When it comes to furniture making as a career, how does one work get themselves into the position of being able to build thier own designs?
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Replies
That is sort of the 64 thousand dollar question. As you can see from other threads making a living making furniture is a moving target.
Just to clarify your designs vs reproductions?
Do you have any of your designs you could post?
I posted some of my designs in the gallery under Bombe demuline tables. Check them out and feel free to comment.
I don't really understand the question exactly. If you have a sketchbook of designs start building them. There isn't a law that says you have to build X reproductions before you build your own stuff.
If this is a question about what sells or doesn't sell you'll never know until you build it and put it into the marketplace.
I think it depends on the designs and whether they resonate with folks in your particular market. To paraphrase the movie, build it, and they might buy.
That, of course, conveniently skips over the part about how much one needs to invest in materials and time to prime the sales pump. ;-)
You mean how to SELL your designs, right? The answer is to find the clients that you are looking for--'marketing' or something. I figure either they come to you (word of mouth), or you go to them (ads and soliciting--art shows?). Pretty vague question . . .
Brian
Robin,
You asked the most important question in woodworking.
Sgian Dubh (Richard Jones) of Knots, told me that there is a guy named David Savage who teaches and does woodworking, who has a history of training others to become successful furniture designers/makers. I have never heard this statement made about anyone else.
David Savage takes on a number of students each year. Going to his school is not cheap. But you asked a question, and I am giving you one (but not the only) answer. Look up this guy at:
http://www.finefurnituremaker.com/
and think about studying with him for two years. He also helps his graduates find positions in small fine woodworking shops.
In the US there are lots of places that teach "woodworking", but I don't know of any which have proven success at turning out people who can start and maintain successful woodworking businesses.
If anyone else knows of other schools which have been successful in training people to be succsussful "fine woodworking businessmen", I would love to hear about them.
Have fun. GOOD LUCK.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
You asked the most important question in woodworking.
Why do I like to do this???
I for one just make what I want to! I hardly ever do what others want. NOT that they are wrong...
Long ago I realized that nothing you make will please everybody! Just a few.. Find them few! Or just do your own thing.. Did any famous artist make a painting unless they were commissioned?
WG,
So you think you can't please everyone.
Well, try an experiment.
Design and make something.
Then take a negative person down to your shop and show it to them.
Before you show them the piece, put their head in a vice. Began to squeeze. Then ask them if they like it. If they begin to answer wrong, squeeze a little more. People will always answer your questions the way you want them to, if you ask them under the right conditions. How do you think "politics" is done at the local level? Just like I described, except that the vices are psychological ones. They hurt more.Have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
People will always answer your questions the way you want them to,
Think I could pass the test.
Edited 9/25/2009 2:15 pm by WillGeorge
I was reading back on your post.
Design and make something.
Then take a negative person down to your shop and show it to them.
I always picked the wife that wicked at me!
I have taken two classes (total time 3 -5-day weeks) with Michael Fortune at Marc Adams School. He certainly teaches and encourages you to think outside the box and develop your own designs and style.
Frosty
“If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert,
in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.”
Milton Friedman
Make good designs and build them well.
Or just land a wealthy spouse.
The short answer is Slowly :) :)
When I started woodworking full time in 1979, I was under the impression the "shop" should be able to take on pretty well anything. In hindsight not a good assumption.
What followed was many oak plywood wall units, gun cabinets, a dozen or so kitchens, a corner aquarium, slate top coffee tables, a couple of rumpus rooms (do they still call them that?) well, you get the idea.
At that level there was lots of work and making money wasn't much of an issue.
But, five years later I was not having much fun.
Two things changed that.
Normally a client would approach me with a concept and/or a picture of a project. I started introducing my "style" into my proposals. Along with a drawing I would make 1/4 scale models, that would help the clients visualize the final piece.
I also started entering our local Craft Councils annual juried traveling exhibition. Once a year I got to make a piece just for the making and considered it a kind of test of my skills.
My first entry was awarded the "Most Outstanding" entry and a check for $2000. I also received The Best In Wood award and the Sask Arts Board purchased the piece.
Slowly clients started coming to me to design a piece for them in my style.
Looking back I would recommend you do whatever work is necessary to hone your skills while establishing your style.
Pay close attention to marketing and business principles.
I have an accounting degree and will freely admit I am a terrible businessman. I would bid low either because I needed the work or I wanted to do the work :)
Perhaps it was confidence that came with experience but I don't do that anymore. You need to be paid for your work.
Cheers, Don
Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker
Associate Editor - Canadian Woodshop News and Review
Hi Don.Nice work I checked you website also.Which juried competition are you refering to ?I'm just outside Fort Qu'Appelle. would like to see if any of my works would pass muster or see others work. Have you seen any of mine in the gallery?I saw Micheal Hosiluck at a seminar years ago and now see him in print quite often.Enjoying the warm days of fall and hoping the Riders win.Shoe just south of you.
Thanks Shoe.
The competition is the Saskatchewan Craft Council's annual juried show Dimensions.
It's open to any resident of the providence working in any of the craft disciplines.
There is one local juror and one out of province juror. On average there are 150-200 works submitted and from them the jurors pick a show of ~35 pieces.
This is a link to last years show - http://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/gallery.php?gid=36
I was honored to be the local juror in 2002, Michael Hosaluk and Jamie Russell have both also served.
Can't tell if I've seen your work or not, would need to know your real name :)
Cheers, Don
Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker
Associate Editor - Canadian Woodshop News and Review <!----><!----><!---->
Don thanks for the link.
I sent them an email for application.I don't know why I did not think of this before?Maybe others considering getting there work out to the public, have similar resources but just have not head of such.Score another one for the Knot's forum!!!I shall send you some pics and name at you private mailAgain Thanks!
I guess it was assumed that the question was about making your own designs for sale as opposed to for yourself and/or family.Everything I make is for our home or family and friends. So I am not constrained by what will sell. I try to look at as much furniture as I can and I read as much as I can about various designers and use them as inspiration for my designs. I almost never build anything exactly like the plan but use the pictures and plans to help me design what I am building. Starting with dimensions from another piece helps you get a feel for what will work for a particular need. I am partial to Gustov Stickley's furniture and have build several pieces heavily influenced by his designs. But not all my furniture is in that style. Anyway, build some of your own designs and see what happens. The worst that can happen would be that you waste a little wood and time. Domer
Hi
I don't know if you refering to me of the OP.I do most of my own designs, unless I.m building cabinets for bath and kitchen.I did buy 1 set of plans for a rocking chair 'cause I knew better. hopefully will be done for christmas. I too keep looking at others work and would like to build a big Morris chair and sofa. I have all the sewing machines and can do upotlstry no problem.The house we live in I'm still trying to finish and it is not Borg style. Built my own master bedroom door from local birch. Stairs for old bowling alley and rail and newles balustrs Salvaged from an old office building they demoed in 1976 was about 90 years old then. Tons of Oak!!little wood and time ahhh the conundrum Wood ain't cheap here. Time in the workshop = lower blood pressure.
Domer if you search in the Gallery some of my work is there.
Regards
Shoe
It was a general response not aimed at anyone in particular.The original question was about building our own designs. It is easier to do if you don't have to sell them to anyone but your own family.That's all.Domer
how does one work get themselves into the position of being able to build thier own designs?
Just make it! That does not mean others will LIKE it!
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