Best way to find a painter for company products?

[chapterhousestudios]

Hello,

First I didnt see an area to post this in (no work for hire area?!), and Trading and Selling seemed not right.
I am new to the forums (never have used them much).

I run (the controversial) Chapterhouse Studios and I am looking for a painter to work on our display pieces.

I am wanting to find an painter that has a solid turn-around time as well as a high level of skill, one close to Golden Demon or a couple of step below to paint our products that will be displayed on our new website. Most of our products are small accessories and conversion kits. We are doing more and more whole figures and that will be interesting.

I have worked with painters in the past, but find dependability to be lacking (IE something was quoted in 1-2 weeks, it takes 2 months).

If anyone is interested please email me at nick@chapterhousestudios.com, please let me know your pricing structure, examples of works as well as any references. I would prefer a US painter, but will be happy to work with a strong international painter as well.

Here is an example of our sculpts.

View attachment 5262View attachment 5263

 

[crazyboyae1]

are you looking for one painter that will do everything in your compony or are you looking for a few different people to do the painting. if that position is to be filled by one person then I dont know if I can take every job always, however, if your looking to build a team of painters that may be best not only for you but also for these "part time" painters.
Also if there is an expected high level the time may be more like a month, such as competition level
however display level is easier to paint in more like a week or two. for this reason if other people contact you I would suggest that this may be a good idea.
please let me know what your plans are and what the interest of people are as i would be interested in joining a team of painters however not if this becomes a full time job of painting as we all have lives outside painting!
thank you
-Ansel

 

[chapterhousestudios]

Honestly, I would like to have one painter, but Im not sure if that would ever happen. As it is, we release a few products a month, and most of those are small pieces like accessories and vehicle accessory kits.

We are doing more larger kits like full figure 28mm, but those are still rare.

Shoot me an email if you would - nick@chapterhousestudios.com if you want to talk further.

 

[freakinacage]

isn't that an eldar on a jetbike?

 

[Wicksy]

isn't that an eldar on a jetbike?

Nope, just a futuristic Elf on a hovercraft

 

[Dragonsreach]

@Chapterhousestudios; What you ask is not an easy thing to provide.
If I may make a couple of suggestions:-
1) You will need to ensure that the painter is over 18 to protect yourself in legal terms.
2) There are a number of Professional painters, who use C'mon both as a gallery and as a guage point for Sales. I'd suggest that you look to the galleries and contact those people that suite your needs.

 

[Wombat85]

Can I just add that one thing your company will need to make sure of in particular is that your painter uses a unique pallet for the miniatures. You are so borderline on copyright that if you then used the exact same pallet for a near identical piece it could be the last thing that puts you over the line and pushes GW to really go after you.

 

[lono]

Can I just add that one thing your company will need to make sure of in particular is that your painter uses a unique pallet for the miniatures. You are so borderline on copyright that if you then used the exact same pallet for a near identical piece it could be the last thing that puts you over the line and pushes GW to really go after you.

I think they are already pretty far over the line, what with the GW legal business going on. Not sure painting their Eldar knock offs bright pink is going to make much difference. Chapterhouse and their massive lack of imagination actually make me root for GW. Damn them for that. I hope they're utterly crushed by the GW behemoth so I can stop backing my evil corporation ex employer!

Having said that, hey guy, I'm free for commissions. Hit me up!

 

[Wombat85]

I think they are already pretty far over the line, what with the GW legal business going on. Not sure painting their Eldar knock offs bright pink is going to make much difference. Chapterhouse and their massive lack of imagination actually make me root for GW. Damn them for that. I hope they're utterly crushed by the GW behemoth so I can stop backing my evil corporation ex employer!

Having said that, hey guy, I'm free for commissions. Hit me up!

I agree with you entirely. That aside I was talking things over with my wifes frend, who is a pattent attourney here in the states points out that although with art and in paricularly sculptuers some leeway is often easily obtained. If the IP is in question it is almost always a slam dunk if the copy is also finished in the same manner as the origional. Copying everything including the finnish ussually leaves little doubt as to who owns the IP.

 

[Wombat85]

One final thing is whoever you hire you are REQUIRED to disclose any legal issues with anything you want them to paint as once there name goes on it they can also become entangled in any legal action.

 

[Einion]

One final thing is whoever you hire you are REQUIRED to disclose any legal issues with anything you want them to paint...

Could you point to the relevant legislation please? This just sounds too much like some of the supposed truths about copyright that are bandied about online which actually turn out not to be correct, or at least are very misleading.

...once there name goes on it they can also become entangled in any legal action.

Can they really?

Einion

 

[Wombat85]

OK eionion this is very complex so I will simplify it as much as possible. I am not a patent attorney! nor any kind of attorney, I am however an inventor who has been involved with patents. What follows is the simple version provided to me by wife's friend (who happens to be my patent/IP attorney as well as a patent/IP attorney for a major US manufacturer). I will include some relevant statutes but these things are so complex that I wont list them all.

Simply put IP is owned by someone. I will refer to chapterhouse studios as it is relevant. 17 U.S.C. § 506(a) and 18 U.S.C. § 2319 governs the punishment for IP theft and it is a felony.
I am going to assume that chapterhouse studios is LLC. In this instance GW has a claim to both file civil suite for damages and can advise the US department of justice to pursue criminal charges against the company. In this instance it will be any executives/designers/sculptors who perpetrated the theft, with an civil damages covered by the company. Now the statute 17 U.S.C. § 506 states that the infringement must be willingly. As described this means that if you happen to create a near identical item as long as you can prove it was an original idea you cannot be criminal prosecuted. You lose all right to claim to be unwilling if you have received a cease and deist order, or have been advised of a possible infringement in any other way, or the procesecution can prove you know of GW and the alleged infringment.

Lamens: IF you are paid for rending service on what is then proven to be Copyright infringements you have under the statue achieved "financial gain" from said copyright infringement and can be liable for criminal procedure.
Note: they may or may not go after you, its your call if you want to risk it.

What does this mean If you paint for them. You will be (god I hope for your sake) contracted as an agent of the company. Firstly in the event of a civil suite, as long as you are tied to the LLC you will not be personally out any damages, but you may have to pay for your own lawyer as having chapterhouse studios council represent you could be a conflict of interest. If you are not contracted as an agent of the company you could be sued by GW personally for copyright infringment as far as you are liable. Criminally you will need to prove that in creating the miniature (including painting) that it was an entirely unique concept and that you were in complete ignorance that GW did something similar. Note again there will be legal fees and the best outcome is you don't have to go to jail or pay a fine.

Lamens: If you painted a chapterhouse miniature and then painted GW symbols on it you could be tied to the theft of the Ip associated with the miniature in question.

Finally: I stand corrected on chapterhouse being required to inform however, the painter, if they can claim ignorance to the theft, would then have ground to file a civil claim against chapterhouse for any damages incurred from the copyright infringement.

SUMMARY: This could be a real can of worms, it is incredibly complex and I would strongly tell anyone who may be involved with this sort of project to get legal advice first and make sure they are covered.