make a living at carving

[cerndog]

Hello,
I wonder what kind of living some folks make as woodcarvers. Could someone just sell their carvings on the internet and support themselves? (I'm not nearly that good) If there is a thread about this, I need some help finding it.

Thanks,
mike

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I haven't met one yet! Sure, there are those who spend their lives on the road teaching seminars but I don't think you can count them. I've made some good money selling carvings but certainly not anywhere near enough to where I could say I was self-supporting. If you applied the "What Makes A Successful Farmer" rule you could probably do it.

What makes a successful farmer? Forty acres and a gainfully employeed wife. No, WalMart doesn't count!

[Ashbys]

There is a good reason , why it is almost impossible to make a living carving. The reason is simple : time

I am going to use Lynn because he is one of the most effective carvers I have ever seen.
Lynn carves quickly, he know what he wants and gets it done. Very little wasted time.

Now what makes a good living ? Lets say 36000 a year self employed ? If that is the case then if Lynn averages 500.00 a carving he would have to sell 6 carvings a month to met his income . And then 3 more to pay the taxes (social security income , sales ), insurance , and cost of lumber paint , utilities ect . So to make 3000 a month he has to sell 4500.00 worth of product.
Combine that with time , 9 carvings in 22 days, from zero to complete at a level to be valued at 500.00 and be sold. So he would have to finish a 500.00 carving every 2.4 days.

[cerndog]

yeah, there is an old joke in the farming community where I live: "how do you make a million dollars in farming? You start with two million. Thank you for the breakdown of the numbers. That is about what I figured- you would have to crank out the carvings just to survive, and that would kill the love of it for me.

mc

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I tried to use "Woodcarver" as an occupation when I went down to apply for food stamps but they just laughed at me.

Actually, woodcarving has been quite good to me. It, by no means, provides the income we need to maintain our present lifestyle. However, it does provide the money for my shop, my pickup, my associated toys, this computer and my subscription to Woodcarving Illustrated. While I loaned myself the money to build my Gallery my little carving busines has just about paid the loan back through depreciation, same thing for the pickup. It also pays for our trips to carving events. So, while it doesn't put the beans on the plate or the hay in the barn it does help. I actually made a profit one year and had to pay in some FICA tax. That was great because it gave me the last two quarters I needed to qualify for Social Security.

[LCorbett]

It can be done, Mike. I think it depnds not only on the factors Lynn and Garry mentioned, but also te genre. NOT saying one is "better" than any other. There are many successful architectural carvers, for instance.

In my case, I carve birds (and looks like fish are in my future, too). I can support myself now, but 5 years ago, it was out of the question. As Lynn stated, a "subsidizing" spouse made it possible for me. Lots of hard work, promotion, and more hard work, and I am to a point where I'm self-sufficient. Which is good, because the hubby is retiring, soon, and I will be the major source of income (gulp...grin). Making art for a living has been a dream since high-school, so when I decided it was time to close my drafting business and try this, I had the direction and determination to do whatever it took to ake it happen.

I don't travel much to give seminars, but conduct several a year from my studio. Yes, I do have other sources of income, but they are ALL related to my bird carving in some way, so I count that as a contibutory source. If I had to rely soley on income from my birds, I could get by, but not as comfortably as I am, now. But, the art market is fickle, and it's a scary way to make a living, and not for everybody.

That being said, just like any self employed small business, there are times of drought, and I try to sock away a cushion...and there are times where I've drained the cushion. I treat my carving like a business...pay myself a "wage", taxes and insurance included.

I personally know several bird carvers, who are also making a comfortable living.

I'm doing what I love, making a living, and experiencing all the triumphs (and setbacks) that go along with running my own business.

The main reason you should create your art is for the pure love of it. Period. If circmstances are such that a passable living can be made...that's icing.

Selling venues? Everywhere you look, there's an opportunity. The 'net is a great place to showcase your work to potoential clients, and I have garnered a few commissions tha way. But the main source for me is word of mouth. I also take my portfolio with me wherever I go. If someone asks what I do, I tell them, then offer to show my portfolio. Grab 'em while the impulse is still strong...right there on the spot...

Just my personal experiences...not saying that everyone who tries is gonna be successful. "Luck" is mostly created, but there is still an element of being in the right place at the right time, and grabbing that opportunity.

[Pyrographer]

You really can't expect to sell your carvings on the internet AND make any real money at it. I don't know many people that are able to sell carvings, art, etc online. It is good, however to gain some exposure and perhaps some commissions but they are few and far between.

That is how I gain many of my commissions but I don't actually sell much of our carvings or woodburnings on the site. We do use the site to showcase our work but actual sales as a result of the website are few and far between. Most of my sales are the result of someone seeing my work at a show.

I do several shows a year (not a lot compared to some others) and I do teach but not to the extent of some of the people that are on the road all year (that's too much like work). I make a living but certainly not from selling my art work and carvings alone. I make it from teaching but since I don't do it full time I can't say I make a living from it either, certainly not enough to support myself without another source of income. Thank god I still have a job and when retirement comes I'll have retirement income so the rest is just an added bonus.

If you really want to gain exposure so you can sell your work you need to exhibit at shows, perhaps get a website to showcase your work and that will help get the word out about what you do, but selling carvings is not easy. Hubby carves and he's not too bad at it, but he doesn't work at it very much. We've showcased his carvings at shows and we get some sales but not enough to pay the rent...so my recommendation....don't give up your day job just yet!!!!

Nedra

[Nancy-ID]

"Luck" is mostly created, but there is still an element of being in the right place at the right time, and grabbing that opportunity.

Excellent advise from Lori. i might add that thinkinking positive about what you are trying to sell seems to really help, guess your adittude towards your product shows through to others. As Lori said" grabbing the opportuntity " when it comes is so important. Without getting into a huge thing like I can, i was breeding birds and one day came across a breed of geese that people were getting crazy for.(personally I didn't like them much) I bought 2 pair from someone who had no clue and sold the fertile eggs (for hatching) at $35 each, min. 4 to an order. my geese had great feathering and I took photos to really show that point off. I never could fill all the orders or orders for goslings at $175 a pair, pre-paid before hatching! Anyway . . .Sleeping I saw the opportunity there and it worked. If none of this makes sense, please forgive me, too much shopping and cooking going on

[Kenny_S]

Nah, but there are some who do! However, they have years and years of hard work behind them. all three, Ash, Lynn and Lori summed it up.
Now, ebay, well, there are a lot of carvings on eBay and Have watched many many sell them but also, they were selling cheap. unless they are super fast, they may be making $1 and hour if they are lucky.

Notice now on Ebay there are several Santa carvings and one is selling way to cheap but then, he hasn't received any bids either because he is higher than most.
I sell but not online and no way could I make a living at carving. I sell at a tourist trap which they have tourist from all over stop in to shop. One thing, around here, Santa's don't go over very big even during the Christmas seasion.
However, it does pay for the trips, tools and suppies. Maybe this year not counting my time, I will break even.

Finding the market for your carvings is a big chore. And there are some who are selling on Ebay. Mostly just 4 or 5 regulars.

Jillsy sells on Ebay but I don't think she is making a living at it.

We, the little bride and I,sell things on EBay through my Daughter and Son-in law's id and once in a while I buy under my id.

[Just Carving]

I thought about this same thing and came to the conclusion it might be a source of second income, or a fun second job. But as a primary source of income, probably not. I'm just trying to find my niche. I've been exploring all the nooks and crannies of carving for a while now, and I just haven't found something that really appeals to me yet. Maybe just making a mess of wood chips is it! LOL Now, I need to find a buyer!