A Humbling Look at Myself

[jillsy]

This is mainly for those people who are considering selling their carvings on the side.

As some of you know, I've sold some of my Santas on Ebay and for a first-time seller, I did ok. Some things sold really well, while others I practically gave away. But for me, it was all a learning experience, which I valued.

Now that I haven't really carved in a few months, I look back at that time & I see that I was starting to do just what other carvers warned against. Although selling became a great motivator and helped me pick up the pace, it also robbed me of alot of my joy. I found myself trying to carve Santas that others would like, not particularly what I liked. Although this helped me stretch my imagination, I wasn't carving for me anymore.

The last 3 miniatures I tried selling didn't do well, and that not only hurt my feelings, but left me really doubting my abilities. Since then, I haven't had the heart or passion to carve.

As a stay-at-home mom, I really appreciated the extra income that came in, but I found that I was focusing more on trying to make others happy, than myself. I no longer asked myself if I liked my new carving, but "would someone else like this enough to buy it?" It really added pressure and took away alot of the fun of carving.

Someday I hope to sell again, but by stepping away from it for a while, I see that I was taking a path I didn't intend to go. If I were doing this as a full-time job, like some do on this site, it'd probably be a completely different story. But for those who just want to sell occassionally, I wanted to give you something to think about. Keep the focus on your love of carving, not what you think others may think of it.

Your Loyal & Ever Faithful,
Jillsy

[gene-messer]

Jillsy .. well said .. thank you for the advice ..

I too have sold a few things for fun .. Iam now selling little bears to a gift shop in Tenn..

But pleasing others should never be the gold if you arent making a living at it ..
The joy of carving is creating what you like .. and if someone else likes it and wants to buy it .. so be it ..

I enjoy more getting people interested in carving and doing it themselves .. then I do selling them a piece ..

Everyone has a creative side to them for something .. if you cant enjoy doing it .. it eventually becomes just like everything else in life .. and you finally lose interest ..

By the way .. If I stop carving because someone didnt like my work .. I would have left it a long time ago ..

Another persons opinion of your work is rubbish .. How do you know if that person even knows what their talking about? .. Or what they like? ..

What I have seen of your work is wonderful .. and who else knows better then someone who carves themself ..

Take a break Jillsy if you want for yourself .. Not because someone who thinks they know whats best tells you ..

Thank God some of our greatest artist never listened to what someone thought .. They would have never been great ..

Dont worry .. that carving desire will come back ..

God Bless you Jillsy ..

Gene

[mark yundt]

Jillsy
You were doing exactly what you should be doing,,,what you love.If you were able to sell some pieces and bring in some extra money that's wonderful.

I hope you didn't get sidetracked by other posts and opinions expressed there,,ones that I have expressed as well. The nature of that question was could someone make a decent income from carving? I believed it to be intended as an income as in the sole income to support oneself.It could also be as an extra income,,which to some extent most have had some experience with.Doing it as a hobby ,,carving what you love,,selling a few pieces when and where you can is a wonderful thing,,,I know,,I've been there and had a great and profitable time doing it. If someone sells just one piece a year I guess technically it is income,,,but to me if it's stated as full time and making a decent income,,well that requires something different I think.That is the point you have to decide what you want to do with carving.
That is a choice not many are willing to make,,,and I understand that completly.Again,,I've been there and had to make choices.For me,,,I'm glad I did as I absolutely love what I carve and do. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else.I carve full time,,and for a hobby ,,I carve. I'm hopelessly addicted.
The choice you should make I think,,,is to carve what you love. That way you can express yourself through it,,put your heart in it,,and that is something your customers will see.Basically ,,that's what I do.

Gene said it well,,thank God some of our greatest artists never listened to what others said. I know I have a problem being told what I can and can't do,,that's my incentive for proving them wrong ( I did say I was stubborn didn't I?) and you shouldn't listen either. I followed my instincts and my heart. I could only suggest you do the same.You'll ultimately be much happier for it.
All my best Mark

[Tom-H]

