(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/021-3.jpg)
The buck and Danny are carved in shallow relief then burned.
I am not actually finished yet. Still have some work to do on the antlers and possibly a border around the lettering.
I am thinking about starting a business where I custom make these for folks. Just to give me an idea if it is worth it, would any of you be interested in something like this?
That is some beautiful work!! I'm not an artist at all but I'm pretty sure that took a lot of hours to make. I really don't know how much you could get for something that nice though...really just wanted to WOW!!!!
Wow :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Vey nice. :clapper: :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by rkmnt2:
That is some beautiful work!! I'm not an artist at all but I'm pretty sure that took a lot of hours to make. I really don't know how much you could get for something that nice though...really just wanted to WOW!!!!
Thanks for the kind words!
I really don't know what I would charge yet. Just curious if it was affordable if people would be interested. If I do it, I am thinking I would start somewhere in the $50 to $75 dollar range for basically exactly what you see except of course with your trophy pic. Probably should charge more. With the time I put into it, I wouldn't be making very much, but maybe enough to help pay for my archery and woodworking hobbies!
They are really very nice. Anyone would love to have one.
If I kill the buck that I want this fall with my recurve, I'd love to remember it that way. Very nice.
Very Nice!!You have put ALOT of detail into that.
I would think in the range of 75.00 to 125.00 would not be out of line.
Wow that is very nice! $50-$75 sounds perfect if I am paying. I am cheap, but to be honest if I was doing the work that would be way to low. I think I had to pay that much for the last family photo with matte finish and frame, and it was not one of those big ones either. Maybe I should send you a digital of the next family photo and just have you do it.
Chip,
Your work is fantastic! I would pay to have one made.
Danny
Yes, I would interested in your work. :thumbsup:
I'd definitely be interested in work that nice. 50-75 dollars actually seems a bit low for that much quality.
I would be interested also. Very Beautiful work. Joe
Cool!
Very nice! I used to draw a lot of pencil or pen and ink stuff but haven't done it for years. Your detail is extremely good.
How big of a piece of wood is that?
OUTSTANDING, sorry for yelling. A little low on the price but if you are creating a list. Put me down for one of my son and I after we shot our bucks last year.
Jon
Very good work. I would definately be interested
Hooked,
I am very interested. What is the overall size of that piece?
Sean
Hooked,
What do you need? A good quality pic to start?
What sizes are offered?
John III
That is amazingly well done! Congrats
Seems way too cheap to me. Beautiful work!
OUTSTANDING CRAFTSMANSHIP :thumbsup: Please add me to your list.
THAT IS AWESOME!!! :clapper: I would pay $75 for one without hesitation. How big are they?
That is AWESOME! The detail on that deer especialy is unbelievable. I am really tight with my money but I would pay $75 for sure. You are going to make a lot of money doing that. How big is it? How long does it take you to make one?
Hooked
That is artwork! Worth MUCH MUCH more! Don't sell yourself short! I know how much time went in to that. If you take a look at your time you are probably at less than $ 1.00 or $2.00 an hour for $75.
just my $.02
Even cheap, cheap guys like me would pay $72.50 for one of those!
Easy now fellas! LOL! I haven't even decided for sure that I want to do this!
Thanks for all the great responses! It appears there is certainly some demand if I decide to take the plunge.
Let's see:
I have been told I should charge anywhere from $75 to $1000!
It has also been suggested to me to do one commissioned piece at a time and list them on that auction site, then folks can work out the price so I don't have to worry about whether I am charging enough or too much!
This one has taken a couple of weeks to do. Working on it in the evenings and some on the weekend. Just did a little figuring and I have worked on it atleast 40 hours and I still have a little touch up work to do. So Pete is right, less than $2 an hour.
That being said, I am not doing it to make a living, but because I like to. But I also need to make sure it doesn't become so much work it is not any fun anymore. Also, I don't know that I will get any faster at making them because each project will be new and I will want to make them perfect!
In answer to a couple other questions:
I need a good quality photo, preferably digital. Though not required. The important thing is the photo because I will be doing my best to make it look just like the photo.
This plaque is about 10.5 x 13. Though the bark-on plaques can vary quite a bit. I have another with nothing on it yet that is 9 x 13. The picture portion of this plaque is about 8 x 7.5.
Also, what I was thinking was I would have a set price for exactly what I did for Danny. Him and his animal. If someone wanted something different we could work out a price for it. Like bigger or more carving. An extreme case might be the one I did for Pinecone:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/pinecone3-07-09005.jpg)
or the one for Greywolf:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/007-5-1-2.jpg)
Very impressive. At first I thought it was a laser etching. Nice idea.
Yeah I agree I think you could make a whole lot more money and if I where you I most definatly would charge more because I know there are plenty of people out there that would pay it.
