I had a great question sent to me about selling wood burning art that I felt deserved a thorough response, so here I am!
The question:
“I often think about selling some of my stuff for supplemental income, but I feel I’m not good enough and I fear people won’t actually be willing to spend money on this stuff. Do you find that to be true?”
This is a great question, and I just want to say you are not alone in these thoughts. I have felt this many times throughout my art career, and I still do sometimes.
There are a few points I want to touch on with this question. Let’s discuss them below.
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1. You Are Your Toughest Critic
What stuck out to me from your question is the “I feel I’m not good enough”. I just want to say I have said and thought this exact phrase so many times when putting my work out there. It is scary, and as creatives, we constantly feel we aren’t good enough.
You are 100% your toughest critic. What you think may not be good enough could be excellent for someone who can’t create what you can. If you can push past the self-criticism, it will be easier to put your work out there.
2. You Won’t Know Until You Try
As the title above states, you won’t know if you can make money until you try. When I started to list my old work (which was not as good as my work now) I never thought I would get a sale.
I’m here years later, still making sales, with a business that’s expanded to other categories, and I’m helping out others!
3. There’s A Market For Everything
After being in this industry for quite a few years now, along with the research I’ve done and the work I’ve seen, there is literally a market for everything.
You don’t have to be Leonardo da Vinci to make money as an artist. There is room in the market for everyone of any skill level, talent, and original work.
4. You Will Improve
I have improved so much with my wood burning skills (and business, marketing, etc) since I started my business many years ago. Chances are, the more wood burning work you do, the better you will become! Keep creating and putting your work out there to improve your skills and confidence.
5. We All Start Somewhere
Starting can seem so daunting at first, and sometimes I wonder if I didn’t start, where would I be right now? Every small business you see selling art and crafts started somewhere. It all starts with an idea and passion.
I hope this answer gives you the confidence to try. This industry can be challenging because we constantly feel we must be the best to succeed.
If you are a wood burning artist and are looking to sell your work, I encourage you to go for it. Even if you start small selling at local craft shows, flea markets, or even Facebook Marketplace, it’ll get your feet wet and give you more confidence.
Let’s all support each other and do the best we can!
-Amanda
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