Hi,
First time posting. Like many others, I am proud of my work and my friends always tell me how wonderful it is. But you know what they say about starting a new venture, 'never move forward based on your mother's opinion'!
I design and build wooden boxes using a range of joinery techniques and would be content to continue on, simply for the pleasure I get from the process itself. But it would also be rewarding to expose my work to a larger audience, especially if there are people willing to buy it.
For the last 20-years I have been going to Crafts at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY. Yesterday, I visited the fair to do some research on how my stuff might fit in. I was surprised to find that out of a dozen or so wood products (turning, cutting boards, furniture), there was only one vendor offering boxes (jewelry boxes). What's up with that? I cannot figure out if other woodworkers are not interested in selling their work, are they trying but can't get past the jury process or maybe they have they tried and found it financially unworkable?
So that brings me back to the original question, should I put my work out there? I posted images of some of my work. If you would be willing to take a look, I would be grateful for any feedback on both the big picture for the woodworking craft as well as the little picture for my work in particular.
Thanks for your time, Jonathan
Replies
I will look for some other shows but thoughts on the dearth of carpentry, (maybe "joinery" is a more accurate and distinguishing classification?), would be of interest.
I sat in on a pre-judging workshop for the St. Louis Art Fair a few months ago. The woodworkers there were few in numbers, maybe 5 or 6, and out of that perhaps 2 or 3 were doing boxes/small cabinets. There is a market for the work, and the competition isn't that numerous. One guy who was next to me at a Chicago show back about ten years ago did bandsaw boxes with the hidden second drawer inside. His forte was finding knots and funky roots to turn into the boxes. I swapped for one, and I never could find the joinery where he sawed the burl apart. Go for it and jump in. Just try to have enough stock on hand so that it looks like you're successful and not trying this out tenatively. Project confidence :-)
I've looked at the photos on your page Jonathan, and your work is gorgeous. I love wood and am always attracted to beautiful grains :) I have a handmade wooden writing desk 'box' that I use for my receipts, cashbox etc. and whilst the women look at my jewellery, the men run their hands over the box and often open it up (even though its BEHIND my display) LOL.
I think you should try and get your work out there. It's not going to appeal to everyone but it will to some! Do a show and see what people are interested in and ask them if they don't buy or show specific interest in something. Tell them you're new to shows (but not to making) and ask what would they like to see next time. You may be able to see a pattern that indicates a gap in the market.
If you're doing jewellery boxes, the simple addition of lining the base with some anti-tarnish fabric (it inhibits their silver jewellery tarnishing from exposure to the air) may help as a selling point.
Good luck!
Cassius is right. You can't tell by one show. I've always suspected that 'readiness' is as much a state of mind as anything. Your work is lovely. Even if someone else has boxes, they're bound to be artistically different. Not everyone loves the same thing. All I can say is pull up your big boy shorts and be ready for some rejection and not so nice comments. It's all part of the game. But when you truly connect with someone and they walk off with a smile and your package under they're arm, there's nothing like it!
One thing I do on a regular basis is visit the websites of those shows that I plan on submitting for and I take a look at the previous year's participants (photographers). I think that doing this might help you answer some of your questions. Just search for the websites of some large shows and some smaller shows so you can get a pretty good sample. I would not try to answer those questions by visiting just one show.
I can only give you the little picture but I think your boxes are lovely.