<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "commisioned paint jobs so far"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net commisioned paint jobs so far http://s1300.beta.photobucket.com/user/AAguilera50/library/paint

Ive always specialized in rank and file models because I can get about 100 done in a day... haha but the occasional single model or special character is always fun to!


Thanks for looking
Tony A.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327472.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327472.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327511.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327511.page GMT Re:commisioned paint jobs so far
 legoburner wrote:

3) This is a forum to actually show off pictures, so threads created here must contain at least one picture within the post itself. Simply posting a link to another site without including a picture in the post is not acceptable, and threads like that will be moved to the regular painting and modeling forum.


Thank you for being up front about being a commission painter, though! I really appreciate it, it makes you seem more honest. I look forward to seeing pictures of your work. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327526.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327526.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327587.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327587.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327628.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327628.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far
i hope your not charging too much...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327633.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327633.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far could do, but aren't willing/able to" treatment.

Personally, I wouldn't pay discount-internet-retailer-list price, let alone a premium, for models like those pictured (well, linked), but my standards and those of the next guy are bound to be different. If the OP didn't price accordingly, he'd never have made a sale... or has been very lucky with his pool of potential customers. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327825.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5327825.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5328737.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5328737.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far
I'd suggest slowing down, a tad, and putting a little more effort into each model. You've found your niche - fast turnaround, low price - but I think taking it to the extreme, at least doing so exclusively, is working against you. If someone wants a 100 model army, getting it done in two days instead of one is nothing - that's still ridiculously fast, but would allow you double the time to work. Actually using all of that time would mean decreasing your effective wage, but I feel like there's definitely a balance to be struck.

Looking through the pictures, I noticed a few splotches of inexplicable color - what looks to me like brush slip. It can happen to the best of us, should we let our guard down, but it's far more likely when rushing. A touch more care (or going back to fix problem areas) will keep little errors from creeping through to the finished product. When they're noticed, they tend to diminish the perceived quality of all the models around them.

I'd also recommend increasing your use of washes. I see evidence here and there of occasional wash use, but I think you're really under-utilizing them - they're pretty much perfect for you, as their effects are delightfully disproportionate to the time and effort involved in their use. At their simplest, washes will help you get a bit more depth out of models that appear to have just received a basecoat and drybrush.

More importantly, whether you simply wash last or apply a thin final coat as a translucent glaze, they'll help to smooth out otherwise rough and chalky finishes. With the amount of drybrushing you seem to do, this is a godsend. Looking at your Orks, going a bit heavier on the drybrush then slapping on a green wash would ramp up the contrast and give a much smoother finish, for approximately one extra minute of work and several more of drying time (a non-issue, as it's the final step and you're working on hordes of models). Similarly, the Daemons would look much smoother and more vibrant with a red glaze over the otherwise rough and desaturated orange drybrushing.

One or two extra minutes per model does add up, across an army, but you charge based on the quality you can deliver, as well as the timeframe. Giving people the option of commissioning a more attractive army at a somewhat slower pace and higher price expands your potential customer base. There's a reason why many commission painters, big names included, offer different "levels" of work: It broadens the market, increasing the chances of them filling their queue and, thereby, their pockets.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5329559.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5329559.page GMT Re:commisioned paint jobs so far
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331315.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331315.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331351.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331351.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far
IE a lot of people want to play but don't have time to paint, and just want a basic painted army. They don't want to fork over the $2500+ to professionally paint an army.

Back when I first started I would do basic tabletop for price. IE $35 tac squad costs $35 including assembly. I could have had business running out of my ears, and you can churn out models at that level.

IE you can do an entire tabletop army of most non-horde armies in a week easily.

Here are a few tips for you. First basing based models look 100% better than non-based. Fast cheap bases = Vallejo black lava. It's just a big jar of paint on texture drybrush to taste.

Then learn to dip. I've had people telling me how good my army looked and wanting to know what I did and all it was, was a minwax polyshades dip job.

Airbrush...get one. I got a cheap setup from harbor freight double action with compressor for under $100. Not the whizzbang best but it sprays paint well. This will allow you to speed things up tremendously.

Look up how to make your own washes. There is a tutorial on this forum. Very good washes, you can make in bulk for cheap. This cuts your costs by a lot and offers a better finished product to the customers.

Look up Golden Fluid Acrylic paints. They look more expensive at first glance until you realize your getting an ounce of paint for $1 more than 17ml Vallejo paint. It's very high quality but like most things not advertised to a niche hobby the price is better.

Createx also makes some very nice airbrush colors once again substantially cheaper than miniature hobby airbrush paints. Comes in 2 ounce bottles as well.

So let's see we've got priming, and base coating down to minutes. I do recommend Vallejo polyurethane primers.

So say someone wants you to paint a Ultramarine army. Prime airbrush, base coat airbrush, paint all the odds, and ends, wash, basic line highlights take mere minutes per model. Paint base with Vallejo black lava, drybrush 3 colors IE dark brown, lighter brown, very light bone white.
Stick a grass tuft on there if you want for good measure, and done.
I paint my bases with the airbrush except for the final drybrush of bone. This also dirties their feet, and makes it look like they've been tromping around.


Basic example of a regular rank and file tac marine using this technique with a little extra care given to some details. I could churn these out all day without breaking a sweat. Paint some show pieces to go with it, and I won my first best painted with these guys. After a little more polishing but to get them to the standard pictures didn't take much work at all.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331390.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331390.page GMT Re:commisioned paint jobs so far
Thanks again!
Tony A.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331461.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331461.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far BTW, as some other people mentioned, you have a great attitude. I've been painting for over 30 years and am still learning all sorts of tricks. Too many people take feedback negatively and personally ... which is too bad.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331608.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331608.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far TT done well. Get some better unit photos (tripod, good light, background sheet) and post them in your OPs when showing off on forums and you should do quite well for yourself.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331978.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5331978.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far OP's you mean ?? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332975.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332975.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far OP = Original Post.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332991.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332991.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332996.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5332996.page GMT commisioned paint jobs so far http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5334364.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/510217/5334364.page GMT