Thread: .....both professionals and amateurs alike

. . .

I don't
Cheers Tony.

Yes, some forum members earn their living from woodturning.

Mine only pays its own way...

.....

I WISH
Mick

Professional is a state of mind. Do you spend more time thinking about woodturning, of the thing you actually make money from.

(There are also quite a lot of artists that have other jobs to support their profession. )

In my personal case, woodturning a complement is alone for my work of woodmaker, and I do not live of my profession, survive with her.

Originally Posted by tea lady

Professional is a state of mind. Do you spend more time thinking about woodturning, of the thing you actually make money from.

(There are also quite a lot of artists that have other jobs to support their profession. )

Yeah, I say it's my preoccupation...

All of the artists I know had paying jobs until late in their careers.... one was a twice Archibald winner who I shared an office with... he couldn't afford to work full time on his art until the kids left home....

.....

I can only wish. I'd have to triple my prices and ... well... work! Perish the thought.
What I sell does pay for the tools.... and an occasional trip to the mountains.

Used to a couple of decades ago, but quickly learned that "professional" means working at it 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week

...am now much happier being an "amatuer"

...am now much happier being an "amatuer

Yeah some times the Hobby becomes work and then its no fun, unless you command the prices of the likes of William Hunter or Ron Kent. I suppose I could get by then......

I am a semi pro, which means I make enough money to support my habit, and pay some of the bills, but not enough to support myself. I guess I could work that hard, but it would take the fun out of it.

Those that I know who do it for a living, also teach, have videos, their own tool lines, travel to do demonstrations, and work some long hours. I will probably retire before I get around to that.

robo hippy

Thanks for the replies, I have no intention of trying to make a buck from woodturning. Just curious is all.

I haven't used a lathe since high school (1978 ) and I have only just recently purchased a second hand lathe (cheers sbranden) to have a go and break up some of the furniture jobs that MFFAF has on her list.

I agree that to make a living from woodworking would take the "fun" out of it. I did that to aviation

I looked into making money out of turning, if only to offset the cost of the gear, and got a response from a gallery to produce 10 burl bowls a month.

Thinking about it, I figured it would turn a pleasure into a pressure and passed the opportunity onto someone else.

So I run on a near-total loss business model, unless you can put a price on fun and satisfaction.

I still sell a few pieces when folk see what I do and ask, and have given away many more as presents. Happily, decades of wage-slavery have given me a retirement income that allows me now to follow whim and whimsy.

PS I only observe pro turners from a distance and stand to be corrected; it seems there are still some production turners but for 'art' turners they appear to need to tick most of these boxes to make a living:

* national/international reputation & awards for the quality of their work
* a market for their work
* lessons
* demonstrations
* instructional books/DVDs
* sale of turning gear