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I've recently wrapped up a small project for a friend (Infinity NeoTerran force) along with some odd Imperial Assault models that's been ongoing since summer. I'm now considering branching out into proper commission projects initially on a small scale. The feedback I've had on quality for the the IA and Infinity stuff has been good though I'm aware that in a wider context I am just about at basic tabletop level. I am a slow painter so would prefer to take on small, elite type squads, skirmish forces, character models and board game models initially.

These example images are demonstration of the levels I am comfortable to paint to. Valkia, the Heroes Path, Shaggoth and Khorne champion are just some of my personal favourite paintjobs from the last few years I'm wanting to use as additional examples. Are any of these of a decent enough standard that anyone would actually be interested in?

Imperial Assault:




Infinity NeoTerrans:




Valkia the Bloody:


Heroes Path:


Dragon Ogre Shaggoth:


Exalted Champion of Khorne:

People'd definitely be happy to pay for them and you'd have no issue marketing the quality of those harlequins in particular as a display level paint job.

The quality of work you're showing here is something that plenty of people would pay for. The problem is, would they pay you enough to justify the time you spend on them?

If you clear $20 on a model, but you spent four hours on it, you're making less than minimum wage. If that's okay (because you're doing something you enjoy), than go for it, but don't value your time at nothing, especially since taking in commissions will stop you from painting as much stuff for yourself.

 Polonius wrote:
The quality of work you're showing here is something that plenty of people would pay for. The problem is, would they pay you enough to justify the time you spend on them?

If you clear $20 on a model, but you spent four hours on it, you're making less than minimum wage. If that's okay (because you're doing something you enjoy), than go for it, but don't value your time at nothing, especially since taking in commissions will stop you from painting as much stuff for yourself.

Well, he mentioned he was a slow painter, so it's going to be an issue. Don't be someone's paint-slave for $4 an hour, you'll just hate your hobby after a while.

The initial levels I was planning was using the price of the models as a baseline, plus or minus depending on the standard requested. Individual models like with Infinity, or other skirmish forces and characters/centrepiece models would always be higher levels. Unless it is a character or similar I'll be working in small batches of 3-5 at a time. All common colours done together with individual details done last.

I'm mostly just wary of how much I can justify charging for just quality/time spent when I have no reputation or awards or any kind of competition experience to back it up.

For another example I've posted a test model for my Alpha Legion scheme (rather foolishly) in the showcase forum:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/708121.page

well those are really well painted, and consistent so I think you'd definitely have a shot!

As for getting into the whole thing can only suggest start building up your reputation! There are company contests and such, as well as the actual painting contests all over you could try to get in on. Do some sales through Ebay? I know there are some artists who do do that (not sure how well it works).

Also, Wyrd is still looking to hire a miniature painter I think. (Not exactly the same thing I know)

Anyway good luck

Those are good looking models, for sure. The problem is what's the market? People will be willing to spend 75%-150% for decently painted models. Unless you have a workforce that can crank out similarly painted models, you won't be looking at an income that can not do much more than ramen noodles and water. Don't give up your day job, but keep your hobby and passion alive. Don't believe me, that's fine, your prerogative. Put them up on eBay. Ask what you think is a living wage based upon the time you spent on them. Consider:can I live on this?

Might I recommend you take a listen to this episode before delving into doing commission painting...

http://theindependentcharacters.com/blog/?p=3405

Gotta be prepared for a lot of people wanting cheap and quick.

I've been doing commissions for a long time and I can count the number that really paid the bills on one hand.

As for eBay.... It's inconsistent. You won't make your living off it, as so often people skip through looking for bargains not fully painted things.

I've never found the high quality one offs to be the real money makers as a commissioner. Your bread and butter will be the big bulk churn-em-outs where you just blast a few hundred models inside a week or two. It's a sad fact and, believe me, it's about as fun as peeing glass, but that's just it.

Repeat business becomes a god send, as once a customer knows your work and challenges you to go further, they're happy to pay for that, and it builds from there.

Not terrible

You have talent. Try and work local first or for a few gaming buddies for fairly reduced rates to build up a portfolio. It looks like you know how to take photos - so make a facebook page and work from there! That is honestly the first step! Show an example of a level 1, 2, 3, showcase and so on models pictured. I assume you've painted a dozen or so armies at this point?

Ass Possum said - Single propainted minis do not make money - unless USD vs your countries income makes it worth while.

Money making/making this a part time job instead of a side hobby will not net you a ton of money unless your speed/ethic/avoiding procrastination is there. Communication is also paramount. I had issues with this when I was 19-21 painting during college and ended up with a few reimbursements and so on (didn't finished 100+ model count army in time).

I now only take repeat customers that are friends and work on my personal projects. Once I graduated it wasn't worth the 10-14$/hr when I can just do OT at work.

Avoid eBay unless the customer dodges payment and you have to sell the army. People want to be cheap/might not have the budget at low end level armies. I've had a friend go into a deal with GMM Studios - and he was well aware he was putting down 2k for his project - no illusion to the cost.

OP: Your standard's good for commission - 'high end tabletop' (this in itself is a wide field) - it's better than most people can paint (which gives you a market), and it looks good (which gives you hook).

