[Woodcarver] I need your help

[Loren Woodard]

Patti:

As one who dealt with the public on a regular basis when it come to carving,
don't be mislead by the fact that you don't get much of a reaction.  Some
people just don't show emotion, believe it or not, some folks think art is a
waste of time and other don't want o embarrass you or themselves by making
over your work.  One of the most expensive pieces I ever sold was to a man
that looked at it ............ said it wasn't bad ......... than called me
that evening wanting to buy the carving for his wife.  There was never a
positive reaction except that of the cash going from his hand to mine.  Did
he like the carving ............... yes!  His wife still tells me that he
bought it for her but actually considers it his.

Don't be mislead.  As long as it meets your expectations, that is all that
matters.  Oh yes, the carvings that don't meet my expectations are the ones
I consider my worst and the ones that sell first.

Loren Woodard



My carvings can be seen at http://www.woodcarvers-gallery.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com  Carving Magazine's web site - Check out the
reader's forum.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patti Landmann" <lowvillecarver at yahoo.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] I need your help


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> --- Joe DiDillettjdjdilletththecarvingshopom> wrote:
>
> > To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using
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> >  How do you define success?
> > Fellow Carvers,
> >
> >Hi Joe,
>
> Here are my thoughts:
>
> When I started carving 7 years ago it was to carve
> Father Christmas figures.  After 10 or 15 SaSantas
> looked around and discovered the wonderful world of
> woodcarving.  When carving SaSantasif it was carved
> clean and painted well,  it was not hard to convince
> anyone that it was wonderful as the subject itself is
> pleasant.
>
> I then wanted to carve everything I saw and just as
> quickly found that I did not have the skill to carve
> many of the exciting things that came to mind.  After
> numerous classes and seminars and more importantly
> observing the really good carvers that are in our club
> and area I found skills and techniques that would
> allow me to grow and move beyond my wildest dreams in
> the beginning.
>
> My web page is titled "Treasure and Pleasure" and that
> pretty much explains how I feel about my carvings.
> Some are true Treasures and some just give me
> Pleasure.  This being said it would be logical to
> think that I was a successful beginner.  And I have
> grown to a successful intermediate.  And I have
> promise to be a successful advanced carver given time
> and effort.  But my most profound problem comes with
> exposure of the piece to others.  When finishing a
> piece I feel that I love it and have been successful
> in creating what I saw in my mind.  I am excited and
> pleased.  At this point I show it to others and then
> watch their reactions for a sign of what I feel.  It
> rarely happens and I take this lack of good reaction
> as an immediate "not good enough".
>
> There are many reasons for reactions...disinterest,
> distraction, jealousy, and on and on.  So that being
> said, one should be able to rationalize away all
> negative or passive reactions.  I go away crestfallen
> and wonder if I will ever carve anything really good.
>
> So my advise to anyone is carve for your self from
> your heart.  Make yourself happy and that is the
> ultimate feeling of success.  Learn and grow as your
> goals change but always make yourself happy in your
> heart.
>
> My obvious answer is to never show anything but it is
> in the sharing of the art that we all grow.
>
> I would love to hear from anyone who has any idea how
> to overcome this feeling of lack of confidence and the
>  extraordinary amount of importance I place on the
> reactions of others.  I doubt this is normal  But who
> ever said I was normal.
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> =====
> Patti Landmann
>
> lowvillecarver at yahoo.com
> http://www.centuryinter.net/treasures/
>
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