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I love to paint models, I love looking at pro painted armies, and have always wanted a pro painted army. Since a fully commission painted army would cost thousands of dollars I never had it done. I've always been told I do good work and the thought crossed my mind to do public commission work. I know my abilities are no where near the level of some like GMM studios for example, but considering the cost I had an idea. I know many people don't have the time or the ability to paint their armies and many can't afford to pay for a pro painted army, but what if you could commission someone to paint your army to a decent table top standard for a lot less money? I'd do the base colors, wash, drybrushing, some highlights, and maybe some basic base work, nothing golden daemon winning. But would people be interested in such a service? What are dakka's thoughts?

Definitely! I don't have the time to paint and don't particularly enjoy it either. I would much rather pay less to get a very good rather than really great job.

Nah, to me painting is the best part. Being able to field an army that I painted, gives me a real sense of ownership over it. Plus as specific models do cool things I can add bits and bobs to show it. I personally will not field a model that I haven't fully painted (no grey ride for me). That being said, I don't care one way or another what an opponent fields.

Absolutely. I only want about four models per faction done up AMAZING. The centerpiece models. Anything else, I would absolutely have someone paint them to an 'adequate' standard. My specific issue is that I want a 20 strong Tactical squad painted up in atleast 8 different Chapter colors. I don't have the experience or available paints to do that. Not by a long shot. Since I already buy models secondhand most of the time to get that appearance, paying someone $40-60 per ten guys would be a no brainer. Sadly, my budget for more isn't feasible for line troops.

I've finally started painting my Red Corsairs, and Blood Angels will be next and very simple, but it's still a service I would like to have available for my not-red models. Imperial Fist traitors or other more challenging schemes like Novamarines or something purple...

I wouldnt mind a proper airbrushed base coating service.

One that can get a nice blend up. i can do all the fiddly detail bits as i please but i hate base coating in massive lots as i tend to get inpatient and feth it up.

overall though i like painting so probably not,

Interesting. I did an Imperial Fists army for a friend a while back and he loved it. I insisted on trying to get him to do the painting himself and gave him links for tutorials and he said pretty much the same thing you did Poly Ranger.

I'd have to figure out a way to price everything. But if I remember I told my friend I'd paint his tactical squad for half the price of the box if he had bought it new. For example $20 for the $40 tactical squad. I know some pro painters charge for assembly, basing, and at least $5 per model (more depending on size of the model)

 l0k1 wrote:
Interesting. I did an Imperial Fists army for a friend a while back and he loved it. I insisted on trying to get him to do the painting himself and gave him links for tutorials and he said pretty much the same thing you did Poly Ranger.

I'd have to figure out a way to price everything. But if I remember I told my friend I'd paint his tactical squad for half the price of the box if he had bought it new. For example $20 for the $40 tactical squad. I know some pro painters charge for assembly, basing, and at least $5 per model (more depending on size of the model)

You could always figure out how long it would take to do the job (time how long to do like 10 models) then extrapolate minimum wage from that.
Dont expect to make a living off it but you shouldn't try and get chumped. especially by a friend or your self

I don't see the attraction of paying someone to pro paint an army for me. Sure, it'd look great, but I wouldn't have painted it myself so I wouldn't get any real satisfaction from showing it off. The expense just doesn't seem worth it to me.

Paying someone a reasonable amount to paint my models to a decent standard appeals more. As long as the army looks nice enough on the table that's what I'd be looking for, even if individual models don't measure up when seen through a magnifying glass. That way I'd have myself a ready painted army to get gaming with without breaking the bank.

Of course it'd all boil down to how much I'm being charged for this service.

I'd be interested in this service. It'd depend on how much you're looking for, but I'd like a service like this. I currently have a friend painting up some AoBR Deffkoptas for me. I love the models, but I don't think o could do em justice, so I'm having him paint them to TSS.

Blue table is offering the same idea for far too much money so as long as you can make it worth your while undercutting them I'd say give it a try.

I'll echo Desubot's comment getting everything to the fun part for a reasonable fee would certainly entice me.

 Eldarain wrote:
Blue table is offering the same idea for far too much money so as long as you can make it worth your while undercutting them I'd say give it a try.

I'll echo Desubot's comment getting everything to the fun part for a reasonable fee would certainly entice me.

Not meaning to speak ill of them, but I've heard Blue Table isn't really that great for the price. I've seen some of their work. Some of it looks good, some of it was meh.

The general idea of taking on commission work wasn't to make a living off of it, but rather gain some supplementary income to use for my own hobbies. As of right now, I paint all my models by hand so that makes the amount of time it takes me to do them a little longer. Despite this, if I really crack down I can usually get a 10 man squad done in about a week (30 hrs give or take). I do own an airbrush, but lack the knowledge on how to use it. I'm going to be working with a local player to learn how to use the airbrush which will make things much much quicker.

