As with any other activity in which you want to excel, practice, practice, practice!

Shep Paine and Bill Horan have talent, but, like a ball player who has natural talent but makes it to the big leagues by shagging thousands of fly balls and hours of infield practice, they worked, constantly, and gradually built up their body of work, and earned notice in our hobby community.

It was mentioned that ours is an unappreciated field, and I don't think I quite agree, there is appreciation, but ours is a relatively closed community, albeit a global one.  And it was global before there was an Internet, too, just that communication was at a slower pace.  Shep, Bill, and others who are well-known in our community, are members of the various organizations in which we've banded together.  Both Shep and Bill are members of the society I belong to, for example, the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, having long held grand master status.  Shep is a member of the Military Miniature Society of Illinois, too, as well as other organizations and societies.

But to my point-build, build, build, and paint, paint, paint!  That, supported by participating actively in this and other forums, and in the clubs and societies that make up the modeling hobby, and in the shows, is the best way to reach your full potential and achieve notice.  And once you're recognized as a modeler of skill and talent, commissions will seek you out.

Just my observation, from my experience!

Brad