Marketing higher priced carvings

[mark yundt]

No Tom,,don't sell yourself short,,I've visited your site and your "do-dads" as you call them are just fine,,they look like a lot of fun,,and you show some really good ideas ,,,innovative.No , we all cant be the Zesch's,Gilcrease or Stone's of the world,,just a glance at their work and you can see immediately why they're in high end galleries,get premium prices ,and have their own museums,those guys have some talent and a great eye,,and I'm sure it didn't come cheap (time,effort,sacrifice etc.)
I think you took up a hobby that can give you all the satisfaction,,frustration and challenge that anyone could ask for ..Enjoy it for all it's worth,,,and I think it's worth alot on many levels! Enjoy,,keep carvin'

[mark yundt]

Just thought I'd include a couple of shots that a friend of mine did that add crecence to my position on doing a variety of styles that open doors in those high end western "resort" towns.No-one knows who he is,,He's not in any galleries,, he's known for his fine architectural carving,,but as you can see he can carve anything you want,,and this is what these clients "out west" wanted..the one is an indian superimpose over the beak of an eagle which is made out of the clouds..3 ft x 6 ft. the second eagle is solid basswood glue up...5 ft span,,and 5 1/2 ft tall,, scooping up a Salmon,,My point,, this stuff sells in those places,,,would take at least 65 typical carvings to get the indian/eagle,,, and over 200 carvings to even get in the ballpark for the big eagle,,this eagle by the way was originaly intended as a book stand for a one million dollar collection of original Audobon books,,,now that's bird carving that'll open doors,and keep you there,, the clients added more work to his list,,ribbons,,,not a one,,awards,, nope,in any galleries ,,no ,recognition,,nah,,just carve. His banker ,,and clients know who he is though.There's another world out there,,I like what I've seen of it.

[squbrigg]

Your friend has an amaizing talent Mark! I love the Eagle and Salmon piece!!! I'd love to see more details on it, does he have a web site?

Bob

[Pierre]

With the onset of arthritis, most of my mural carving days are behind me, but this one was completed a few years ago and it brought $32,000.00
It stands 5' high, 18' long and is 6" thick, all chisel and mallet work. My son assisted me for the last month of detail work, but the real point of all this is that since 1982, virtually all of my carvings have been done for architects and general contractors. I don't bother with galleries or private sales. The real money is in the commercial aspects of carving.
This one was done for an airport waiting area and contracted by an architect






Pierre

[mark yundt]

Very nice Pierre,, and my point exactly. That price seems very reasonable,,I would have guessed much more.I realize not everyone want's to follow that route,,so the hassles then are part of the journey.Guess Im like you,,, I don't want the hassles to do what I want,,I prefer dealing with people who know what it's about.

[Pierre]

That was the cost to the architect. The Airport paid and insured it for $44,000.00
We've always worked on a wholesale basis for architects, allowing them room for a markup. This one surprised us in the amount of markup. Made me wonder about that price structure a bit.

P

[mark yundt]

Yeah,, seems a bit on the low side,,for comparison the indian panel went out the door for your architects final price,and that was just 4X 6,, the eagle,,without being too specific,, 6 figures and your just getting started gluing up.Most though like I said aren't into this stuff,,most are just looking to move some pieces,,make a couple of bucks.When I was trying to move ducks that was the path I followed as well,, till I realized what being an actual carver was all about. I thought I was something with the pieces I was doing and the money I thought was good, cause my friends told me so and I had dozens of ribbons to prove it. Then I found out what carving was and could be,,and knew I was just blowing smoke up my own butt. Like they say in Texas,,,big hat,,,no cattle. I went home,, took all my ribbons from wins up and down the east coast and threw them out and decided to become a wood carver. Up to that point I was so full of myself I couldn't see the forrest from the trees,it was a humbling experience. But nothing has been the same since.

[Pierre]

Very nice work you do, Mark.
For us, cost/price factors are based on the reality of geography. A mural at $20,000.00 here in northwest Monatna brings triple that on the coast..... but the coast isn't Lost Prairie. And this is where I came 40 years ago to marry and raise a family. The call of the city/dollars has never tempted me.

P

[AlArchie]

Well, one thing for sure......this has definietly adjusted my concept of "high end pricing"!

Al

[mark yundt]

Thank you Pierre,,right back at you,,really nice work you do as well,sorry to hear about your arthritis,, that's the second time it's reared it's ugly head on this site.I haven't been to Montana,,but everything I read/hear/see in books and on the tube makes me think it's just more beautiful than I could imagine.A wonderful place to raise a family I'm sure.The northeast has it's pros and cons.Not as much open space,,but higher prices all around.I do alot in N.Y, upper Jersey, Conn and down into Philadelphia.More and more my work is getting around the country,,California,Illinois,New Mexico,Virginia,Fla. ,more I'm sure,,but it goes through others so I don't know exactly where it ends up.Churches too have been a real blessing (pun intended) for me.That's the only reason I have a web site,,it only serves as an online photo album for clients around the country to see examples of my work that I can't get to personally,, I hold no illusion of ever selling anything through it, I've only had that since December.
Yes Al,,as long as I stayed in the usual carving "scene" I too thought I knew what high end was.Breaking out of that was culture shock for me.That's when I realized you can write your own ticket as long as you were a decent carver.The world WILL beat a path to your door. I didn't understand how these high end carvers didn't have to advertise,didn't teach,,write books,,no one knew who they were,,they werent' in magazines,,didnt' do how to's,,wouldn't be found at shows trying to win ribbons.They just carved the most amazing things that were not to be found in any of the "normal" carving venues.I thought I could carve birds,,not once I saw this one. This just put a whole new meaning on the term BIRD CARVING as well as glue up,,I thought I did big ones,,now we try and outdo each other,,but I'm willing to concede defeat on this one,,5 1/2 ft widel,,4 ft deep and 5 ft tall,,, that's a block to carve! and all chisel work.Wish you could have seen the Indian/Eagle one,,the face on that indian was like nothing I have ever seen, I thought he was going to talk to me some of the finest relief work I 've seen to date. This was the same guy that when he decided to go full time,, he called woodcrafters and ordered EVERY chisel and gouge Swiss makes,,,now there is a guy who is serious.Course they were all paid for with the first job.Anyway,,high end work,,there is more than any of us combined could ever begin to do,,at prices that just won't quit.I wouldn't have believed it either.