Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work
Tien Chiu
Schiffer Craft
As an artist myself, I know I have worked out my practice, I know who I want to be…but do I know how to successfully promote this to an audience? Do I understand how to make money from what I do? Or do I know how to sell my work? I may struggle to balance these areas, but for those of which art is a career, the way we, you both make sense of the world and manage to have enough financially to remain in it - this is vital.
So in comes this title and maybe, just maybe this will be the tool, the chip to elongate for career in a practice you love.
Initial probing
As an artist, I can well discuss the challenges of making it a viable source of income - as Chiu well mentions onn page ten, ‘Designing your own craftwork is a wonderfully exciting activity’ - but that is not the end - a great vision in your mind or even on paper does not make for a perfect ending. Support is required, steps are needed - it is a process, not a jump to a tada moment you might remember from your painted portrait five year old proud of yourself days. This is adulthood with the benefits of playing a field you love - or believe me you wouldnt be still doing it - I should know!
Saviour - we all need one at some point and maybe its going to be a creativly directed one for you - in the form of this book/With chapters and sections on designing, the thinking processes, the practical ways to construct, developing your skills, growing your skills then the scarey part - showing it to the world and making it seem temping for them to put thir money out for…..I think we can safely ascertain that this is no beach read. Its something that really, you would be paying a hefty bill for if this was a human doing this for you and not a book.
The way the content is set out
I really liked the clarity of this book, we understand what we are going to learn. Page eleven introduces us to the types of creatives this book will be helpful for.
From page twelve onwards, we get the step by step instructions - the reminders along the way to feel ‘joy’ even in the learning, to be that child are ‘explorer’ which is actually a lovely thing to allow ourselves to be.
All the way through we are given exercises, so this is a real book which requires action.
All the content and methods are evidenced via real life accounts, by many others who have walked this path already.
Quotes are a constant.
Images are everywhere.
Its real. Chiu and the artists talking are honest. There would be no point telling you it will all be a happy ending or perfection - yet the message is - it can work, if you work.
Advice, wisdom and insight - all words I would attach to the writing of this book.
This book is not directed at one craft genre, so there are a mix of images, from textile art to sculpture.
Why this book is vital
If you want a long life in a creative career and are not blessed with a bank balance ready to save it when it all crashes - I think you will be very very thankful you took the time to read this book. No, it is not an IKEA flat pack wardrobe of diagrams, which you carefully keep to and like magic your clothes have a new home - no - this is an individual process - make it your own, become the unique artist you are - you just have to find your voice and that is where maybe you need just a little help.