Do top sculpters work for hire as well?

[EricJ]

So I know a lot of the top mini painters out there do paint for hire, but I don\'t see a lot of sculptors do so in a commision basis, I mean other than for mini companies intending to mass produce their work. I see scultors working on projects (like paint aid), for competitions (FU UK for example) or for their own work. Is it because there is something more...intimate about sculpting than painting which discourages selling, or is it simply that sculpting is less common so I see it less...or perhaps that sculpting would cost more to commision so there is much less a market?

(I\'m of course asking for personal reasons as I\'m thinking about a special sculpt I\'d love to commission)

-Eric

 

[darthfoley]

Many of them do. A friend of mine has been trying to put together a small mini company for about a year and has worked with a couple of different sculptors along the way. He has done some business with Matt Gubser, James van Schaik, and another Reaper sculptor whose name I won\'t mention.

I won\'t mention it in public because the guy has had my friend\'s money for a year with nary a bit of product as of yet. Let\'s just say he\'s well known for his monster sculpts and tends to be quite popular amongst us here at CMON for his work...but it seems his work \'ethic\' might leave something to be desired. Of course, I only have my friend\'s side of the story to go on.

 

[E-Arkham]

I think a lot has to do with the costs of commissioning sculpting.

You can get a decent painted miniature for really cheap; $50-$75 is on the high end, while $250+ is generally only something you see the top end painters getting (Jen Haley, etc). Yet $250+ is closer to the starting prices for a sculptor.

As such, most people don\'t commission them since they\'re out of most people\'s price range. At least, that\'s what I suspect.

Kep

 

[minimaker]

Origineel geplaatst door EricJ
I see scultors working on projects (like paint aid), for competitions (FU UK for example) or for their own work.

Not that surprising. Working to order can take a little bit of the fun away from sculpting. What you make is often not your idea and when you do a range there is this \"I\'ve done this before\" feeling. These projects mean you can let loose your own fantasy and do something you otherwise might never do. Keeps the fun in sculpting. Have a look at the VIP entries over here: Visions site
Some good examples: Sandy Garrity - Hamster gladiator, Bobby Jackson - SF gladiator, Drew Williams - sock goblin, Jason Wiebe - steampunk boar rider.

is something more...intimate

Depends on the person. Some will have no problems selling a green while others want the green back and only sell repro rights (practical reason is that greens can be used up to three times for conversions).

sculpting is less common so I see it less...

Yup

sculpting would cost more to commision so there is much less a market?

Most likely. I know some sculptors have done some private commisioning but the rates can be high for private buyers. Kelp is nearly right. $250 can be a starting rate for average sculptors. With top sculptors it will often be at least $350. Exact rates can not be given since this depends on sculptors, design and everything around it. Private commisioning means that the sculptor will not have a proof cast and very little exposure to the public (sculptors love seeing their figures painted ) so this could be considered less interesting.
Another thing I\'ve noticed at 1listsculpting is that a lot of people who look for custom sculpt ask for stuff that is copyrighted (from a drawing, to fit GW figures, etc.) or trademarked. And of course that can not be done.
Last thing. Many sculptors do that for a living. So they need the 30+ hours they spend on a sculp to deliver sufficient money to life from. Many painters for hire do it as a hobby, so they can accept lower rates.

(I\'m of course asking for personal reasons as I\'m thinking about a special sculpt I\'d love to commission)

Can be done if you have the money for it. Sometimes you can get them cheaper from a novice sculptor but quality can be less then (not always, several good novices around). If you want to get in touch with a particular sculptor, let me know. Good chance I can find him/her.

Oh, as to what darthfoley says. Keep in mind that hiring a sculptor is a business transaction. Threat it as one and make sure you have a set agreement. This goes both ways. I know one sculptor who is still waiting for money even though the minis are already on sale. A case of a starting company that has put financial priorities somewhere else instead of paying that sculptor.

Hope this helps.

Bye, Ming-Hua

 

[SIGIL]

Darth Foley.... If all that was true, not doubting your word mind, then I would probably not worry at all about publicizing his name..... Provided you have proof. After all what you discribe is theft plain and simple, there is no other way to put it.

For future reference ALWAYS make sure the sculpt is ready before payment is made, unitl a buisiness relationship has been formed.

 

[darthfoley]

Well, as I said, my buddy has been in contact with him pretty much constantly for a year or so...I\'ve seen an email from the sculptor stating he would either have the figure done or refund the money by the end of October...it\'s now end of January, and still nothing to my knowledge.

 

[EricJ]

Ming-Hua, that was a lot of the information I was looking for, and more I probably needed but didn\'t know yet. I\'ll have to sleep on this and figure out what exactly I want to do, since what I\'m hoping for is probably squarely within the IP of games-workshop. Perhaps I will have to learn to sculpt after all...grrrr

-Eric

 

[praetorian0_1]

As I said in past posts, I am still willing to pose for sculptors trying to grab that \"heroic\" feel. You know just FYI

 

[minimaker]

praetorian0_1: you can always volunteer to pose for http://www.3d.sk (warning nudity - why don\'t we have a smilly for that?). That\'s set up for artists so I\'m sure some need models with a heroic feel.

Eric, join us at 1listsculpting. Many novices around. As well as professionals.

Sigil, payment after finishing a sculpt is quite risky when dealing with a starting company. I wouldn\'t do it. It wouldn\'t be the first time a company dies and a sculptor is left with neither the money nor the master. That\'s why a lot of sculptors go for payment in parts (start, mid and remainder). Unfortunately my friend did not and has recieved no money yet for several sculpts. Good thing is that some earlier ones did get paid. Still, there is confidence payment will come. Eventually.

 

[praetorian0_1]

Sorry to go off piste- but hello fellow Sr. memeber if no one has cottoned on to that yet.

 

[SIGIL]

Sigil, payment after finishing a sculpt is quite risky when dealing with a starting company. I wouldn\'t do it. It wouldn\'t be the first time a company dies and a sculptor is left with neither the money nor the master. That\'s why a lot of sculptors go for payment in parts (start, mid and remainder). Unfortunately my friend did not and has recieved no money yet for several sculpts. Good thing is that some earlier ones did get paid. Still, there is confidence payment will come. Eventually.

Well what I actually meant was that once the sculptor could provide pics of the finished piece, that would be an appropriate time to send payment on a first time gig. That way the only reason for the sculptor not to send themini is just sheer malice.