# How do I find someone very good at painting miniatures to hire to paint one I have? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** movies, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [March 26, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797 "2026-03-26T23:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/1 "2026-03-26T23:34:39Z")
I have a miniature to paint (just one). It is Spock’s shuttle from the original Star Trek movie. You can see it here as the little tan model next to the Enterprise: > **[PXL 20260320 001609174 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/mr88J2R5)** > > Image PXL 20260320 001609174 hosted on ImgBB > **[PXL 20260320 001629631 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/Pz62y3JR)** > > Image PXL 20260320 001629631 hosted on ImgBB (I can get closer shots if needed.) I want it to look like this: > **[Surak shuttle model hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/zT6phLzc)** > > Image Surak shuttle model hosted on ImgBB I know there are many people out there who will paint miniatures for you for money. I am certainly happy to pay someone for this work. My problem is, how do I find someone good to do this? They need not be elite but still, very good and and care about the final result being excellent. I tried to do this search on my own and there were no lack of results but it quickly became overwhelming to try and discern who was good and prices charged and so on. If they are in Chicago all the better but I can ship the model if needed (I prefer in the US just for ease and time). Any ideas? If anyone here is very good at this let me know. That’d be great. ---
**Author:** ![corudstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@corudstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corudstr)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/2 "2026-03-26T23:40:53Z")
This sounds like the kind of thing that you could find on Etsy. I’d start there. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/3 "2026-03-27T01:40:01Z")
I just Googled Chicago miniature expo and it look like there are two huge ones early next month. Sounds like you should drop by to see what the artists have to exhibit and maybe commission one whose work you like. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/4 "2026-03-27T04:16:12Z")
Similar to @Projammer, I’d suggest checking out a few local gaming/mini stores. Many of the bigger ones (depending on your location) will have exhibits of mini’s painted by local artists, some of whom provide their contact information and do commissioned work. You’ll see a LOT more at an expo like PJ just suggested, but they may end up being less local and more _regional_, though since you were willing to extend your search to the _US_ that seems less of an issue. And that’s a lovely Enterprise, I’d be envious, but I have cats. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/5 "2026-03-27T16:45:52Z")
I had a miniature painted by someone on Fiverr and had good luck with it. I used to paint my own but got out of it and never did this one but still wanted it painted for display. It’s a sort of [cheesecake lady Polish Hussar](https://www.frontlinegames.de/Ole324ka-the-Winged-Hussar-54mm_1) and larger than the standard 20mm D&D type. Looked up a few people on Fiverr, sent them an inquiry if they were interested and felt comfortable (no nudity or anything, but not a standard fantasy adventuring figure), found a woman excited by the idea and mailed it off to her. Got a few updates and it was sent back a few weeks later. Looking back ,it ran me $30 and I tipped her another $20 but that was a couple of years ago at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/6 "2026-03-27T23:42:10Z")
Find a Games Workshop or Warhammer store. You’re sure to find someone there. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/7 "2026-03-27T23:46:41Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Similar to @Projammer, I’d suggest checking out a few local gaming/mini stores. In @Whack-a-Mole 's case (as he lives in Chicago), I’d highly suggest going up to the awesome [Games Plus](https://games-plus.com/) in Mount Prospect. In addition to board games and RPGs, they sell a lot of gaming minis and painting gear (including Warhammer stuff); they also have a bulletin board where people post about looking for gaming groups and players, as well as where painters post their contact information. He might be able to find some contacts through that board, and also possibly by talking to the very experienced and knowledgeable staff. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/8 "2026-03-28T00:49:33Z")
Just the sort of thing I was thinking of, thanks @kenobi_65. I have never lived or visited Chicago (on a list of things I’d like to do though), and so I could tell you local stores, or a couple of cool places in Austin TX (shout out to Dragon’s Lair there) non of which are much help. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/9 "2026-03-28T02:07:32Z")
Warhammer store also might help find someone skilled with painting scifi/machinery stuff versus halflings and dragons. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/10 "2026-03-28T02:11:07Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Warhammer store also might help find someone skilled with painting scifi/machinery stuff versus halflings and dragons Possibly so, though the game store I mentioned _does_ stock a lot of Warhammer minis, as well as other sci-fi minis and games, and regularly hosts Games Workshop and Battletech events. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-someone-very-good-at-painting-miniatures-to-hire-to-paint-one-i-have/1028797/11 "2026-03-28T14:30:25Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It’s a sort of [cheesecake lady Polish Hussar](https://www.frontlinegames.de/Ole324ka-the-Winged-Hussar-54mm_1) and larger than the standard 20mm D&D type. I have two 28mm miniatures from the same company. A British Redcoat and a Roman Centurion, both women. They’re weird in that they’re cheese cakey but both are pretty much fully clothed. The OP might want to check out the Reddit **r/brushforhire**. Etsy is another source but you can also find commission painters on Instagram. While I paint miniatures for my friends, I don’t do commissions because I’m always worried it won’t turn out to the person’s satisfaction.