I've always wondered about the whole market for "pro painted" minis.
Back in the day (early 90's) I was considered a great painter, I was definitely one of the best in my area (even though the mini's I painted back then, are mere gaming quality to today's standards). For two years I had a table selling my work at a local convention and doing custom work at that convention. And the amount I could get for my best stuff was almost enfuriating. At most I could get double the price of an unpainted fig, even when I had put HOURS of work into them.
At the time a metal Terminator was about 6 dollars I think, and the most I could get for my best painted terminator was 12 dollars.
Then I went to Gen con in... oh I think it was 1994, and found whole booths of painted minis, that were just short of crappy, selling for 30 dollars each! (or at least priced at 30 dollars, I never saw anyone buy them)
After my second year trying to sell my work (1995) at my local convention, and getting people scoffing at my apparently cheap prices like I was over-charging, I gave up on the whole thing, and decided not to try to work for money any more.
That plus the fact that I have yet to meet anyone at a gaming table who doesn't paint their own army (or just plays an unpainted army)..... I just figured that no one actually buys painted minis. I guess things have changed?
Back in the day (early 90's) I was considered a great painter, I was definitely one of the best in my area (even though the mini's I painted back then, are mere gaming quality to today's standards). For two years I had a table selling my work at a local convention and doing custom work at that convention. And the amount I could get for my best stuff was almost enfuriating. At most I could get double the price of an unpainted fig, even when I had put HOURS of work into them.
At the time a metal Terminator was about 6 dollars I think, and the most I could get for my best painted terminator was 12 dollars.
Then I went to Gen con in... oh I think it was 1994, and found whole booths of painted minis, that were just short of crappy, selling for 30 dollars each! (or at least priced at 30 dollars, I never saw anyone buy them)
After my second year trying to sell my work (1995) at my local convention, and getting people scoffing at my apparently cheap prices like I was over-charging, I gave up on the whole thing, and decided not to try to work for money any more.
That plus the fact that I have yet to meet anyone at a gaming table who doesn't paint their own army (or just plays an unpainted army)..... I just figured that no one actually buys painted minis. I guess things have changed?