Blends on the harlequins in particular look nice. Should be capable of getting *at least* £50 per mini for that sort of work, more with finished basing and better photography.

Definitely it's your photography rather than your paintwork which needs improvement to get decent money - clean, plain backgrounds, good lighting (worth the investment!) and a tripod or camera mount are the essentials. The camera itself doesn't need to be that great (I use an old 50mp canon powershot compact).

After that it's down to basic 'business' rules, as mentioned by others.

1) Charge as much as you can to maintain your business. Be up front - you do this to make money, and you intend to continue doing so. Repeat clients in particular appreciate paying enough to keep you around. If you're making less than you would in a shift stacking shelves, there's no point doing intense, fiddly, eye-wrecking work that for good results requires you to be invested in. You'll come to hate it.

2) Don't do mate's rates or 'introductory offers'. People WILL take the piss. Ideally don't work for mates at all - if you must paint something for friends, do it as a favour, for free, with no deadline. This saves friendships!

3) Always communicate with your clients. If something screws up, let them know. Before starting a job make sure you know what they want.

4) Never post stuff off without having been paid. You don't need to trust your clients - they need to trust YOU.

5) Don't bite off more than you can chew. Yes, people want bulk, and they want it fast. But assembling and painting to any decent standard 100 space marines in a week is, for most mortals, impossible. Take on jobs you know you can do in a reasonable time. As you get experience you'll know more about your actual timing and you'll be able to schedule appropriately (and figure out if you're fast enough to make money).

6) Accept you will always want to be faster, and You Don't Know Everything. It's definitely a learning game, all the way through - I love anything that speeds me up. Pay attention to any new tricks that speed things up - airbrush preshading, wet brush blending, when and where and why to drybrush rather than blend or layer. Oils. Sponge weathering / salt / hairspray. Whatever works, use.

Good luck - it's nice to see someone with the skills needed already developed stepping up!

winterdyne wrote:
OP: Your standard's good for commission - 'high end tabletop' (this in itself is a wide field) - it's better than most people can paint (which gives you a market), and it looks good (which gives you hook).

Blends on the harlequins in particular look nice. Should be capable of getting *at least* £50 per mini for that sort of work, more with finished basing and better photography.

Definitely it's your photography rather than your paintwork which needs improvement to get decent money - clean, plain backgrounds, good lighting (worth the investment!) and a tripod or camera mount are the essentials. The camera itself doesn't need to be that great (I use an old 50mp canon powershot compact).

After that it's down to basic 'business' rules, as mentioned by others.

1) Charge as much as you can to maintain your business. Be up front - you do this to make money, and you intend to continue doing so. Repeat clients in particular appreciate paying enough to keep you around. If you're making less than you would in a shift stacking shelves, there's no point doing intense, fiddly, eye-wrecking work that for good results requires you to be invested in. You'll come to hate it.

2) Don't do mate's rates or 'introductory offers'. People WILL take the piss. Ideally don't work for mates at all - if you must paint something for friends, do it as a favour, for free, with no deadline. This saves friendships!

3) Always communicate with your clients. If something screws up, let them know. Before starting a job make sure you know what they want.

4) Never post stuff off without having been paid. You don't need to trust your clients - they need to trust YOU.

5) Don't bite off more than you can chew. Yes, people want bulk, and they want it fast. But assembling and painting to any decent standard 100 space marines in a week is, for most mortals, impossible. Take on jobs you know you can do in a reasonable time. As you get experience you'll know more about your actual timing and you'll be able to schedule appropriately (and figure out if you're fast enough to make money).

6) Accept you will always want to be faster, and You Don't Know Everything. It's definitely a learning game, all the way through - I love anything that speeds me up. Pay attention to any new tricks that speed things up - airbrush preshading, wet brush blending, when and where and why to drybrush rather than blend or layer. Oils. Sponge weathering / salt / hairspray. Whatever works, use.

Good luck - it's nice to see someone with the skills needed already developed stepping up!

For 2) I was saying - to build a resume. If someones asks "Hey can you paint a 2000 point space marine army at a table top standard, do you have examples of full armies you've painted recently?". OP only posted a handful of minis. I painted a few armies for $2/model - but then again I was 15-16 years old at the time

It's one of those things that sound like a good idea, but really isn't. I speak from experience and much observation.

The actual rate of pay usually works out too low to support discounting like that. If you're working full time, as a business, you need the money coming in as fast as you can get it.

Working below a sustainable rate (even at the start) does lead to having to devote time to other things, which impacts the schedule, which in turn impacts any sensible assessment on what you're actually making.

So the building of an initial portfolio pretty much has to be done 'outside' the business - personal projects, stuff you can fit into the spare time around regular work. Again I actually advise NOT charging for this sort of stuff at all. Time it to judge your speed, and treat it as work in pretty much every other aspect than having to do it, or to rely on it to eat and/or have a roof over you and your family.

Paint for mates for free - do not muddle personal relationships and business - it has a horrid tendency to go South fast.

I started part-time (note NOT spare time - this was 2 days a week solid painting) around another business, and ramped up from there. You absolutely need schedule control - so allocating a regular routine and hours within that works very well.