Repaint Burnout

I started repainting because I loved the idea of it. I love collecting dolls. I liked action figures but never wanted to buy any because the face paint sucked. And sometimes there just weren't dolls or action figures for a character that I was looking for. But repainting allowed me to have the kinds of collectables I wanted, to create characters that inspire me. And on top of it, I could make money selling my work.

That's where it gets tricky. Getting orders for custom dolls - action figures more often than not - was super exciting at first. I have a nice little side gig that was funding my hobby and helping me to pay my car off. But after doing it for a few years, I found myself dreading having to work on repaints. I'd get excited about an idea, start it, then leave it unfinished. I'd procrastinate on commissions because I didn't want to do it.

At some point, I realized how much I didn't care anymore, and that made me sad. I knew some part of me loved repainting still, so why couldn't I do it anymore? Commissions. I'd spent hours and hours of my free time for years on projects I couldn't care less about. I was making dolls of people's family members, unfamiliar characters, painting action figures for movies or shows I either didn't know or wasn't interested in. I turned my fun and unique hobby into a chore. I sold out.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with using your skill making a profit, but there is a way to do it where you can remain inspired.

It can take a lot longer to make sales when you're creating customs that you want to make, rather than taking customs or making popular characters or people that you know will sell. Eventually, they will sell. And advertising yourself helps sales move along faster.

But in the end, this probably isn't your full-time job so, in my experience, it's okay to wait a little longer to sell your work to preserve your love of the art. If you need to, take breaks from your commissions to reboot your system so to speak.

Love,

Haley

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