Wanting to Carve Full-Time

Hello, I have been carving for a while now and am currently doing it part-time. I want to, however, do it full-time...what is the best way to do that? Do crafts shows? get my carvings in stores?......any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Win the lottery first.....

Just kidding of course. I know a couple of people that carve 'full-time'. Well, almost anyway. One carves, but supplements that with 'odd jobs'. He sells in specialty craft stores and does some commission work also. It took him a little time to get a customer base established, but it's beginning to provide enough for him to make it - after three years. The other tried it and eventually went to work for a company that supplies woodcarvers. I think he got a little tired of the ups and downs (cash flow).

Taking that into account, I'd say start out slow if possible. Build a few customers that can provide an outlet for your carvings without you doing the selling - specialty craft stores, art galleries, etc.

Then you can go to craft shows. These can be tough. Be prepared to do poorly at some and well at others. And for no apparent reason!

I would suggest that you find a specialty also - santas, hobos, animals, reliefs, religious, etc. You wouldn't have to do those exclusively, just keeps you a little guided (for lack of a better word). There a couple of books that instruct people on how to start an art or craft type business. I'll check around - or someone else here may know a title-source.
Good luck.

[BobD]

Two books we have available through our Fox Chapel website are How to Sell Your Carvings by Bongivanni (ISBN 0-8117-2798-x) and How to Sell What You Make by Gerhards (ISBN 0-8117-2436-0)

Just to get you started.

Bob

[Colin-Partridge]

Jeff,
It is very hard to be a full time woodcarver in takes dedication and hard work. The biggest problem you will have and I know I went through it is getting yourself know. Most people that buy woodcarvings buy because they have seen the artists work work before. If you are going to try and make a living from doing craft shows forget it there are as Mitchell says too many ups and downs sometimes you will sell $1000 worth other days you wont sell enough to cover your booth costs. I would start out trying to do a few shows while working and see how it goes. I find that to make a living at it you are carving every day to keep up with the product you need to sell. I carve every day and I still cant keep up sometimes.
Colin

[mdallensr]

The best way to make a small fortune as a crafter is to start with a large fortune. Make sure you don't turn an enjoyable hobby into regrettable vocation. Those who are successful have a following and a good reputation, augment their income teaching classes and seminars, and sell supplies and finished products made by others. One of the toughest aspects of a small, home-based busines is developing business AND making the products. It's hard to do both.

[owlhause]

Hi Jeff,

I've been carving full time for 14 years....its possible but you really really have to love it because as Colin stated you'll be carving every day (and sometimes night )

For me it wasn't so much that I HAD to be a wood carver...it was more I knew I wanted to make a living off my art work and carving ended being what has made that possible.

Art and Craft shows can be good IF you do your research on them. Two really good sources for that are 'Sunshine Artists' magazine and the 'Art Fair Sourcebook'. Both should come up on an internet search.
They list good shows which are hard to get into but those are the only ones worth doing.
You need excellent jury slides to get into these types of shows by the way.

Add to your shows some galleries, gift shops and some online selling.
You need lots of outlets unless you are doing really detailed expensive pieces

It also helps if you are a bit of a gambler by nature and can handle the 'feast or famine' periods. (relatives to borrow from now and then can come in handy also )

Another longshot is to be picked up by a big gift manufacturer like Enesco and just feed them originals and they take care of the rest.... (big longshot)... but you never know!

Those are just some of my opinions

Good Luck!

Greg

Jeff,
The advice that you received here is some of the best I have heard in a long time on the subject.

When you decide to make a living from your hobby, you will find you no longer have a hobby or time for one.

I liked the lottery suggestion, also the statement about making a small fortune; I would add 'marry a rich understanding spouse who doesn't carve'

Carving full-time can be done, but it removes much of the enjoyment that 'carving as a hobby' provides.

Most of the successful professional carvers I know, earn their main income doing commissions of 'mantles, doors, or furniture'. They also have a few (quick selling) production carvings that they repeat over and over.

Good luck, and don't burn your bridges.

[David_Aaron_Sercel]

I am in the midst of trying to start doing art full time too. Here are some things I have found.

Creating the art is only half of the ‘art business’(the fun part ). The other half consists of the business end – marketing, selling etc. I agree with what has been said by others, it is very important to get your name known. If you do shows, have the name of your business displayed prominently, for me it is simply my name, and hang a bio/artist statement in your booth. All this to get people to know and recognize your name and know you. The more familiar and comfortable people are with you as an artist, the more likely they are to make the final step and make a purchase, and maybe tell other people about you. With your display – table, coverings, pedestals, even the price tags, business cards, brochures, etc – try to create value, make it look like fine art, and people will buy it as fine art. A beautiful carving won’t look like it has as much value if it is just sitting on a flat table, surrounded by many others, as it would if it was sitting on a pedestal, well lit, and looking like fine art. I try to always give my booth an ‘art gallery’ feel to it – black drapes, raised table with pedestals for the carvings, and good lighting. This, again, helps create value in the eye of the customer. Don’t put all your stuff out at once and give it a cluttered flea-market look. Just put a few of your best pieces out to begin with and replace them with others as they sell. Try to avoid the ‘hiding behind the table’ look, get out in your booth, stand up and talk with people, don’t just sit behind your table reading a magazine or something, sitting down in a low chair is about the worst thing you can do. A tall ‘directors chair’ is a good investment if you plan to do many shows. Again, all of that is to make the customer feel more comfortable with you, get to know you, and hopefully help them make the decision to buy your work. Carry pictures of your work around with you everywhere, as well as business cards, and give out cards to anyone who is interested, even if they never buy something, they may pass the your card on to someone who will. And be sure to have how to contact you on your business card. People can’t come knocking on your door wanting to buy your work if they don’t know where you live. It is also good to put together a brochure with some pictures of your work, your contact info, and your bio/artist statement. This will give people something to take with them and maybe pass around that tells about you and your art.

If you want to sell well at shows, try to get away from woodcarving shows and most craft shows. Go for the higher end JURIED craft shows and fine art shows. If they are juried that will insure, for the most part, that there won’t be a lot of junk – only good quality fine craft and art. At woodcarving shows, at least the ones I have been to, there is such a selection to choose from, since all the exhibitors have woodcarvings, that sales aren’t very good. But if you are at a good craft show or an art show, and are the only, or one of the few woodcarvers there, you have a better chance of selling since there isn’t as much competition, and the customers don’t have as many people doing the same thing to chose from. And, as some have pointed out, you will find that at some shows you will pretty much sell out, and then at others, maybe even the same show the next year, you will barely sell a thing. It is also good to have a good price range of items, and some small relatively inexpensive ones(pins, etc.) so that even if no one is buying expensive art at a certain show, it won’t totally be a waste of time. But even if no one is buying, you are still getting exposure, and that exposure could generate sales later on.

Sunshine Artist magazine is an excellent source, not only for shows, but also for the articles. It is all about the business of selling fine art and craft.

Just a few things I have learned.

David

[Kenny_S]

If I sell, fine, If I don't fine! Good advice here however, Know the region you are selling in. Look at ebay and what is selling and what isn't. Surprising, some quality work don't sell at any price. Again, If I sell something fine, if I don't, fine. People enjoy them at Christmas though!
Do the research! It will Pay bigger dividends than not researching. Another issue is, what works for one carver, may not for another.

Best to you and your new venture.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded to my message on this board. All your words of wisdom are very much appreciated.

Jeff