Jillsy,

Really a very good post! Genes and Marks too! There are many reasons to sell a carving, or any other works of art. For quite a few years I made and sold Noahs Arks. I loved making the arks and the pairs of animals, but started getting too many of them. Sure enough, someone wanted to buy one. That started the whole thing. I had a hard time understanding why folks would pay good money for the arks. It was fun for me to make and sell them and make the extra money. But as time went on and orders began to come in, so did the deadlines. Fun became "no fun". Someone said raise the prices. So I doubled the prices. That was fun for a while because I was making more money. But that too became no fun anymore. About that time I read in the paper that a local family had recently lost a child and another family member in an auto accident. I learned that the mom collected Noah's Arks. I decided to make her a special Noah's Ark. When I was making this Ark the fun came back. When I gave the Ark to her, I reexperienced the joy of giving. This was a the beginning of getting back to the fun of the work, and the joy of giving. I won't say that I don't sell an occassional Noah's Ark, but the real fun is in making one and the real joy comes from giving it to someone. Kinda reminds me of the ol saying "Too soon old, too late smart".

Anyway Jillsy, thanks for the reminder. I look forward to seeing your new "fun" carvings.

Tom H

[DADDIO]

jillsy please don't doubt your self or your talent,i know fer sure how great your work is,the santa i got from you is so pretty and unique,everyone loves hom that sees him.it is like you say though when you start making the transition to selling from it just being a hobby changes the game,and please don't go by success or failure on e-bay,thats a crap shoot at best!! you have to remember people go to e-bay looking for deals same as if you we're going to sell at a flea market really,there are a few that follow certian artist works through there but i think it's more to just see their latest work than to buy it.
what you could look at doing is just carve what you want,then sell those don't worry about what others want it's your work and they can buy it or not.
you have a style that is your own,and i think it's great,so hold your head up lil buck-a-roo !! and get to making them chips and to heck with everyone else!!!

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I've been selling carvings since the mid-70's. While I've made some good money doing woodcarving I've never relied on it as steady income and don't intend to. I have one rule that I follow that keeps the juices flowing and that's that I only do what I want when I want the way I want. Like others have said here once you start working for others it becomes "work". Carving will never be work to me so I try to make sure that every piece I do will be special, not only for me but for the person who sets it in their home. They may give me some money in return but when I place that carving in their hands they gain a small piece of me while I gain a new friend. The money is really secondary to that. I love to carve western subjects and I will never let the temptation for the dollar cloud that.

Do I doubt my abilities? You bet! Constantly! As I can only look at my work through my eyes a continuing worry is how others see my carvings as I know we all have different perspectives and interpretations. That's why I'm always on the lookout for an "honest" opinion. A pat on the back or an atta-boy doesn't help much.

So my advice would be not to fret about it too long but to go sharpen that knife, cut out that new design you've been thinking about and carve something that says "Jillsy Did This!"

[santagibbs]

Oh Jillsy, don't give up your beautiful work..!! Maybe you just needed to regroup for awhile.. I think Curtis carved because of my inspiration of Santas. We never carved for anyones opinion of our work but were hoping it would be liked.. I think an artist would have to do what he wishes or give up creating..It's the creative part that makes us drive to make something nice. If someone demanded that we do things their way we would loose that part that makes us create.. I can think of only two times he carved something that someone wanted.. and then we had the choice of doing it our way. Don't waste that wonderful talent you have on something someone wants . Just carve for Jillsy.. Maybe a little rest will give you time for more inspiration but keep using your talent.. Charlotte

[Just Carving]

THANK YOU Jillsy! For quite a while now, I have been on several fences--one whether to carve for a living, and the others--what to carve that I could carve quickly, that would sell and bring in enough money to live on. I could be like Mark Yundt--but no disrespect Mark, but I don't have the gumption to go out and get the work, and make a profit. If someone balked at my price, I'd say all right and lower it. I'd starve. I also don't have the discipline to start a piece, and continue until it's finished. I hop around from one thing to another--that's why it is rare that I post pics of my work--most are WIP's.

Jillsy made me realize completely--wide eyed and awake--that I love carving way too much to do it for a living. To carve for a living would ruin a great love for me just like when I started drawing for a living. I draw everyday--now with a computer--and when I get home, the last thing I want to do is pick up a pencil and draw--and I love to draw. I just don't have the desire to start a portrait and complete it. Talk about being torn...

So, again, Jillsy, thank you. For now, I will carve for fun--and figure out another way to start a business that will be a money maker. And Jillsy, pick up a knife and whittle--doesn't matter what it is, make chips--even if it takes a month to do something--concentrate on making chips without any deadline or goal in mind--JUST HAVE FUN! Maybe by doing something spontaneously, you'll get you heart back into carving.

