Nice job on Locke. What's your average price for a paint?
Thanks, Evilface! Usually I get liquitex acrylics for around $3 each from dickblick.com, but sometimes in a pinch I have to break the bank and spend $6 on them at Michael's crafts stores...
I keed I keed. Seriously, though. I'm not sure if it's taboo or what to post about pricing. Seems like most painters taking commissions keep those conversations behind PM. I don't mind being open, though.
I really just started painting 1/6 last month. I was not familiar with the commissions process before then, but at the rate PMs were coming in I had to learn quickly. I had conversations with some of the painters on here whom I would consider "masters" and it seems like the average rate is around $50 for the run-of-the-mill repaint. So I set my personal goals to turn out work that might be considered on par with the work of these fine fellas and have been slowly ramping up my commission rates as I improved. I started out pretty low, at least I think so, to be fair to people willing to trust their collectibles to my rookie brush.
I do illustration by profession and my hourly rates for that are much easier for me to go by. For illustration, I usually bill around $65-$80/hr depending on the work. To charge those rates for painting heads seems unfair until I feel like the quality of work is up there and I'm more comfortable. Plus right now I'm spending much longer than an hour on one Locke!
For now, I feel like I am still in my "apprenticeship" phase of 1/6 painting and I'm currently doing heads like Locke here for $45 shipped in the US and $50 shipped internationally.
Sorry for such a long answer to your short question. I just didn't know how to answer publicly without throwing it all out there. Nobody's balked yet at my rates. I'm even pretty booked up, at least as much as I'd want to be. But if rates discourage others from sending a commission, I totally understand and I'm cool with it. Times are tough, but I'm just doing this for fun and I'd much rather be painting my own heads or playing mario galaxy with my little boy.
But it is very fun and awesome practice.
Thanks again!