Great question about pay for prototypes~

This question was posted as a comment on the blog yesterday:

Hi Debbie,
I hope it's alright to pose questions to you here. It must be such an honor to be asked to create a finished prototype. I know that much of the success of a new kits sales are due to the wonderful job you do bringing these little ones to life.
I have been wondering about the artists that paint prototypes. Do they have to buy the kit they paint? Do they have to split the money they make from the sale with the sculptor or is that their fee? If so is that their only payment?
Thanks for sharing all you do with us.
Kate


This is a great topic question! So instead of blogging about shading and painting techniques today, I will answer the question on the blog.

When a reborn artist is asked to reborn a prototype, the sculpting artist sends her the kit at no charge. Sometimes a body is supplied, and sometimes not. The reborn artists job is to do the best she can on that prototype in order to call attention to the kit and get the kit sold for the sculpting artist. It is very exciting for both the reborn artists doing the prototypes and the sculpting artist to have an entire edition of kits sold out in the pre-order stage. Communication with the sculpting artist throughout the process is a good idea. Sometime the sculpting artist has requests for the reborn prototype kit but most of the times, the sculpting artist just loves seeing her work of art come to life.

On a side note, a lot of people ask me HOW one gets selected to do a prototype. Well, most of the times, the sculpting artist has had the chance to see the reborn artists work in person so she feels confident to ask that reborn artist to reborn her prototype but sometimes, reborn artists can ask the sculpting artist, and if she has no other artists lined up for the next prototype, she might choose from the requests. Usually, there are 1-4 prototypes for each kit. It is a HUGE honor to be asked to reborn a prototype!

It can be very stressful getting the prototype done, in the best way possible, within the time frame that is allotted. The sculpting artist tries to get the prototype kit to the reborn artist in plenty of time, however, more times than not, there are production issues at the kit factory and the prototypes arrive just a week or so before the production kits that will be shipped out to the rest of the reborn community. The goal is to have the prototypes on eBay before the production kits arrive.

The reborn artist should advertise the kit all during her reborn process in any avenues she has such as blogs and forums that she belongs to.

She purchases all the clothing and supplies needed for the prototype and it's advisable to select more than the ordinary in outfits and of course, top notch supplies. She must take good, large pictures and supply them back to the sculpting artist for her own website and also for the websites of any dealers that will be carrying the kits.

Since eBay is the largest selling avenue available to the reborn market, she must place the finished prototype on eBay for sale. She also should share the eBay link with all her customers, blogs and forums. All proceeds from the sale are for the reborn artist to keep. It is her pay for doing a great job and for promoting the kit in all ways possible. It is her only pay for this job~in answer to the posted question.

Kate thank you for a great question!

Well try the shading and painting techniques again tomorrow.
I'll be rooting hair on prototype Noah today :)

God Bless~