So I have been playing WH40K for, oh, around 20 years, and have been painting all that time. I'm a fairly good painter. I've gamed with Golden Daemon winners and am not that calibur, but I'm pretty good.

A friend of mine approached me about painting his, soon to be in his possession, Finecast Bloodthirster. I've never painted for money before, and don't intend on doing my best job (because I'd have to charge him lots and lots of money). I've got no idea what to charge him for abetter-than-grade-school-but-not-my-best job.

I'll put it to you guys....what would you pay/charge?

I've participated in these conversations about terrain as well as painting miniatures, and there is no good answer. Since you're painting for a friend, you should work out something in conversation with them. Tell your friend what you'd need to be paid for your best work (recognizing that most painters make less per hour than they would get at a fast food restaurant), what a similar mini would go for on ebay, and find out what your friend is willing to pay. Find out how soon he or she wants it done. Agree on a price that motivates you enough to get it done in their timeframe.

If you cannot find a price that they are willing to pay, and that would motivate you, don't agree to paint it. I learned this early on -- in this scenario, everyone typically ends up unhappy.

Not the answer you're probably looking for, but true nonetheless.

Steve

thanks for the advice, Steve.

As mentioned, there are too many variables.

I would likely charge something like $35, I know how long that it would take (about the same amount of time that it took me to paint the Orcus figure from WotC), and how well I can paint (about an 8 out of 10... it used to be higher, but the high just keeps getting better while I remain about the same).

More often, I take barter. So, I have an Orcus sitting on a shelf, waiting for me to feel like painting it for myself.... I think my barter aspect is why Jon and Julie talked my other players into chipping in to get me one of those huge CMoN figures. They felt that I had undercharged. (On a dollar per hour scale, they were likely correct.)

The Auld Grump