160 -Choices2019

Choices

I heard an artist on the radio voice his disgust over his recent interaction with the owner of an art gallery. It seems that the gallery owner had put stipulations on the kind of work he would accept – imagine the audacity! The artist was insulted that he wouldn’t be able to do whatever he wanted and go wherever his artistic leading took him. He felt that the gallery owner should just accept anything the artist did and give him space in the gallery just because he worked hard and was very passionate about his art.

Here is a hard truth: You can’t make people like your artwork just because you like to make it. Regardless of the amount of time and effort you put into something, people don’t have to like it and some won’t. The obvious solution here is that he open his own gallery and fill it with whatever he chooses assuming he can afford it. Or, meet the demands of the gallery owner.

Years ago, I made wooden furniture and sold it to a specialty retail store which sold it to the public. I learned quickly to make items which sold well and were relatively easy to make at an affordable cost. I learned to make things that the customers of this particular store wanted to buy regardless of whether I liked them or not. I tried introducing pieces I thought were beautiful and the owner allowed me to stock a limited number of my own creations. Most of them bombed horribly.

If you have followed me for some time, you have undoubtedly seen products listed on my website for a while, and then mysteriously vanish. I was certain that they would be run away best sellers and some are. Many more are not. Still, I keep trying. So here is the decision: If you are turning because it makes you happy and provides an outlet for your creativity, do anything you want to and can afford. If, however, you expect to earn money from at least some of your turning, make what people what to buy, not what you want to sell them. I realize that most of you don’t sell things you turn and that turning is simply a creative outlet for you. But for those of you who would like to earn some extra cash, a lot or a little, make what people want to buy. Make it the size they can use, in the colors or wood species they like and at a price they are willing to pay and that you are willing to accept.

I met a fellow at a wood show one time that made mostly simple wooden pens. He had three large cases of pens, about 50 pens in each case. The first case was full of pens in maple, oak and walnut. Case #1 was offered at “All pens for $10ea – your choice”. Case #2 contained some more figured wood and was offered at “All pens for $15ea – your choice”. And case #3 contained more exotic woods and was offered at “All pens at $25ea – your choice”. I remarked that his prices seemed too low for the amount of work he put into these beautiful, but simple pens. Then he told me that he went to a flea market each weekend and sold out every week. He was OK with the prices where they were since pen turning was a hobby and he had a regular full time job to pay the bills. Now there was a fellow who knew his customers, what they wanted, and what he was willing to sell his work for. I wouldn’t change a thing.

If you are your own customer pleasing just yourself, do exactly what you want. If the public is your customer, do what they want and are willing to pay for because wherever you go there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:

Job 17:11-12 NIV My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.

Psalm 37:4 NIV Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Matthew 6:24 KJV No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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