Though before I start any commissions, I need to finish my own army

I would also be interested in a cheap TTS paint. Sure I love painting my own models, but due to lack of time and eyesight getting poor, it's taken me a year to get 2- 10 man squads painted.

Unfortunately I don't have the funds to hire anyone to paint them for me until I can find a way to increase my income.

I do it and post it on ebay all the time. You just need to make sure what you paint is something people will buy. I have a few that are decent seller's, but i also posted some models that haven't sold in more then a year. Not to say these models arent painted great, its just people dont really use the, For ex: I have a Warhammer Gaint posted.. awesome paint job and Im only asking $50+ 6 dollar shipping (basically to break even) has been sitting on Ebay for about a year.

And no i wont say what the good sellers are ;p

Also have had people come up to me when i use to game in stores and ask me how much I charge... but 90% of the time people think you will paint something for $20 ... cheapskates... haha

 Snoopdeville3 wrote:
I do it and post it on ebay all the time. You just need to make sure what you paint is something people will buy. I have a few that are decent seller's, but i also posted some models that haven't sold in more then a year. Not to say these models arent painted great, its just people dont really use the, For ex: I have a Warhammer Gaint posted.. awesome paint job and Im only asking $50+ 6 dollar shipping (basically to break even) has been sitting on Ebay for about a year.

And no i wont say what the good sellers are ;p

Also have had people come up to me when i use to game in stores and ask me how much I charge... but 90% of the time people think you will paint something for $20 ... cheapskates... haha

I had thought of doing this as well. I see pro painted stuff on ebay relisted over and over so I figured the profit potential was marginal. I would assume things like grav centurions, bikes, dire avengers, wraithknights, anything that's popular for the top 4 armies would sell well.

I know anytime I see anything labeled "pro painted" on ebay, I skip right over it.

I'm not paying $80+ for a figure I'm going to have to strip and have repainted in my army's shade of color anyway.

Yea that would be cool. I hate painting because my hands are shaking all the time, makes it impossible to paint well. So of course my whole army is painted, they just look like utter crap.

I've been doing this locally for a few years now. People like the fact that I can do it quickly, and they're usually proud to field a painted army.

That being said, I tried the half of retail, and ended up behind after a while. If I know the player doesn't have much money laying around, I have done trades for painting also.

Mainly, as long as you don't cut yourself out of any profit, it's generally a win.

Hate painting, and I would totally pay for it if the price was worth the quality.

I have the time to paint, but don't enjoy it. Entirely depends on how much your asking for

I'd do TTS commission painting because I paint very quickly and to a moderate standard. Problem is the best I can do is the things on my blogs.

And I despise painting miniatures such as Fire Warriors.

Now here's question, what do you feel would be an acceptable price range to charge for, say a 10 man tactical squad? Let's assume that the only thing needed was the paint job.

What quality would you want?

 Verviedi wrote:
What quality would you want?

Given the OP, I would say TTS.

Most commissioned armies are done to table top standards. If you get paid, technically that makes it a profession. Pro painted doesn't really mean anything, you just have to search ebay to see that. Golden daemon standard armies are a tiny niche of a very niche hobby, decent table top is where you'll get the most clients, so go for it, best of luck to you.

I have been looking for someone to commission out helping me paint my army. I like doing everything up to putting the color primer on, then it is all down hill. I'm looking for someone who I can hand assembled and primed DA green models to and have them detail it up. Nothing super fancy, I don't want them to stick way out and above the stuff I paint. Just to help me get it done.

 jreilly89 wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:
What quality would you want?

Given the OP, I would say TTS.

Correct. Simple base coats, wash, and some highlights. What would you be willing to pay someone for this?

I absolutely condone it haha, so much so that I no longer have to work, commissions are paying my bills now, I love you Americans, you guys seem to love making commission jobs, long may it remain so.

 l0k1 wrote:

 jreilly89 wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:
What quality would you want?

Given the OP, I would say TTS.

Correct. Simple base coats, wash, and some highlights. What would you be willing to pay someone for this?

I wouldn't commission, but I would probably charge a set value depending on the type of kit (infantry, elite, character, monster/vehicle) and then about $7 per hour. I don't want to stiff myself due to my painting speed.

Shoot, nearly all my models are TTS (Basecoat, block colors, a dip and sometimes some drybrushing) I've built terrain in exchange for mini painting at a tabletop standard several times before. I've also gotten a bargain unit of rattlings that I expected to strip and when they arrived instead I just repainted their ballast, dipped them and added them to my army.

Can't say I'd pay much for the service as the whole point for me has been to not to spend much/any $, but I've got no problem owning tabletop quality models painted by someone else.

I like the idea of people building/painting their own models, but I also understand not everyone has the time/patience/skill do so. By commission painting I get to paint new and interesting models while making some extra money, and someone who want a painted army can have that without the normal headache.

I may see about doing up small units with popular load outs and selling them on ebay at first.