Well lots to think about here and it sounds like you already know! Yes the real value is around $1000. Will you sell alot at that price, probably not, but that depends on you and how you go about marketing it and you'll probably spend most of that $1000 on marketing. And yes it will become "work" whether you charge $75 or $1000. Been there done that. Good luck with what ever you decide. Bottom line is do your really really enjoying doing it even if it becomes work or would you rather do it as a hobby and make some fun money to spend on more bowhunting? Beautiful work though!
yip id be interested
... when you taking orders? :)
heck yes!!!
Well...I think I am finished with Danny and his buck. Here are the final pics. I will keep looking at it for a few days to see if I notice anything that I want to change.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/011-3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/014-3.jpg)
I have had alot of questions about size, so here is a pic that should help. That is a standard 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/003-3.jpg)
In response to some pm's I have received:
The plaque in the pics is about 10.5 by 13. The bark-on plaques can vary a little in width. For example, I have another that is only 9 inches wide.
I am still trying to determine a fair price. Based on feedback from other artists I should charge at minimum $300. But I am thinking I may do a few at a lower price just to get my feet wet and see if I like doing custom orders like this.
I want to charge enough that I feel like it is worth my time, but not so much that the average person can't afford it.
Currently, I am thinking I will take 3 orders at the following price, then reevaluate.
for a design similar to the one in the pic:
woodburning of head shot of hunter and animal on a bark-on plaque or a frameable 8 x 10 piece of Italian Poplar Plywood (frame not included). $125
for the shallow relief carving I did on this piece where I basically just create a few different levels (will have to be on the bark-on wood or a basswood plaque with adequate thickness). add $25
If the pic is a full body shot of animal and/or hunter. add $75 (this would increase the amount of work significantly)
If there is more than one animal or Person in the shot. add $75 for each additional
If you want something bigger or with more carving involved a price can be worked out.
Email me a pic of what you had in mind. I will take a look and play with it some in photoshop then email you back what I came up with and what I would charge. If you want me to do it, then I will request you pay me half up front and half when I am done but before I deliver it.
Also, once I get started, assume it will take a month for me to complete. I just do this in the evenings and weekends around work and family events. I will keep you updated with pics as I work on it.
So, First come first served! First 3 I get emails from with digital pics, I will email back what I come up with and a price. If you want to move forward, you will need to send me a deposit of half the price we agreed on before I start the project. If not, then I will move on to the next received email. wfjones2@sbcglobal.net
I'll give ya $100 and that's my final offer. :bigsmyl:
sheesh, i thought it'd cost way more than that.. My first thought was, I wish I could afford one. Now it turns out I could! Very interested. I'd like to get one for my buddy's monster bull he'll be shooting in a couple of weeks..;-)
nice work!
I like your work. You might consider getting a table at the Iowa Deer Classic and displaying some of your work. I suggest the Iowa Deer Classic because it is one of the premier events of that kind of venue with a large concentration of attendees that would be your ideal target audience for customers. (disclaimer: I have no $ interests in the Ia Classic) Put a $500 price tag on it and offer % off discount show special. You would find out real quick if how much interest you have and the value of your work. You would then have a good idea of how to adjust your price. More than likely you will get enough orders to keep you as busy as you want to be.
Absolutely stunning work, Chip! Just beautiful!
Claudia
Very nice work. If you offer one for the Tradgang St Jude's auction next year I am sure it will be a big hit.
absolutely awesome. id start your buisness if i were you....i have some pics id like to have done!
WOW!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well...in order not to be breaking any rules, I am a TradGang Associate Sponsor now, so I have to do a few of these just to make back that cost, LOL!
I want to restate that I am going to do a few, see if I like it and then reevaluate my pricing. In other words, the price will most likely go up closer to where it should be. And I love doing these, so I expect to continue.
I already have pics from 3 guys that I am working on a design for. If they all workout then I will not take any more orders until they are done. That being said, feel free to email me pics and request prices. I will keep a list of guys I will contact if one of these three doesn't work out or when I get done with them.
Remember the better quality (and bigger) the pic the better. Doesn't have to be a deer either. Can do bigger sizes, but it will cost more because it is more work. Also, the more detail required, i.e. the more people and animals in the pic will cost more.
Please see my new listing in the "Sponsor Classified" subject is "Wild Fire Artistry"
Congratulations
Wild Fire Artistry I like it.
Your not listed yet but I am sure they will get to it soon.
Metsastaja,
Or can I just call you "Les"? I won't be in the sponsor list, that is for Full Sponsors who also pay for ads at the top of the pages. But if you look in the Sponsor Classifieds, I have a thread posted there.
Chip
WOW, got 3, possibly four orders. Only going to take 5 then shut it down until I complete some of them.
Really nice work Chip!!! :thumbsup: I sent you a PM.
Dan
As a painter I learned several years ago that you don't want to underprice yourself. At one time I tried selling 16 by 20 paintings for $35 to $45 and never sold one..an artist travelling through told me to jack them up...sold them all at $75 to $90.
Good luck ...they are great.
Are you still taking orders? If so how much and what would you need other than a good photo. Would like to give it to a friend for Christmas.
:notworthy: :notworthy: