Where do painting jobs come from?

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EricJ

Active member
This was just a curiousity of mine, but with the recent rash of cmoners getting jobs painting up display pieces for miniature companies, I thought I would ask.

How did you come across the painting job? I haven\'t really ever seen (other than the occassional post here in the forums) job postings for these things so I wondered. I\'m also not talking about the GW-type chain you to a table 8 hours a day jobs.

I always did dream to one day do a little bit of this work, and working on the ogre I realized I do actually enjoy deadlines, and guidelines (to some degree) as it gets me off my butt to paint and working skills I might otherwise have not (like metallics on the ogre).

I\'m not sure I\'d have time to do this now, depending on the workload, but I really was just curious about this niche industry and how it works.

Thanks!
Eric
 
R

Ritual

New member
Deadlines always make me sit through the night the final night! :rolleyes: I have done that twice in one week recently and I don\'t know if I could do that on a regular basis... I\'m just not good with planning and such! lol
 
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Astonia

New member
The company work I have done has come from me contacting companies and offering my painting service. Some say yes and send you minis, some say no. Although I was actually contacted by a company once!! That was pretty cool :)
 
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EricJ

Active member
I\'d probably be the same way Anders, but I think that once in a while that\'s good fun!

Anja, thanks for the feedback, maybe I\'ll start doing that once my workload lightens up a touch. I bet that was so cool when someone contacted you, but not a surprize, at least doesn\'t surprise me (due to the level of your work)

I\'m really not looking for money, it\'s not a factor for me since graphic design pays way better than painting ever could, I think, but more about getting my hands on something new and pushing myself to produce something to impress people to want to try that mini themselves! Maybe I\'m over-romanticising it, and after the first one I may burn out, but you never know until you try! :)

-Eric
 
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Equus

New member
Only painter I know personally who ended up in a painting job was mostly in the right place, at the right time, and knew the right people. Granted, he wasn\'t doing contract work at the time, just wound up with a full time job for WotC. Now though, I think he\'s considered a contractor, which he got from knowing people from his time at WotC.

If you\'re not in an area with the companies (or probably even if you are), Astonia\'s way is probably the best, knowing what little I do about the gaming industry. Contact a company you\'re interested in working with and have stuff they can look at. If they have some work they need to fill, they\'ll probably say \"heck yes\". Even with the full time staff they had in \"New Siberia\" at WotC, those painters got real overworked near deadline time. :bouncy:

edit: By the way, if you\'re interested in trying out a contract, let me know. I don\'t see him too often, but a good friend of mine does work with Privateer Press. I can see what they have in the stove and if they need anything done. Also not sure what they pay...I know when I got offered a part-time position in the warehouse a while back, they mostly paid with minis. :p
 
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Klute

New member
Well I did a few private commissions and some ebay stuff.I spotted the stuff Peter Shepheard was doing at Sacred Blade and thought I would get in to see if he wanted anything painted.We decided on a paint for lead deal,which considering at the time I was a lot lower in the rankings and less experienced wasn\'t a bad deal.I paint the figures and send him the photos for his website etc.Ive got my highest rated figure from it and hopefully some more which has helped me a great deal.He\'s not restrictive at all,just says do the best job you can whichever way you want.No deadlines,though I do feel pressured time to time when I havn\'t sent any pics for a while.
So that gave me some cred,my pics published on the web and ebay stores etc.

As for HassleFree,,,,,Sally contacted me after I painted the Gymnast figure on the pumpkin and asked if it was for sale.After some uming and aring I sold it and just said if she wanted anything else doing to let me know.Im now doing one per month,I know that doesn\'t pay the bills but it puts some cash in the paypal account for me to sustain my hobby.Sally is taking the minis around the shows along with the others in the display cases.There should be one in the upcoming Darskon Designs mini painting book.Theres no pressure as such,again I get to do what I want with the figures and take my time(obviously at one per month),,,and I really feel like a part of the team,which makes me feel great about myself.
I have enquired about doing painting for other \"larger\" companies but to be honest I dont think I could handle the pressure and restrictions.
 
S

Shadzar

Guest
<---- will paint for minis!

not like i need more, or i can paint that good, but you can never have too much pewter. lol

i am so low on the food chain around here i am surprised i even get noticed. i would probably fall over dead if someone paid me to paint anything smaller than a house. lol
 
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frenchkid

New member
I think games workshop use the game days to stop potential painters. If I\'m not mistaken joe and mike got some work from games workshop that way.
 
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EricJ

Active member
noooo GW jobs for me, that\'s too much. I was thinking of the level Tidoco is doing, metal for paintjobs and the chance to get new minis early, etc... So thank you so much for the information on your experience Tidoco, that helps my thinking a lot. :)
 
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Legacy Account

Active member
I reckon the best way is to scout round some of the newer, smaller mini companies like Mark did. I blagged the stuff I got from a posting here on the forums, as did James.

Just make sure you get paid!!.......:mad:
 
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