Retirement income

[rmorgan1203]

I'm new to WCI and looking forward to retirement in the near future.
Retirement income is not optional for me and I don't want to end up WORKING for it after 40 years of WORK if you get my drift.

Can some of you guys and gals doing this for DOUGH tell me what are some of your best selling items to carve and how you market your work.

I know everyone has their own story of how they got started, but I just need some ideas to jump start my brain to write my story.

Thanks,

Croc

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Sorry I can't help as I carve for fun and relaxation. Welcome to the forum.

Dave

[Donsexton]

Hello and welcome to the group, I do sell half of my carvings and give half away. I only carve what I enjoy carving and for me that is large to mid size wood sculptures. I sell way more and get a higher price for my paintings but I consider myself a woodcarver not a painter. First I think anything good will sell but you must balance how much time you have in it. For example you carve an elephant it has wonderful detail and even an expression on its face and it took hundreds of hours to finish you want just a minimum wage for it you price it at $2000 it is worth it in skill and detail and time. The import store sells an elephant same size as yours but not even close to as skillfully carved for $50. The thing I am saying here is you must be FAST and only carve enough detail to make the thing sell. Mind you I am not talking about artist that have name recognition I am talking about the other 99% of woodcarvers. The seconded lesson I have learned in 40 years of carving and creating art is it sells better if it is local artist and LOCAL SUBJECTS. For example A fine carved bear with cubs wont sell as well in my area as dolphins and pelicans. I sell every gator and dolphin I carve to the point I am tired of carving them. Religious figures sell well as do MLK, Christ, Lincoln, and Indians feathered not dot sell well. This is just my experience and my style. I don’t do many caricature carvings as they are traditionally small but I know they sell well.

[mobjack68]

Originally Posted by rmorgan1203

I'm new to WCI and looking forward to retirement in the near future.
Retirement income is not optional for me and I don't want to end up WORKING for it after 40 years of WORK if you get my drift.

Can some of you guys and gals doing this for DOUGH tell me what are some of your best selling items to carve and how you market your work.

I know everyone has their own story of how they got started, but I just need some ideas to jump start my brain to write my story.

Thanks,

Croc

Okay, is the Morgan reference for your horse or the car you had when you turned 21??? If your last name is Morgan, we need to talk.... Carving, I have sold some carvings, varied pieces...
I made sandblasted wood signs for a number of years. I decided NOT to charge thru the roof, because I wanted people to be able to afford. Several signs had carvings, one sign had a full size carved cowboy hat on top of it, I charged double for that one. One price for the sign, one for the hat.
People will pay for what they want, I am about to make a presentation to our local Art Center. If they accept me as an "artist", I can place articles in their store on consignment. Think about doing art shows and craft shows??? You can get an idea there about what others are selling and what the folks are buying.
If you are going to carve for $$$, think about what interests you and carve until you get good at it, then start having fun with it, put your twist on it, add some humor into your carvings....(there is a famous marble sculpture, don't know the name...it is of two roman/greek gods fighting, one of the guys is upended about to be slammed headfirst and the guy that is upside down has a very firm grip on the other guy's "manhood"......funny!!)
Pictures?? and post some results??
good luck

[gtech]

If you sell too much, your prices are too low, or you're too good.

If you don't sell, your prices are too high, even if you're good.

I had a teacher who is good, and doesn't sell because he puts too much time and details in his carvings and have to put prices too high. He even have problems getting students and he have good prices. He still has to work for a living.

I had another teacher who is not as good but carves very nices pieces, but is a lot faster, and shows how to carve things that sells. He lives from his carvings, even sells pieces to some stores for tourists, can do anything from carved trees to thinkery boxes, and can even makes his tools and his gouges. He also does turned pieces on a lathe, like Xmas balls.

I carve for pleasure and I retired last year. I learned carving last winter, and it is a hobby for me. It has to be fun and it is. I may sell some carving when I get fast enough to be able to put a realistic price on my pieces, but I don't want it to feel like work, just like you...

Flat carving seems to sell well and is fast to carve. It is what I chose to do, both for pleasure and for pieces that could sell. I do more detailed carvings for myself or for family if I feel inclined to.

Gilles

[Lynn O. Doughty]

The sign of a successful woodcarver is high expectations, a workshop full of tools and a wife with a steady job! You can count on only one of these to actually bring home the bacon.

[WhiteShaman]

Originally Posted by Lynn O. Doughty

The sign of a successful woodcarver is high expectations, a workshop full of tools and a wife with a steady job! You can count on only one of these to actually bring home the bacon.

I knew I should have married a younger woman! lol

[Jerry Lucchi]

Carved walking sticks sell good for me.
Jerry

[hwallen48]

Croc
Thanks for getting this started , lots of great info coming your way!!

[aulddiy]

I'm retired, that after 50 years working means I do n't work. If we were dependant on my carvings for food on the table we'd have ate the dog years ago.

The fun is the atraction for me. The fun from carving and the joy in a kids face when they get a carving I've made for them.
Oh a wife whose still bringing in a wage helps.
I gave a carving to a pal who has bone cancer, the look on his face was greater than money could buy.
John