Carved painted bench

Artists are rarely good salesmen. I speak from experience.

-- Michael R. Harvey - Brewster, NY - RusticElementArt.com - SpaceAware.org - AnConn.com

Hi Dennis;

Don’t feel bad, I still haven’t gotten rid of that bridge! LOL

Personally, I think it’s a fine looking bench! The workmanship is great, as is the finish.

Having dealt with many designers over the years, I find that some are in the same boat. Big on talent, low on business skills, or marketing.

I wouldn’t take the word from one source as a final decision about what will sell. It could be that the designer wouldn’t design it that way, so it can’t be any good.

I believe that every piece has the perfect buyer, or put another way, somebody, somewhere will think that’s the best bench ever made! You just have to introduce them.

To prove my point, I was able to find someone to marry me!!!

Happy New Year.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

You’d prolly sell that thing in a Jerome, Idaho minute down here, mi amigo. It’s the opposite story down here; take a highly refined piece to an interior designer and they say “No way!! We can’t sell that; it doesn’t have any carving on it…” HA!!!! So, I just signed up for a carving class at UNM-Taos… HAHAHA!!!

I like that bench. Nice work.

Regards, JM

-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/

Well I like it, and I think the other commenters are right, it would be loved by the right person. Never give up, and you did a very nice job on it.

-- Dan Wiggins

One of the problems with interior designers is that they go by their own personal tastes, not by reality, most of the time. If you tell them you want Orange on YOUR family room wall, they’ll tell you it needs to be purple, because THEY like purple.

It’s your art, not theirs. I second Jarrod’s idea that it’d sell before you finished your first breath in Santa Fe/Taos/Northern New Mexico area, without a problem, and for a good amount of money.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

For me Dennis this is wonderful….the carving is subtle…I love this…but maybe it could be more dramatic….now the only reason I would make this comment is I feel both our work shares so much in common…can you re-carve the back…perhaps leaving the horizon or mountains faint….and then moving forward with reliefs on each side…with tree limbs..and branches…. and the birds you carved in the panels….the panels you carved way back…...I could see these relief carvings beginning with more detail at the edges and then transitioning to the faded mountain/landscape in the center/distance…I like the washed effect in the finish….what if only the birds only were in a more vibrant color…..I can see the bench as a ink painting. I really like it Dennis…

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

It looks great to me, Dennis. What would you rather be anyway…. a salesman or a woodworker? :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I agree with Jarrod!

I think it must be like real estate- Location, Location, Location. If antique stuff didn’t sell, then there would be a whole lot of people out of business around here!!

I think this is a great piece. I have found that the kind of work I like to do (we like the same stuff) has a limited market and the area you sell your goods in will either make or break your business. Being able to sell yourself is a talent not everyone has, you really have to put yourself out there.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/

Dennis a great piece. Keep showing it and it will be carried to a car some day.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I really like this bench, Dennis. I think I’m in the same boat you are. Maybe we need a business manager but he’d probably expect to get paid and expect benefits and etc., etc,......................................

-- Thos. Angle

wow…such a beautiful piece…I am sorry that TRUE art is not appreciated in our lives…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Thanks everyone….ya a business manager. They get 20%. I get plenty of work. The gallery gets 40%, IRS gets 30%, My ex gets 40%, 35% overhead…I need more than a manager. I need your prayers!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

sending my positive thoughts your way, Dennis.

I love this bench. It touches my heart. Good thing you don’t live closer – I’d be broke. Ha. I’d be the answer to your prayers. Of course, then I’d need the prayers because I’d be broke. .. but just think of the furniture I’d have .. sigh… :D

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Dennis, It’s sooo beautiful. The painting and carving are one of a kind and are just fetching. The knot-moon setting over the mountains, the paint wash, the detail on the apron. The Sundance catalogue used to have things like this, now it’s all crap (feel free to utilize a fake Sean Connery/Scottish accent here).

You sincerely have my prayers. I hope someone has the good sense to become your patron. Your work is fresh and original.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

I’m with Douglas old friend, it’s just a matter of hooking up the right person to that beautiful piece. By the way is that a crack or did you paint a bird flying through the moon? What an amazing landscape. You are truly an artist in my book.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

As an artist you just have to be true to yourself and create. When you adapt to commercial demand the individuality of the artist is compromised. True works of art seem to have a life of their own and, over time,take on a kind of patina of character. That bench has a lot of character. Beautiful!

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.