ratch's Commission thread

[PG_ratch]

Ok so i am going to start posting my Commission work on this thread. i have a unit of Bane Thralls with Officer and Standard Bearer completed and Tartersauce is on my desk awaiting his turn. So for now this is a Start of my Commission Thread.

So ill give a run down on how my technique runs and kind of time frames.
I have a very Simple Technique that gives above average tabletop quality.
I start with priming the model with a rattle can or if i need to prime half the model another color then i will paint on a matte color of the needed color. I follow this up with the stuff that can be recovered by the dominant color on the model. For instance i will do the metals on a jack and get the small crevaced areas and then apply a coat of the dominant color to cover up the over painting and mistakes. i finish it all with a wash. I am experimenting with highlighting, i am still a novice that has surprising natural talent. like i have literally painted 20-30 models and every model i paint is better then the last.

PICs hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

For Value of my Work so i have some kind of numbers for Trading my work here is what i came on with pricing.
30mm Infantry $5/model
30mm Solos $7/model
30mm Warnoun $10/model
40mm Infantry $10/model
40mm Solos $12/model
Light Jacks and 40mm Warnouns $15/model
Light Character Jack $20/model
Heavy Jacks and 50mm Warnouns $25/model
Heavy Character Jacks $30/model

these values are purely for my own use to determine how much trade versus what they want me to paint.
I have been studying Highlights and trying to learn how and where to place them. its not easy when you are not experienced and have no teachers for this kind of work.

[PG_ratch]

Alright so its been longer then i originally posted but i finally got to the shop and snapped a few shots.

First the Officer and Standard Bearer.





next a group shot of the whole unit.

[PG_ratch]

Here it is a Group Shot of the Unit and a Shot of the UA




Now the Group shot i purposefully grouped them for a reason. the ones on the left of the PIC are the ones that i touched up and matched paint. the ones on the right, including UA, are the ones i fully painted.

I have Bane Lord Tartarus on the Table atm and he is nearly complete. going to attempt highlight with him. if it looks good ill update the Thralls with the highlighting as well =]

[Naja]

i am still a novice that has surprising natural talent. like i have literally painted 20-30 models and every model i paint is better then the last.

From those last couple sentences, I have to suggest you hold off on broadcasting your desire for commission work to the world at large. Talk to your local players and see if they'll hire you for trade in minis or for a few bucks so you can practice on a variety of pieces. You're still in the "new painter" stage, where you'll pick up and try things and each piece will feel better than the previous one. That's not a bad thing or a put-down; we've all been there. What I thought was good years ago I now have a good laugh over when I pull it out. Take the time to practice. Do 20, 30, even 100 minis more and see where you're at. Chances are you'll be better able to showcase what you do well and to get a good feel for how long a type of mini takes you. That way you'll be showing a consistent level of quality to potential customers, and charging a fair value for your time.

[PG_ratch]

From those last couple sentences, I have to suggest you hold off on broadcasting your desire for commission work to the world at large. Talk to your local players and see if they'll hire you for trade in minis or for a few bucks so you can practice on a variety of pieces. You're still in the "new painter" stage, where you'll pick up and try things and each piece will feel better than the previous one. That's not a bad thing or a put-down; we've all been there. What I thought was good years ago I now have a good laugh over when I pull it out. Take the time to practice. Do 20, 30, even 100 minis more and see where you're at. Chances are you'll be better able to showcase what you do well and to get a good feel for how long a type of mini takes you. That way you'll be showing a consistent level of quality to potential customers, and charging a fair value for your time.

Thats the Idea, thus my FLGS owner is having me paint his Cryx, Circle, and Mercs. he is doing in trade for Good Paints, Brushes and models.

[PG_ratch]

Updated OP with my values.

I am Also gathering Materials to start custom Sculpted bases that i can produce en mass to sell at the shop and possibly online.
i am still working on prototypes and getting efficient means for production. currently a business in the making so hopefully i get it going. i already have a workshop available to me that has plenty of casting materials for plasters but i plan to run Dental Stone or Resin for the Base materials. Dental Stone is dense and heavy, the right kind has a pressure rating of around 14k PSI.so they can take a beating. and they will help counter balance the model so its not top heavy and can "Stand" on inclines a lot better. I plant to make my Prototypes and a master set and then a set to play test with.

[PG_ratch]

Ok so i finished a set of 3 "Preview" MechaniThralls for my new Client locally to me. another Cryx customer... he has more but he gave me the Cryx stuff for painting lol.
the pics are terrible because its my webcam. ill be taking another set tomorrow with a real camera.





the last pics are my favorite one. its turned out really good.

[PG_ratch]

[Decap]

Ok I just have to say something here, sorry in advance if I sound too harsh but I think it needs to be said: Those are not "above average tabletop quality" like you market them as. Few basic colors and a wash is about as tabletop quality as anyone just can do, and a miniature without it's base is just unfinished. Then there are also multiple places where there is paint overflowing, and some mold lines/flash showing.
But the main thing is, that you are just starting out painting, you don't yet know how to highlight but you are allready making commissions? Sounds to me like you just want a few fast bucks off of this hobby.
That being said there is nothing wrong with that, if there are people who actually want to pay you and are happy with the results. I know many players who don't like to paint, and settle for a decent tabletop quality. Then again the quality that you showcase here is something anyone can do.

My one tip to you is, if you want commissions: lose the horrible pictures with your webcam and take the time to actually take decent pictures. Horrible picture can make even the nicest painting and ruin it. (and do the bases)

ps: if you prime them with spray, how on earth are the metal holders between the models legs still showing metal?