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Frequently Asked Questions I’m interested in part time income as well as an outlet for my creativity. How soon can I begin making money with Metal Sculpture? I just want to do this as a hobby. All I want is some extra retirement income. Will this work for me? Can I turn this into a full time income? Can I get rich doing metal sculpture? What type of space do I need for my work area? What does it cost to get started? How long does it take to finish a piece? What are some of the down sides to making a living doing metal sculpture? What are the benefits of working at home? Where do I get the tools and materials? I saw somewhere that you include how to make some of the tools. Which Video should I start with? If you have any other questions, email me at: ggoehl@sbcglobal.net The videos are in a step by step format, so that you can view the video once from start to finish, then gather up what you need, replay the video and repeat each step that I do. It's the closest thing to you and I working side by side in my shop. Be sure to check out the "more photos" for each video. These will give you a good indication of what's included in the video. DVD videos are $39.95 (includes priority mail) I’m interested in part time income as well as an outlet for my creativity. Once you have can do some of the basic designs you can start selling your work at local craft fairs and festivals, selling on Ebay or putting your work out on consignment. This is entirely dependent on how much time and effort you are willing to expend. How soon can I begin making money with Metal Sculpture? Just as soon as you have something to sell! If you finished some pieces today you could put them on Ebay tonight and possibly be selling them tomorrow. That fast! Next you want to look into consignment, exhibiting at Arts and Craft Shows and having your own web site. You don't have to do all of these, but try at least a couple. The more exposure you can get the better. I just want to do this as a hobby. This is how I started – as a hobby. But it eventually turned into a moneymaking business. This often happens, a person finds something that they genuinely enjoy doing and all of a sudden people want to buy their work. All I want is some extra retirement income. Will this work for me? Several of the people who have taken my classes are now retired and have been doing shows, entering art exhibits and selling their work. So, yes, this is an excellent way to add extra income. Can I turn this into a full time income? The best answer here is that I have done it for over thirty years. So, yes it can become a full time income. The basic elements are good quality work, pricing the work at a reasonable level, and finding the outlets to sell your work. Can I get rich doing metal sculpture? I doubt it! Although you can make a very livable income. To me one of the most important aspects is "life style". I am not encumbered with corporate or office politics. I set my own schedule. I only answer to myself. I am able to take the time to pursue my other interests such as hiking, kayaking, photography and landscaping to name just a few. Life runs along at whatever pace I choose. The key point is that I get to choose. What type of space do I need for my work area? I started out working on the patio. When cold weather came I bought a metal lawn shed. Then I moved and did my work in a basement. Next move had a garage. For the past 26 years I have been working in a 24’ X 24’ barn. Bottom line answer to this question is that “you make do with what you have”. What does it cost to get started? A torch set, tanks and a metal top table should be less than $750.00 and that is probably on the high side. (To put this in perspective - it costs less than a good flat screen TV.) This is figuring that you already have a few basic hand tools like pliers, hammer, needle nose pliers etc. Material costs are relatively minor. Most of the price that I charge for sculptures is for the time spent making the piece or pieces. In general I would estimate that my material costs are about 10% of the selling price if not less. How long does it take to finish a piece? This is obviously dependent on the piece. The first time you do a piece it will take more time that you had anticipated. Once you know how to make a piece it will take far less time. Soon you will be working in "multiples", for example with plant butterflies, you may do a dozen at a time. This means doing all the cutting at one time, then making a dozen antennas and so forth. This will greatly reduce the time factor. What are some of the down sides to making a living doing metal sculpture? The only down side to doing this full time is health insurance. But, health insurance has become a problem for everyone whether self employed or working for someone who provides partial coverage. What are the benefits of working at home? Working at home is amazingly cheap! Last years jeans become this years work jeans. No travel time or expense, I work a hundred feet from my house. I set my own schedule. No expensive lunches out; I can fix my own lunch for a fifth of what a restaurant lunch and tip costs. I like to kayak on a lake near here. The lake is always busy on the weekends so I can go through the week when there are few other people about. Workplace pressures are frequently in the news. For me, the only pressure that I ever feel is what I place on myself. One element that I appreciate is that I have control over my income. I am not worried about being laid off or forced out. Income is based solely on what I produce. I can adjust my income. Let’s say that one part of my business falls off, I can find another avenue for income. If mail order drops off I can expand the wholesale part of my business or add another arts and craft show. I've always believed in investing in myself whether it is tools, equipment or materials. I didn't lose any money when the internet bubble burst or the housing market went down the tubes.. Investing in myself has kept me in control of my finances and future. Investing in yourself whether it is education, tools and equipment or what ever will help you reach your potential, is a good solid investment. As a self employed artist / craftsman I can't look forward to a company pension. When I left the corporate world I gave up the option for the freedom that I've enjoyed all these years. Today many pension funds are not able to fulfill their obligations and some people's pensions are either reduced or worthless. Many were working in jobs that they didn't like but hung on for the pension. No! You have to be a self starter. Have some patience when things don't go just they way you want. A degree of self confidence along with a touch of humility. Keeping in mind that tomorrow is going to be just like today unless you do something different. So always, be open to "try another way". I saw somewhere that you include how to make some of the tools. Compared to some of the arts and crafts, you just can't walk into a store and say, "give me a metal sculpture kit". Some tools have to be made. Through the years I have come up with a number of tools to "get the job done". In general, these are very simple to make, but become essential. I guess the basic thing is, "how do I create what I see in my mind". Well, sometimes you just have to get inventive and I'm pleased to be able to share whatever I've developed along the way. A definite NO! Some of my best students have been women. One woman in particular went on to have here own Metal Sculpture Shop (retail shop) and did many arts and craft shows. She took the designs that I taught her and over time added to them and started coming up with her own designs. I was truly envious of some here designs. Where do I get the tools and materials? For this I would strongly suggest the video “Getting Started with Metal Sculpture”. Most anything you'll want to know is in this video. Many people have told me that this is a very complete introduction to tools and materials for metal sculpture. I felt that way when I produced the video, but it's reassuring to hear other people confirm this.. The chapter on Tools and the chapter on materials will get you started. Which Video should I start with? "Getting Started with Metal Sculpture shows you what basic tools you'll need and then shows many other tools that you may want to add later. This video will save you money because you will not be buying tools that you don't need. "Brazing with the Oxygen Acetylene Torch" is a very complete and far more than just an introduction. A number of "Tips & Tricks", that will speed you on your way to successfully doing metal sculpture. Next I would add "Making Copper Butterflies" and "Making Magic Wands" Both Butterflies and Wands are easy to make and easy material availability. Plus, both of these are very good sellers. "Making Golf Sculptures" is a bit more complicated. Although, the materials are readily available. A large sculpture is nothing more than a lot of little sculptures joined together. The difference between doing small sculptures and large sculptures is size. You need a bit more room on your welding table and you need more materials. If you can make one maple leaf you can do a large maple leaf spray.
It's just a matter of making a number of leaves an attaching them to a wire frame. In the video on Maple Leaf Sculptures I go step by step and resulting in the spray you see in the above photo. Just keep in mind that large sculptures are made up of a number of small sculptures. To go from the table cattails to the larger wall cattails is basically enlarging the idea. Or as some would say a " variation on a theme".
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