Casting or Carved

[Goody]

Seems like the trend for a lot of Santa Carvers is to carve or sculpt an original then sell Castings off of it. I have always said I want my customers to have a handcarved wooden piece. Is it all about money or is there any old time pride in what you do. Just posted a poll lets just say all three options are within $50.00 of each other.
Goody & Anna

[kitaye]

I expect it is a matter of money. A carver can sell the original for $X or he can sell a cast of the original for $Y times the number of castings he makes. HE makes more money and gets to keep the original for his or her own enjoyment.

[scooter]

With the (only) +/- $50 stipulation, there's no question: I think everyone would go for the hand-carved original. However (in my case, anyway), that $50 buffer is unrealisticly small. The carvings I sell typically go for something _well outside_ that $50 window. That said, even though I would be able to recoup my money from selling [cheaper] castings, I wouldn't. It's more about creating a OOAK piece with my hands, than it is to push prouduct.

Going into the casting biz, Goody?

S~

[Goody]

Originally Posted by scooter

With the (only) +/- $50 stipulation, there's no question: I think everyone would go for the hand-carved original. However (in my case, anyway), that $50 buffer is unrealisticly small. The carvings I sell typically go for something _well outside_ that $50 window. That said, even though I would be able to recoup my money from selling [cheaper] castings, I wouldn't. It's more about creating a OOAK piece with my hands, than it is to push prouduct.

Going into the casting biz, Goody?

S~

H-E double L No.
If someone is selling a Santa casting for $50 to $75 and I sell my wooden ones at $85 to $135 I am afraid the castings are going to ruin the market for us guys that really do carve each and every Santa

[pallin]

Even the artists who paint now sell giclees (computer generated copies) of their work. A year ago we bought a copy of a painting for $800. The original was $25,000.
Woodcarvers are not the people to poll, Goody. We know the difference between carvings and castings.

[steve brown]

Original all the way.
Steve Brown Woodcarving

[Goody]

Originally Posted by pallin

Woodcarvers are not the people to poll, Goody. We know the difference between carvings and castings.

Yeah but more carvers are casting now a days. Just wondering how other carvers feel about it.
Goody

[kdispoto]

I'd suppose you could try all three - and see where it takes you.
For me - I'd do what ever it took to keep food on the table. After that I'd carve for pleasure

[Goody]

Originally Posted by kdispoto

I'd suppose you could try all three - and see where it takes you.
For me - I'd do what ever it took to keep food on the table. After that I'd carve for pleasure

Ken I'm Surprised! you know how I feel about off shore castings coming here. You are a carver! Have castings affected your sales yet?
I would start another business before I would have my santas cast the four times I have been approached I have turned the casting companies down.

[carver6]

The problem is "money talks and B.S. walks".
Garon