Bob L

[jillsy]

My husband Ted, often says, "You woodcarvers really look out for each other." He's not kidding!

Thanks for all your replies. It wasn't an easy one for me to write, but they say confession is good for the soul! I know that my last carvings not selling was really eating at my self-esteem, but I didn't want to admit it. And I know that this little gnawing is what's been taking away my desire to pick up a knife. And further, I know it's stupid for me to take it so hard, but since when do logic and emotion go hand in hand?

Anyway, thanks for your support and I'm glad I was able to get others thinking too. Again, I see NOTHING wrong with selling carvings at all, and I'd love to do it sometime again. But, I just don't want to lose my focus on why I'm carving in the first place. It's something I do for me, that makes me happy, takes away stress, and gives me great satisfaction. Like Lynn says, I want to carve what I want, when I want. If I give myself this freedom, I think I could produce much better quality work.

oops! Gotta run! I'm helping my neighbor organize her house for $10 an hour. I keep saying I'm going to use the money to buy some basswood, but keep using it for groceries instead. The nerve!

[mark yundt]

This is really something,,,I guess it's true if you want to hide something put it right in front of someone.

There seems to be a popularly held misconception that once you do commissions the fun goes out of carving and it then becomes work. No-one gets it. Since I've started carving full time I have yet had to go to "work" one single day.
Work to most is a four letter word. It's not the most fun you have during the day and there are probably other things you would rather be doing than be there. That's why they pay you to get you to show up.For most people,,if the pay wasn't there they wouldn't show up.

Why do you love your hobby so much. Probably the same reasons I used to have,,I LOVED it,,couldn't get enough time to carve,,and it consumed my every waking thought,,even while at work,,couldn't wait to get back to it.That was my birds,,,couldn't get enough of 'em.
Tom though makes an interesting point.. He loved his Arcs,,that's all he seems to have wanted to do. It was basically his hobby that provided extra cash,,and it came close to becoming a regular type business. What happened to his beloved Arcs????? it became work and he hated the thing he loved most. As a part time business or hobby you do have to carve the things you love. The mistake most make I believe is thinking that is enough to carry them through to make it full time. That is exactly what I thought when people said I should be doing it full time.
Maybe I'm lucky to be able to say I love every piece I carve and have a ball doing it. If I had another source of income where I didn't have to worry,,,I'd be doing the exact same thing I do now. It's just that much fun.
Why do I take the time to carve duplicates or do a version of tutorials for how many people here on the site. I'm not getting paid to do it,,I don't see anyone else step up and do the same thing. I do it simply becuse I love carving..any style you choose. Why do I post such lengthy answers ,,I want people to understand,,clear up questions and have fun. The same type of fun I have everyday.
You're right Bob,,most people I believe don't have the "gumption" to do what I love to do,,,that's the difference. This work doesn't tolerate fence sitters. You actually have to get down and dirty ,,not sit and simply watch,,to see what all the fuss is about. If it's something you love it's not work anymore it's fun.I personally love the challenges and the unknowns that scare the pants off me...I like that.

If most seem to have the ability to take something they love and learn to hate it and turn it into work,,then don't turn it into work.

I love Lobster,,,but if I had to eat it for breakfast ,lunch and dinner,,every day for the rest of my life,,,I'd learn to hate it too. I'd rather have the buffet and sample all the delicacies offered. That is the nature of my work. The chances for boredom and the possibility of hating my work is slim to none.
I've read several posts over the past year about many of you getting burned out,,,it's normal you all say. I don't think so.Why do you get burned out and need to take a break?
BOREDOM,,,you eat too much lobster.
17 years of 6-7 days a week 8-12-16 hours a day and I have yet to be bored. It's not the money that drives me,,,it's the fun. Vacations??? only recently,,,what would I do that is more interesting? What do I need to get away from? I've read that most creative people seldom take vacations,,I understand that.If your in it for the money,,it's the wrong reason. Besides there are ways to make more money with less effort,,believe me.

To sum this all up,,the notions ,theories,,prognostications most seem to have about what the life ,motivations and "fun factor" of a full time carver are,, are quite simply false,,based on faulty information gatherd from miscalculated projections of beliefs based on shaky understandings.Want to watch someone have fun while they work? Visit my shop and I'll dispell all the notions you might have.