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Hi all! I spose some of you will know me from my p and m blog but i figured id post here a seperate forum post. Ive recently been asked to do some comission painting for a webstore. The requested work is "the best i can do"....So ive never done this before and im not looking to start a business or anything. Im a relatively slow but exacting painter and tend to favor bizarre and more creative tendencies when coming up with colors....all this to say, while ive a ton to learn and concepts to refine, im proud of my work. So heres a variety of my work to give you an idea of how dynamic the quality can range. Forgive the photo blast.

these catachans are army painted. Batch painted fast and drybrushing is used. I consider this to be the lowest quality id offer...



So, then there are higher quality miniatures that i consider a step up from army painted. Mid range quality from me. :


Then here are a step up from previous, with a more extravagant paint scheme with modelling, gs work, converting and kit bashing.



Ok and finally, Character Models. I paint these mainly to challenge myself with new techniques, entries for competetions and such:






Ok so youve got an idea of the quality range of my work. For this specific comission i was asked to paint some heads....



im painting 10 all at that standard...the offerend price is 25$ per 5....

Ok thats alot of pics and bs text to basically sum up....how much am i worth? I feel like if im painting to the standard of the priest or standard which is hours upon hours of work...i should be asking for quite a fee...
Whats the consensus? How do i place value on my own work that im of course attached to?
Id really appreciate some feedback on this stuff...thanks guys

Bebop

The simple answer is what is your time worth to you?

If you are charging $25 for 5 heads and it takes an hour to paint each one then you are looking at $5 an hour, which is quite low.

Another place to start is to look at other commission painters and look at what they charge for their various painting levels and then examine how that would relate to your painting.

First of all those look fantastic! Secondly, as already mentioned what is your time worth to you?

I'm by no means near your level but around my area I'm one of the best painters. I've done commission work for friends and only charged them half the price of the model. This seems low but I rate my painting skills a little above table top standard.

Obviously the cheaper your rates, the more people will want to have you paint for them. I know a few commission painters will charge anywhere from $5-10 per 25mm model or more if its highly detsailed. This doesn't include assembly or basing.

I don't think my commenting is really required as these lovely gentlemen have pretty much answered it. I try to set a rough figure of what something of a space marine would cost to paint. then 40mm base ect.. as there is so many models out there, and you must think someone is asking for this.. now how long will it take me to do it.. then price it accordingly.


And most importantly, don't jump on any commission that is offered to you. If you do not feel like what someone is asking of you to do you can do then do not take it.


Nothing is worse then working for under mini wage. So set prices and try and work with your customers to work out a good price.

If you do not follow some of these things YOU will burn out. It has kinda happend to me recently. As I've got so much work at I started to get overwhelmed.

I hope this helps mate and best of luck ^__^


regards,



James

Thanks guys, thats all good advice and appreciate the suggestions and wisdom!
Especially pschos advice on not taking EVERY commission. Truth be told ive not much interest in it, but since this is for an actual companies product, itd increase the visibility of my work and that im into.
Thanks again!

Bebop

Your painting is fantastic.

The jungle fighters and the Kroot are my favorite that you showed.

As much as someone will pay.

Yes, I am helpful.

nice minis!

Nice mini's

Erm yeah, as much as the client will pay
You have to think about how long it took you (hourly rate) , vs how good it really is, vs what other people might charge... oh and add the price (GW's rrp that is) of the mini being painted if your supplying it hehe.

The materials price will be kinda low; sure the paints are kinda steep (especially citadels - but this is true of all hobby brands), but you dont exactly throw entire pots of paint at a mini; we're talking pence worth of paint at best I would expect.

I'd go with how much my time is worth - I can earn £7.44 an hour (which i consider pretty low tbh) for crap warehouse work, moving around freight and stacking up cages/pallets of boxes (i.e skilless work); you want to sell a skilled job, its worth more than unskilled, particularly if you are good at it.

Don't sell yourself short, don't work for pennies on the hour. Demand a decent hourly rate, if someone wont pay a reasonable amount for your time, you don't need them as clients.

And don't undercut the rest of us or we'll have to set the union on you!!

Only kidding of course. I massively undercharge for my work, which will have to change soon because HairySticks is right, you ought to get at least minimum wage if not more. But on the other hand don't go too much over that or people will just paint their own minis.

I'm currently charging 17 pound sterling (aprox $28) for a character standard normal sized mini. I must be mad.
It takes at least 4 hours so I ought to be charging £25 ($40) if I want minimum wage. Does that seem reasonable? Depends on the customers wallet I suppose.