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Mark Hancock:

--- Quote from: bodrighywood on April 19, 2020, 10:51:26 PM ---Far from being offended Mark much of what you are saying is what I have ben trying to get across (unsuccessfully) to turners for some time. You are far more succint than me. My view is that as long as there are turners willing to sell their work for cost then the craft / art in this country will always be seen as something of little value. I know of the Del Mano Gallery and have heard of Dave Ellesworth and it is a shame that few if any such veunues exist in this country. I tried for some years to get my work into galleries and ended up assuming I simply wasn't good enough until one (n ameless) pointed out that wood doesn't sell as an art form very well. When I asked why they said it was because it was so easily obtained cheaply in the church hall fairs, their words not mine. 'nuff said.

Pete

--- End quote ---
Thank you. I spent years trying to get into galleries in the UK. Spent a fortune on photographs (this was before the age of the internet and digital technology) and sending off intro letters etc. Few bothered to respond. For me it was a combination of events/circumstances that made me realise that wood crafts aren't represented in galleries in the UK and that I was wasting my time. I can count on one hand the number of galleries that show wood art in the UK, know what they are talking about and are worth considering to represent  your work. The only advice I can give after 30 years is try to educate gallery owners and keep trying. Occasionally you get one open to new opportunities. I had one like this in Cheltenham which proved very lucrative but unfortunately because of other issues totally unrelated the business closed and I lost a great income source.

Mark Hancock:

--- Quote from: The Bowler Hatted Turner on April 19, 2020, 11:35:02 PM ---Mark your mention of Ray Key made me smile, one of my most endearing memories of Ray was when I was on the AWGB committee at one of the seminars in Loughborough. Ray sat in the office holding court with some of the world's great turners around him and I was spellbound (and a little bit star struck I must admit)and I didn't want to go to work for fear of missing what he was saying.
I take on board your comments about setting the price and I have to say having read them I agree with you.
Pete one gallery that I approached told me if my work was not priced above £600 each piece not to bother contacting them. I suppose I could have upped the price on some pieces ( I have sold work in the past for £5,000 plus)but the pieces I had at the time were not worth that and it would not have been right to artificially inflate the price just to get it in the gallery.

--- End quote ---
You say your work what not worth that. Your work is worth what people will pay for it. An example from my experience. I had a piece in a very prestigious exhibition which is still going. It didn't sell. I took it after the exhibition to a well known gallery and was advised to increase the price 3 fold. It sold within a fortnight. I think I said this previously by if not I'll say it here; pricing is a game. I learnt early on in my crfat fair days if a piece doesn't sell you up the price rather than dropping it. It worked 95% of the time :-)

Wooddust:
There is of course the other side to this. I turn because I enjoy it, l sell pieces at those "horrible church fairs etc" (The money for the tables go to local) causes) I sell at that dreaded price that covers the cost of the wood and whatever else I have used.

Does that devalue the art form, l don't think so. What some of you don't seem to be able to do is separate the art form from monetary value.

I get that a lot of you make a living from turning wood and your prices need to reflect that. But please don't say us "non professionals
devalue the art form.

Why do so many professionals, go to clubs to teach those of us that devalue the art, if we are only going to devalue it more?

The Bowler Hatted Turner:

--- Quote from: Wooddust on April 20, 2020, 09:17:30 AM ---
Why do so many professionals, go to clubs to teach those of us that devalue the art, if we are only going to devalue it more?

--- End quote ---
Although it is nice going to clubs to earn part of my income(will this ever happen again?)it is also nice to help others to become better turners thereby increasing the value of the work they make.But also if you are good at making something you enjoy the process more.Well I do anyway.

bodrighywood:
Not sure anyone has used the phrase 'orrible church hall fairs ' LOL. They domhave theirplace but if we wish to promote our art / craft then we need to aim at a different type of market. The shows that we do are aimed at customers who often collect art and craft work, are onlt interested in quality work that has a style and are prepared to pay for it. It is perha[ps the difference between going to Primark and Harrods. You don't expect to get the same sort of quality in both but there is a place for both.  Most people assunme that if you pay less you get less and whilst this may not always be true it is a basic fact of life. Hence if people see a bowl for sale for £15 they assume that is all it is worth not that they are getting a bargain. I have seen work for sale in lower end markets that re being sold cheaper than the blank would have cost which is perhaps an extreme but at least charge for your expertise, time etc. I have this little sign up at shows and it always surprises me the number of people who comment positively and ask to copy and use it.
Pete

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