Is it possible to make money carving wood?

“Belief generates passion, and passion persuades”

Do you have time for it?

That's the first thing you need to do if you want to achieve any kind of actual progress. You must be unbiased and critical about your own abilities and skills and the time you have. Woodworking business of any type is not the easiest. It is labor-intense and especially if the only employee you have is you. A profitable woodworking business is difficult to run when you have to do everything yourself. Looking for client, do all bookkeeping and actually work on a project itself. That is why so many talented woodworkers could not survive in business. With wood carving, it is even harder. It takes much longer to carve than to build some furniture.

I was teaching in 2022 at Marc Adams School of woodworking, a woodcarving class. One student in a class was a professional furniture maker. His name is Joe. He is not just a furniture maker, but he likes to do a reproduction of 18th-century furniture. Joe showed me pictures of his work. He said ” This is not my woodworking project, it is a woodcarving project. his work was amazing. Beautiful period reproduction piece and it had a couple carve elements (embellishments). I asked, ” Why is it a carving project and not a woodworking project?” He replied, ” It took so long to carve and for me, it is easier to build a piece of furniture than carve. ” I looked one more time at the picture and could recognize a style of Mary May. I said, ” did you download a pattern from Mary May school site?” ” Yes,” he replied.

What he said is so True. Wood Carving takes a lot of time. Do You have patience for it? Even if you do, what about your client?

The patient person eventually receives everything he or she desires.

I had a project that I finished in 2022 : Venice Room. Student of my School of Wood Carving have a chance to watch the entire process. I started this project in 2019. It took me almost three years to carve. A lot of details were the same and boring for me.

Know what you're doing.

But you also have to know when you're not good enough. You can't sell beginner wood carving projects. I should take it back. You obviously could sell to people you know. They will buy it from you just because they respect you. But they can't keep buying forever. So if you are a beginner woodcarver, it is better to polish your skills first. Be honest with yourself.

If you think you're great at something, then you probably aren't as good as you think. If you think you suck at something, then you really suck. It's important to accept this truth.

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of being a newbie and thinking that everyone is impressed with your skills. But if you are not careful, it can be very easy to become discouraged when people don't seem to notice what you've done or how much you know.

The best way to deal with this situation is to remember that you have been doing this for years and that most people who are learning for the first time are just starting out. You should feel proud of yourself for having learned so much already!

If you're feeling down about your progress, try one of these tips:

* **Get feedback from others.** Ask someone who knows you well (a teacher, parent, friend) to give you honest feedback on your work. This person will tell you whether you are making good progress or need to change your approach.

They will also help you understand how to make the most of your time and resources so that you can get more done in less time.

You’ll know what to do next when you have a problem.

And they’ll be there for you when you need them.

In short, they’re your best friend.

Do you have anything really worthwhile to sell?

Are your motivations genuine, or are they just your family's ways to get you motivated? These questions may make people angry, but that's why they're there. 

I'm sure you've heard of the term “grassroots marketing.” It refers to any kind of marketing that is done by word-of-mouth advertising and other methods that rely on personal connections between customers and sellers. The idea behind this type of marketing is that it's more effective than traditional, mass media marketing because people are more likely to trust their friends or family members when they're making buying decisions.

The problem with grassroots marketing is that it takes a lot of time and effort for your business to build up enough goodwill to make an impact. Be very patient and willing to put in lots of work before you see some money in your pockets. Ask Yourself: Are you really Professional Carver? If Yes, then read on!

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of a professional carver is someone who has been carving for years and years. Someone with experience. But what does it mean to be a “professional” carver? Is it about how many years you've carved or how much money you make from your work? The answer is a resounding “no.” Being a professional carver is not about how long you've been carving or how much money you make. It's about your drive and passion. It's about your commitment to your art form. The love of your craft is what it's about.

If you love what you do, I encourage you to carve for the rest of your life. Let passion be your guide, and the money will follow.

“Belief generates passion, and passion persuades”

if you don't think you're ready to start a business yet, you might be better off waiting until you feel confident enough to take action. Practice, practice, practice! Then come back to this idea when you're feeling more prepared.

If you're good at something, then go for it! Do it! You are about to embark on a new journey.

Is it possible to profit from your work of wood carving?

Yes, you can make money with your art. It is not easy but there are ways to do so. You will have to be creative and think outside the box. Wood carving projects that sell are not easy to figure out but are still possible.

First, please understand that for most people your carving is just a piece of wood and they don't see the real value. So don't expect that everyone will buy it because you think it is a great piece of art.

You can sell your carvings at craft shows or online shops. If you want to go further, you can also create a business around your art. But start with just local fairs. I would not bring very high-end work to the fair. Maybe something small. like love spoons or jewelry boxes with carved ornaments. Those small projects are easy to make. They don't take too much time and people love them. You can ornate it with chip carving or even very ornate baroque style. If you whittle some caricature figures. It sells well also.

I was on vacation with my wife a few years ago in the Smoky Mountains. There are a lot of black bears. Does not matter what store you come you will always find some plastic bear figurines and none made out of wood. It would be so cool if some whittler with just a whittling knife would set up a small booth somewhere and carve in public. Visitors would buy it for sure. Those wood projects don't require power tools. One knife and a block of wood and you can make wooden bears and start making money right away. Almost no investment.

So, How much does it cost to start a woodcarving business? Almost with zero dollars.

Let me assure you, you can make more than a software engineer. Why did I say about software engineer? Because I have a student of my school who was a programmer and tired of it. He started to carve and make more than when he was working as a programmer. Obviously starting a woodworking business is not an overnight process. You still have to count on investing time and money. You will need good wood carving tools. Also Good wood for carving is really important. You really can't make projects that sell well from pallet wood. You will need to find a very good source for it. I am getting emails all the time with the question ” where can I get a good wood for wood carving”. As You probably know basswood and walnut are the best wood for carving. -Is it possible to make money carving wood?

Is wood carving a lucrative profession? Yes, it is.

Is it possible to gain a profit carving wood?

I can tell you from only my position or point of view. It is a profitable business in my case. I have a history of running multiple businesses. I had a finish carpentry business. I also used to be a Home builder. I had a Millwork company and let me tell you. I that if I will do just woodcarving I won't make any money. I was wrong. I am making a good profit by just digging wood with a chisel. The hardest part is to find customers who understand what they are getting. Once you will find the right clients you'll be able to build a profitable woodworking business. You have even no idea how much money you can make as a wood carver even with just a carving knife. It could become a full-time income source. for you.

Wood carving is a great way to earn money and it can be a very profitable career. There are many possibilities and opportunities when it comes to wood carving. You could start your own business, selling custom-made pieces or you could become an instructor and teach others how to carve. You could also look into working for a larger company, creating custom pieces for them or providing services such as re-carving damaged furniture. With the right tools and skills, you can easily turn your passion into profit by creating items such as decorative carvings, art sculptures, wooden toys, or even musical instruments. You could also find work in galleries or craft fairs where people are looking for unique and interesting pieces of art. With enough dedication and hard work, wood carving could be a very lucrative career choice for those with the right skills.

Is it possible to make money carving wood? YES!