No more hollow forms for me

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Andrew Hilton

>PLEASE take this in the most friendly and helpful way possible, Mike ....

Perhaps you could change your form/design?

Maybe make a small oil candle project and put a sign on it that says something like "THIS is an oil candle ...... THAT (referring to your hollowforms) is not."

Don't give up just because people misrepresent your work. People have preconceived notions about our work based on what they want to see or have experience with. That's not their fault, necessarily. Inform and educate. They'll be better for it in the long run and you can keep stretching your art regardless of what they think after that.

It is the responsibility of the beholder

John Crissman

>to understand the work of art. It is not uncessarily the artist' responsibilty to explain the intent or reason behind the piece.

Not all pieces are utilitarian. They should grasp that. If not, just don't bring the pieces into work.

Have a great holiday,

John

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Mike, I get questions like that too. My response is always the same. Once you buy it, you can do whatever you want with it!

Bill

I was just kidding guys

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Guess I should have put a smiley there. I don't care what folks think of my work, as long as I'm OK with it, and I'm my harshest critic. They want to roll them down the bowling alley, fine with me, as long as they're willing to pay.

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Hey Mike....there's a simple answer. Quit making hollow forms that look like candle holders.... The stock question that I'm asked is "how long did it take you to make that?" Of course I never have an answer to that, because I don't know.

Wally

I got ya' Mike

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>I got the you were joking from the get-go! :>)

If that person at your work site was "intellectually challenged" (cause calling them a card carrying moron isn't PR) enough to suggest that your extremely cool hollow forms was an oil lamp, you just need to consider the source. :>)

Really, I like what Bill said. After they buy it, they can do anything they like with it!

Later,

Dominic

So did I

MikeinCapeMay

>I do a lot of bottle stoppers. At the various shows I have them in display racks along with a sign describing their use and also a wine bottle, a balsamic vinegar bottle and an olive oil bottle, each with a stopper in the opening. It never fails, people stand there looking and then say "These are beautiful, what are they?"!!!

I keep making and selling them. Like Bill, I don't care what they become after they're purchased.

Re: No more hollow forms for me

John Lucas

>Wally

The Glass instructor and the Craft Center has the best response to that I've ever heard. When people ask him how long it took to make that item he says 18 years to learn how and 1 hour to make it.

Brad Sells who makes really fantastic carved bowls was asked by a guy looking at a $500 vessel if he could use it as a garbage can in his office. Brad said sure and sold it to him.

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Raymond Overman

>The stock answer to the "how long" question should be "Too long to be charging as little as I do" in my case.

As for Mike and his oil lamps, you better start putting a disclaimer on the things. Next thing you know, one of them you sell will go up in a flash and they'll be coming after you.

I wonder if I should carry liability insurance in case someone sticks one of my pens in his eye and claims there wasn't any warning saying, "If this is stuck in your eye, it might put your eye out."

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Richard Allen

>Hi Mike

A lot of people like to put use to everything except fine art.

David Ellsworth calls his hollow forms "pots". Hard to get more utility than a pot.

Thanks

Richard

How Do You Get Salad In That Little Hole?

David Propst

>

as someone suggested...

Mike Schwing from Md.

>I show them this, and say this is what happens to them when you use them as candles....

I give you --- the devil's bowling ball....

Re: No more hollow forms for me *LINK*

Paul Porter

>...and don't you just hate it when they ask if they can put dried flowers in it. I ask back if you would put anything in a vessel you paid $500 for.

--Paul


My Website.

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Arch

>Mike, excepting that infamous 'one last cut', the most unkindest cut of all is when my own wife asks "what is it?" I enjoy a good dinner so I never make a smart-ass retort. I'm an expert at making $10 drop spindles out of $150 hollow forms, so sharp retorts are seldom necessary. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch

Stick a candle in it....

Phil Joines Krum, Texas

>and move the decimal point one place to the right :>)

Re: No more hollow forms for me

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Heh, heh! My wife used to occasionally ask "what the hell is that?" upon seeing something new emerge from the basement. I'd respond with something like "a car payment", or "pearl earrings", or "DirecTV for a year". She used to not believe me, but then when my stuff began selling, she stopped asking the question. It was pretty funny to me, as I knew the stuff I was making, while a bit off the wall, would find an audience, and she totally didn't believe me. She now does.