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Thread: Amateur Expectations
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28th March 2013, 04:32 PM #1Novice
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Amateur Expectations
As an amateur are my expectations of professional woodworkers too high? Why do I ask - over the weekend past I had the unexpected opportunity to wander through the gallery of a well known furniture designer & maker. The vast majority of the pieces were stunning in design and execution. Then there were a few really odd exceptions such as a box ($450?) with routed cove finger lift (clean design, natural position) but heavily scorched from the router cutter? A tall case clock ($6,600) with a separated side panel you could literally see light coming through and an obvious excursion of the router cutter where the profile was being cut (separate panel).
Different makers? Perhaps, but being sold with the 'famous' name attached and in his own gallery so not likely to be unauthorized copies.
As an amateur, and hence without the same time & money constraints, I would be disappointed to leave faults such as these in my work but should I be expecting the same level of scrutiny in a gallery sale environment? As an amateur am I aiming at an unrealistic level of craftsmanship or expecting an unattainable level of craftsmanship from within a professional environment?
Regards
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28th March 2013, 06:54 PM #2Taking a break
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Absolutely. I work for a company making custom furniture and nothing leaves our factory short of perfect - even if it means spending 2 hours sanding out burn marks or re-making components that aren't up to scratch (and I've had to do both several times in my 5 years there).
If you take pride in what you do and are willing to spend the necessary time, nothing is unrealistic.
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28th March 2013, 08:10 PM #3
For high end craft to have burns, machine marks and poorly fitting components....no excuses.
" it doesn't have to be perfect, just look perfect. " someone I used to work with.Cheers, Bill
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28th March 2013, 11:01 PM #4
To me a Gallery is basically a display of fine craftsmanship - sorta like a museum - that is "willing to be persuaded to part with display items for adequate compensation."
If it's primary motivation is to make sales or if it's playing fast 'n loose with the definition of "fine craftsmanship" then it's not a Gallery... it's Just Another Shop.
(Albeit a pretentious one that would like you to think it's a Gallery. )
- Andy Mc
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29th March 2013, 08:48 AM #5
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30th March 2013, 10:01 AM #6Novice
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Thanks all. That is what I would have expected, strange to find a few pieces letting down the rest of the work in that setting. If it were a craft store selling various items would sort of be ok but this place was aiming at another market segment and I was expecting more along elanjacobs comments.
Matt
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31st March 2013, 12:45 AM #7China
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Showing items in a gallery is putting your level of craftmanship on display, allowing sub standard items to be displayed reflects on that craftmanship, potential buyers will walk past and tell their friends.Generally is is said they will tell nine others and those nine will each tell nine others and on it goes.
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31st March 2013, 11:01 PM #8
From my perspective I like to create something to the best of my ability. I feel if I am going to make something then I will take my time and try to get things right. Of course there are the the things that just do not work out because I am doing something for the first time or not got my thoughts around it. So I missed a step.
I might have to do it again or it becomes a design feature.
Then again I am not selling the things I am making.
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1st April 2013, 08:20 AM #9GOLD MEMBER
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Many years ago a boss of mine in a small cabinet shop said it takes a lifetime to build a good reputation and one job to destroy it.
Regards Rod.
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