Need Advice

[kitaye]

I was commissioned to carve a love spoon, as a gift for her friend getting married in May. When I asked what she wanted she was very vague..."flowers and hearts". I drew up an idea and after waiting two weeks got her to look at it. She tentatively agreed, but couldn't give me any other ideas for what she wanted, except possibly smaller.

I started the carving and I am finding myself uninspired and uninterested in working on it. I have less than a month to finish it and get it sent off to the purchaser. I know if I force myself to work on it I'll not be happy with the end result and I suspect neither will the purchaser.

I am thinking about starting all over with something much smaller and maybe much simpler. The other option I see is contact her and tell her I can't get it done for her. I need suggestions and advice on how to proceed.

[Robert Cahill]

I just visited your site and was impressed with your cathedral spoon. Perhaps you could so something similar with either there names or the special date in the heart and a flower below. Just a thought

[Thor]

Commissions are the hardest works to do for many artists. It stifles your creative process due to trying to please a particular person instead of yourself.
I "just last week" went through these same feelings so I really understand what you're going through.
If you can simplify the one you are working on and get it done, then that might be a way to complete it within the time constraints.
When I ask for input from people commissioning pieces, I give them 2 choices and they usually try to either combine them or come up with extras they want to include. This sometimes complicates my designs, and makes me not like them. They are the customer, and it is my job to please them. So, when I work on them, I practice doing some things that I wouldn't force myself to do on my own time, and learn from it. Getting it done is just as satisfying for me because it is a lesson. It is also why I charge more for commissions than I do for something I designed for myself.
I hope this helps a bit. You are a tremendous carver. You can do it even if it isn't your favorite.
I always carve more than a few carvings at the same time as well, so if you can carve it along with something you like at the same time, it releases some of the anxiety as well.
Christina

[Dan S]

try doing a google image search for love spoons. You will be suprised at what you find. Perhaps you can find something she likes.

Dan

[kitaye]

I've decided Thor is correct. I am going to keep plugging away at this piece, but I am going to hedge my bets and create a smaller and simpler spoon as well. Then give the customer the choice of the two pieces. I'm thinking the second piece may be chip carved rather than relief.

[BeaverDon]

Good idea making two. You can always sell/gift the other one. Don't give too many choices. Key word is "commission". You're getting paid-doesn't matter if you're not "inspired".

[Hohenems]

I have no experience in the business of carving.
If I had been hired to write a management plan for someone's woodlot, or just inventory it, and they hemmed and hawed about details and information or had some conflicting thoughts and didn't accept reality ("I want to manage for sugar maple by clearcutting")to the point where I wanted nothing to do with it, I walked away and left them with the name of someone who might be able to help them. I also learned through forestry that you never ever start a job until you get paid. Although I guess that has less to do with carving since if you don't get paid you still have a carving that someone else may buy and enjoy.
-"So what are you trying to say Hohenems?"
-"I don't know, just carrying on conversation really."
-"Well stop it. You're annoying and don't make any sense."
-"Well fine then."

[Dileon]

When I do a commission, with the additive if they do not like the finished work, they do not have to buy it. I will not make two of them, as I have often seen picky people can turn down more then one idea. I know if they do not want it then I can sell it later or give it as a gift. I loose interest in something really fast, so I know what you feel. Only you can tell if you will try to make the spoon, or let the commission go to out of stock status... but let her know soon if you want to opt. out.

[chipmunk]

i when i make something to sell i get all what there looking for and what i can do and let them know what it doing to look like before the work is done, but some people u can sell too. they what some thing that can't be done and it willn't suit them no matter what the piece looks like sometime i get them to look at the piece as i'm working on it to get the end result to be what they wanted BUT! some people u can't PLEASE! if they turn down 1 piece i willn't make them another at any other time

[Kazook]

I have a useful method of insuring the customer will be happy with the carving, tell them you were offered twice what they were charged but turned the person down out of respect fo the deal, they will be then obligated to honour there end and will think your a good dude for keeping your promise. I have used this on a few wishy washy customers and never fails. shhhhhh