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I am just looking to have someone else paint a army for me. I have 2 other armies I am working on and just want a fully painted army that looks awesome. Can anyone point me in the right direction with that?

There is a commission list of painters on the dakkadakka site here that has reviews of each painter from members that have used them. Many of the painters have their websites posted. I would start there

Thank you! Where do I look to find that list?

It's in the trading/ for sale forum. Dakka swap shop

I'd recommend getting a test piece done at what ever level you want the army done at

with a small one man shop this should show what you'd get for your money

and it should at least help with showing what you you'll get with a larger studio (there may be variences due to individual painters but a good shop should minimise them)

I'll chip in.

First, get to know the person you're thinking of getting to do the commission. They need to know you. This is critical.

Discuss your ideas and ideas for the army in advance - a good place will try to get in your head and develop from your ideas, and will also tell you if something's not going to work or will look bad. Be wary of yes men - chances are they just want your cash and will at best work to the letter of a brief, not invest in it. Projects which an artist is invested in come out better. Be prepared to have your vision (productively) messed with a bit.

They should have an established (considerable time) online presence.

There should be a good trail of work done by them. This as much as anything will indicate the quality you can expect. Asking for a test piece is pointless unless you're going to pay for it - most established places already have work schedules in place and aren't going to down tools on big projects to do a test piece just for the potential of work.

They should not be stupidly cheap - if they're reliable, they've been doing this for a while, and that means they charge appropriately for their time. Cheap prices tend to mean an inexperienced individual or business, or an unstable one.

Remember the rule of 2; cheap, fast, good. Pick 2.

Expect delays if you expect quality work.

Golden rule: NEVER pay up front in full, especially if you send the models in. Most places will take a small deposit and accept payment in installments as the project progresses.

Make sure the business / individual trusts you as much as you have to trust them. This is either by them having an online reputation open to being tarnished (see established studios such as GMM etc), or by you knowing something as simple as their real name, where they live etc.

Another thing I'd like to point out is to ask for updates with pictures.

 crazyfoxdemon wrote:
Another thing I'd like to point out is to ask for updates with pictures.

Your painter should be contacting YOU with updates as well. The test model idea is good, getting to know them is better, and the "pick two" for selecting someone is best. Get references, a phone number, add em on facebook, be a godparent to their children... all of these are perfectly fine. Remember, IT'S YOUR ARMY we're talking about. this isn't a game.

also, swatches are immeasurably helpful.

Its very wise to make sure they have a good reputation and have lots of their previous commissions displayed online I find.
Get to know them first, make sure they have the right idea and ask them to keep you updated.