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I need objective opinions: I recently started wood carving and I'm giving it some serious thought as to make it my side job. I've only made two pieces so far, both were orders so it was less what I could come up with and more what I was being asked to make but basically I just need people who I don't know to tell me if my work is sellable and I don't mean diy fail sellable. Honesty, not flattery please.

Edit: for frame of reference the gator is the Florida Gators logo for a man cave and the elephant was for a elephant themed baby room and she asked that the baby name be included, the design was meant to look "country chic".

As I said this would be like a side hustle. I currently work 50+ hours a week at my main job and would start by selling out of a local flea market or getting a booth at a local shop. I don't expect to make a full living at making my art. This also isn't my first foray into art, I've been painting/ making stuff since I could hold a pencil in my hand.

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Gypsy31771 6 June 26
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26 comments

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7

Been a professional sculptor for over 40 years.
Upside,
if you love your work and almost all veteran sculptor do, you saved yourself from biggest waste of time in life by not liking what you do.
Downside , it takes about 12,000 sculptors for one to make a living at it. You need to be good in business as well as in your art.

Many professial woodcaver started out making woodspirits. Easy to make and to sell. Most importantly name of the game is practice, if you love it with work ethic, money will come.

Your work quality is a good start.

5

With work,maybe.

Coldo Level 8 June 26, 2018

Agreed, they're good, but they need to be better/more practiced. Best of luck

4

I don't mean to be cruel. But the samples you show are not exactly masterpieces. They are nicely done, but I don't think you will get more than a commodity price for what I see.

That said; A successful business does not have to be based on masterpieces. All you need is something with appeal to enough people. I once knew a person who made quite a lot of money by getting a 1.5 inch dowel, 8 ft long and slicing it into 1/4 thick rounds, then hot stamping "TUIT" on each side. He then sold them for $1 each as "Round To It"'s ... get it? I bet he could sell them for $5 each today.

With more production and more designs, I'm sure your talent will grow. But I think you have enough talent for a successful business now. All you need is an idea with appeal to a lot of people.

My vote is a plaque that says "No God, Know Peace. Know God, No Peace!"

GO GETTEM!!!

4

continuing with your practice will tell you more than anything. art/craft sales is a ficklish realm. do some more, if you like it, follow it. if the market likes you it will follow you. For only having done 2 pieces, these look fine, yet insufficient for you to have "found" a style. you need to enjoy it at least enough for it to develop into a Hobby and practice.

4

If it becomes your job, unless you Only do custom pieces, and maybe not even then, sooner or later it will become your job, not your bliss.

Absolutely true.

3

When you have made 100 3d carvings, then think about going pro.

3

Being creative can be a fun outlet but is this something you want to do all the time? I've dabbled in Steampunk and Chainmail jewelry and it was fun and I did sell most of what I made (over 40 pieces) and I considered the same thing. Can this be a side job? I've also dabbled in abstract painting and sold over a dozen pieces of work, but having to be creative on a daily/weekly basis in order to make a certain amount of income made it not fun anymore. Yes your items are sellable and marketable. Will you enjoy doing this every day? Can you continue to be creative and innovative every week and not get tired of what you are currently enjoying. Try making 20 sellable pieces in 15 days and see how you feel about your side job idea.

Pretty much this

3

I think they're good. I like them

3

Yes, if you find the right market.

2

The two samples you've shown look nice, but I don't think they are fully representative of your talent. I think you'll probably have some success selling at local flea markets, as you mentioned, but I think you would be remiss if you didn't consider online sales as well. You could set yourself up as a merchant partner on Amazon.com, or Ebay, or Etsy (Etsy is all artists and artisans). This would add some overhead, but wouldn't it be exciting to be popping off online sales and boxing your stuff up for shipping? Something to think about. There is no limit to the number of online portals you could list your items on.

I've debated on Etsy. I'm very familiar with the site but I feel like the profit margin would drop bc of having to pay for shipping and packaging. I know I could add all that in to the cost but it just makes me question it

@Gypsy31771 My business is on Amazon and you can designate shipping costs there. I assume you can do the same thing on Etsy so you wouldn't need to inflate your item cost. The problem with Amazon is they pull commission from your shipping fees too. Also, on Amazon, if you're not offering free shipping, you're not competitive. May not be as big a factor on Etsy, especially if no one else there is doing what you're doing.

Yes, I am not interested in selling my work as I do not want the work. However at flea markets I make out quite well with birdhouses that are very unique and natural. You can make a little pocket change or perhaps cover a monthly bill but then ask yourself is that what you really want or do you wish to remain creative not caring about the money?

2

I won't talk quality here. Everyone else covered that. If you are seriously thinking of this as a side job. You need a business plan and an objective look at time spent vs profit.

2

As Joseph Campbell would say, "Follow your bliss".

2

Similar to veRONicaMeowe I wanted to be a pro musician. A colleague said to me "If you you love music, don't do it for a living" I became a professional musician in 1982 and haven't played a gig since 1990. He was absolutely right.! Your work looks really good but bear in mind the words of veRONicaMeowe. Very wise counsel.

2

Anything and everything is sellable. just depends on the demand ? If they like your work they will buy, if the don't they won't. You can only try and see what happens. only time will tell !

1

Practice makes perfect. You will hit a wall... Keep Banging!!!! Do not give up!

1

Well that is the question I too faced a few years back , I am a woodworker and do good work. People asked me to sell my work. I did and it was great however I hated it. Suddenly perfection was the price to pay for making money. And that was not my drive so I make what i wish to make.
Your work is beginner, but rather nice. What are you using to carve with? You have a great touch, only to become a wonderful touch with more experience. If you notice the dark lines are blurred and fragmented, This is due to how you are cutting or carving. Nothing more important that sharp tools.

EMC2 Level 8 June 26, 2018
1

I think your work is top notch. Keep going! Take and fill any/all orders that are doable and reasonably remunerative AND also appeal to your artistic sensibilities and/or spirit of exploration/adventure. And I would keep the day job just because it is really difficult to make a living as an artist. Good luck! ?

1

The Zoey is cute but use better quailty plywood. The grains are too rough other than that good jog. The gator takes a lot more work. Maybe finish the teeth with your carving could make it better. I think are sellable they are not bulk manufaturing pieces. Good luck!

1

Great start! I would look at other peoples work and see techniques and details that you can start using. You will get ideas from them and as you do more you will develop your own style. It takes a lot of time and practice to make a living out of something like this.

K9luvr Level 2 June 26, 2018
1

It depends who your market is.

1

If you love it, do it. The money will come. There's a reason we're called "starving artists". "Carve wood?" There's a joke in there somewhere. LOL!!!

1

Practice makes perfect. They look decent and are sellable. Although the skill level marks the value of the pieces. You can only get better from here. Stick with it!!!

1

not bad but not real good either practice the talent needs to be perfected

1

Since you are being creative I am looking to have a sign made for one of my gardens. Are you accepting orders?

See Gypsy, signs sell well also.

1

Sellable yes. Sellable for enough money to pay for your time and materials, that is doubtful.

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