Does anyone think that perfect box art puts off the average painter modeller from buying the product as he can't hope to emulate the Professional

Ron

Hi Ron!

"Perfect" box art´s increase the sales imo and encourages the purchase.

Cheers

Tough call Ron it's a double edged sword alright I like box art myself but it can be a bit off putting to see what somebody can do with a figure and the inevitable comparison with the badly splattered mess I've just produced But that's what paint stripper is for
Steve

Once the cast appeals to me I do not look at box art. I know how I want to paint the item so box art irrelevant.

I wonder ! at times it has put me off

I think it helps sales, sure, but it also shows the beauty of the sculpt, captures the art completely, encourages and inspires the potential owner. I'm not an accomplished painter but I love studying others work to help me in developing my own technique and style.
Karl

Interesting topic Ron
I know exactly what you mean Ron, although on balance I like good box art. It doesn't generally put me off but then again I don't buy unseen except from a couple of trusted companies.

Sometimes the reverse is just as true. There's been more than a few examples of duff box art that put me off what turned out to be a cracking figure when I saw it in the 'flesh'.
I'm also perfectly happy with assembled figures that have been grey primed and 'haloed' with white, this gives a very good idea of the sculpt detail.

If your theory is correct Ron Pegaso wouldn't sell anything.

Do they sell anything keith given the prices

If I see poorly done box art the figure will be a hard sell. In my experience neglected box art often is reflected in the casting or the quality of the sculpt. Nothing is etched in stone but with the competition for my hobby dinero

...I see no reason to take chances.

I love the black & white photos Carl Reid takes of his new releases. It shows the sculptors work in a very clean and uncomplicated form, but also allows my painters' eye to imagine how I would paint it. I'm not sure I've ever NOT bought a figure because I was intimidated by the box art, but I know I've seen relatively poor box art and bought the figure because I was pretty sure I could do a better job painting the figure myself.

Hello Ron, This question has been brought up on other threads before, and as Helm has stated, it can be a double edged sword. I feel some people might be intimidated by great looking boxart, especially someone new to figure painting, or someone who is struggling to make his/her figures look better. Others use boxart for inspiration, and motivation, to improve there skills. I like great looking boxart, done by the more accomplished artists, but it doesn't determine my decision in purchasing it. I have bought figure/bust kits, that once I opened the box, didn't look anything like the boxart, some better, some worse. For me, I wait for a preview, or review, of the figure/bust before I buy it. I want to see what they look like without paint on them. For example, Carl Reid always previews his busts this way, which always show what you will be getting if you purchase it. Another example would be Jeff Shiu's figures, which are only primed for the boxart, still showing the details of the figure. If you have a favorite brand of figures/busts, that has been around for awhile, you can usually expect great detailing, and quality from them, with or without painted boxart. If its a new manufacturer, I think I would prefer to see it unpainted, before making my decision to purchase it. Boxart, imo, should be inside the box, let me see a unpainted version on the outside. Regards, SG

Manufacturers are keen to show off their wares to their best effect. Different firms just choose diferrent methods. We all know the lengths say, Pegaso must go to to present their stuff.
On the other hand, a simple primed-up job such as GGS or Mitches will do has never put me off either.

Poor box has only ever put me off.

I'm sure the better the boxart, the better the sales, as with many other products.
The big sellers go to considerable length to get the best painters, probably with good reason.

Funny thing is that even when we say we're not influenced by this or that stipud commercial, research clearly shows we are. The decision to buy or not to buy is only partially rational and for that other part we don't seem to know ourselves very well.. (How else do we end up with a grey army?)

Cheers,
Adrian

Following this with much interest !!!

What would happen to the boxart painters if we didnt use them !!! Also should i ask the likes of alex and ernesto etc etc to paint them a to a lower standard to make sales even better !!!

I generally believe boxart helps a great figure / bust but generally does nothing for the rest. The problem is knowing what is great and what is not !!!

Boxart would i believe be wasted inside the box.

It would be great to hear from a boxart painter on their thoughts

Stuart

Stuart[/quote]

What would happen to the boxart painters if we didnt use them !!! ...they would continue to sell to collectors as they do now! Manufacturers often only buy the photographs
Also should i ask the likes of alex and ernesto etc etc to paint them a to a lower standard to make sales even better !!!.....spoken I assume in jest

I generally believe boxart helps a great figure / bust but generally does nothing for the rest. The problem is knowing what is great and what is not !!!........as henry ford said half of my advertising works the other half doesn't the problem is I don't know which it is!

Boxart would i believe be wasted inside the box............Often a picture from more than one angle inside the box can be very helpful

Interesting thread.........Keith

Basically in my head this is how the box art goes
Box Art


My version

Steve

I'm still a bit of a fence sitter on this one. Excellent boxart although intimidating can still inspire me to give it a go. Poor boxart on the other hand has had me dismiss a figure out of hand. I know this is unfair, as I have had a change of heart in the past when I've seen the same piece finished by the hands of a more competent artist. In fairness to the sculptor, I now find myself trying more to base my purchase decisions on the unpainted piece. The painted presentation will generally confirm my decision and seal the deal.

Hi paul

So would you still buy it if it was just a b/w boxart showing what the sculptor has done...ie no colour boxart

Cheers

Stu

PS is it essential to have the colour