefit. but i posted this knowing i'd either get a ton of accusations or a ton of requests, so i know the gamble i'm taking offering this. and i can rant all day and night that it's not a scam but still folk'll want to think it is, so i'll just tell you honestly it's not a scam and hope for the best

Folks, no more calling out "this is a scam". If you don't want to be involved, by all means, please just ignore the thread.

To SEANjohn, couple of pointers-

1) Honestly, without any reference photos, you're not likely to catch a bite (as they say, pictures are worth a thousand words).

2) A better idea would probably be to follow Honersstodent's suggestion and find a bunch of varied models for cheap (I'm sure plenty of people have an odd model lying around here and there that they won't miss) and use that to gain experience and build up a "portfolio" of sorts.

3) Please take better care of proper capitalization and punctuation and line/paragraph breaks. People are less inclined to take someone seriously if they write poorly.

Understood Jin, I was going to edit and improve the post once I got some better looking photos than the current blurtastic ones of my stuff I've got. My appologies

Well, one thing you could do, is you could trade using pay-pal the amount it would cost for the models new for the models as an insurance/deposit and then get given it back when the models arrive painted and intact?

...deleted nevermind not wasting anyones time

I had an idea in this regard. Until you develop a reputation as being a good, reliable painter you could offer some sort of collateral to the person you intend on doing business with. Whether it be models or cash the willingness to do so will build up trust. You'd also have to be careful because it can also open yourself up to getting scammed.

Hope that helps.

@ unclean one- I was actually about to ask for suggestions that yours would fall right under, just need to get my paypal acount unscrewed up. but thankye for that man, good suggestion.
@ phoebus- like i said, can't blame ya one bit for thinking that it is, I would. No hurt feelins from me mate

and lastly @ luco- yet another good suggestion, thankye aswell

Hmmm...

I'll bite. Send me some pics of your work or post them on photobucket and I may be able to help out with some models!


I looked into your gallery and as you mentioned, they're a bit blurry

I might be interested in having you paint some of my stuff as well, but better, less blurry pictures of your work would be nice. Even if it's free, I don't want my models looking like the dreaded *gasp* star wars army: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110539786349&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Yeah, noo. I've got the pics loaded onto photobucket, here should be the link. Yes I know they're bad pics, yes I'm trying to take better ones asap.
http://s773.photobucket.com/albums/yy20/SEANjohn37683/my%2040k%20stuff/?start=all&mediafilter=images

Just added some pics to both the photobucket and look in my gallery under projects. They didn't turn out as well as i'd like, but I'm in the proccess of building a light box now

Just wanted people to know that I am going to give this fellow a try. On Monday I'll be sending him an old version of a Keeper of Secrets (the one with the bull head). I'll keep people posted on how things are going from my perspective.

I'd like to thank Leo and viagrus, who're both sending me stuff, I'll be starting a P&M blog to track my progress on this as well as show some of my old stuff which I've finally taken some half decent pics of. Hope this goes well

Some suggestions that overlap a bit with the prior posts:

The less informal the writing the better, my "impression" is an early teenager (or less) offering to paint miniatures for me and be able to handle shipping them back to me (not likely springs to mind). The communication is fine for informal forum posting but not good when proposing a business offering.

There are MANY guides on how to better your photography, if you have proper lighting for painting (to ensure good color match etc.) you should be half way there.

As stated, you really could grab just about any 3D object and try to make it look like something else. I tried painting dowel to look like marbled columns and learned a ton from that.

I hate to say from what I see of the pictures, the painting is splotchy, lacks shading, some edge control issues. Impression is you have a long way to go. Have you tried washes at all?

Brush up on "color theory" like contrasting colors, get a color wheel.

That light in the pictures has a nasty yellow to it, no wonder the prior pictures are tinged like that. Get a "natural light" or "full spectum" light. Your eyes and pictures would thank me.

What about script on all that parchment or purity seals? How good are you with decals and applying them?

You need a controlled pallet area, the work area looks a bit untidy and could be a bear to control things and keep the models clean while painting.

No evidence of mounting the models to make it easier for painting and reduce handling to keep oils from fingers getting onto painted product.

What about basing the models? Some services paint the model without the base and add pins to the feet so they can be added later to a suitable prepared base.

Really trying to give an idea of what was going on in my head when I reviewed these postings so for good or ill here it is (genuine advice not trying to be a SOB).

Look at some of my gallery stuff, people like my playing miniatures but they do not get awards and they are a few steps removed from what you offer.

Try looking at this guy's site: http://www.minivault.com/ he pretty much sets the gold standard of what you wish to do.

Hope this helps.

^ That's a lot of good advice, I might steal a few

alrighty, so, to adress afew things, I'm 20( for those not good at math that's a late teen at loosest) who works for a family furniture business who's handled his fair share of shipping. On the photography, even those who wrote them had afew hicups on their first few shoots until they got their method's down.
I've already( and repeatedly) stated I'm nothing fantastic, though I'm far from bad. thanks for the color wheel idea, got one printed out and on the wall beside my desk now. and on the actually touching the figures, after you said that I tried that with one of the guardsman, well, it messed with my head, so I've decided to just wear latex gloves, not the same, but I'm weird about having to hold the figure.
thanks for all you guys advice though, and the winged chap is still a wip, so i've not added the text.
also on a less semi insulted side, I've started a P&M blog about what the pieces I'm sent, here's the link
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/303390.page#1715261

i hate to be the dark cloud,but you need to get some more skills before offering a service,get pepole from your local stores,your skill level,is low tabel top,your looking at 1$ a model,have you tried your local stores to offer your services to freinds and local players?>

your skills
paint is to thick
everything looks flat
detail is gone
im glad your proud of your work,and when you figure out your basics youll become good,but before you start painting others models you should home in on these skills first

thin out your paints
learn to find a pull out your details
learn a layering tech.
learn how to use GW line of washs
***learn brush controle

as i said im sorry for being the dark cloud on this littel blog but im being far nicer than some of the snide coments thought in alot of pepoles heads

thanks
31

ps
im really not trying to be mean,just honest,keep up the practice...youll get there...until then keep on happy painting

The final comment I will make on this is to suggest that you read over the advice provided in this recent thread: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/303210.page

As it is, the OP has started a P&M Blog on Dakka with convenient link above. Since any discussion on suggestions for becoming a commissioned painter can be held in the aforementioned Dakka Discussions thread, and any constructive criticism of the OP's painting can be given in his P&M Blog, I'm going to go ahead and lock this "Trade thread". If you're interested in the OP's services, please PM him and/or follow his P&M Blog.