So, I just spent 9 weeks on the "big tile" project, referred to in a previous post.
I have discovered what most ceramics artists have long known: custom orders are NEVER WORTH IT.
There, I said it.
Whitney gave me great advice when a consulting firm hit me up for 1000 pieces about a year ago, she told me to charge what would make it worth it to me. That specific project would have taken me and 2 or 3 studio minions away from everything for 6 months or more,and I would have had to invest in more equipment, so I gave them a pretty crazy quote. They declined to even negotiate, and then ordered a small and very manageable amount of Urchin Bowls, which was fine with me!!!!!
The Big Tile project had some flaws, some were my fault, some were the fault of the agency. They wanted three tiles, but wanted to only pay for one up front to see if they liked it. I suggested that I send them a 9" tile and they could visualize the larger tile, they could then decide definitively if they wanted to proceed with an order for all 3 tiles. I should have been more firm, my price should have been triple what I quoted, and they should have listened to what I said. I ended up making 3 molds and 5 tiles out of 2 clay bodies.
The tile arrived to their office damaged, I ended up having to fork over a few bucks, and if they call me for the other 2 tiles, I am telling them to shove it.
The next time someone requests a custom order, my lead time will be at least 4-6 months, and the price will be well above the original number that pops into my head.
I am learning, and I guess its a process all artists must go through. Making something to satisfy someone else's vision kind of sucks, to put it plainly, and when dealing with ceramics, it is a major technical pain in the ass.
10 comments:
Heather,
I agree with you 100%! We should get credit for coming up with only our OWN vision,instead of trying to accomodate someone else's direction of OUR style. I find that most people who want custom work have VERY little understanding of the rigors of our medium.
I totally feel your pain! I had a request for a donation to the rape crisis center auction which I was happy to do, but I promised a large bowl/platter and I made three,two cracked and one had a miserable glaze. I have never had a bowl crack on me before, but I felt rushed for a deadline and didn't slow down enough in the process. Crap! and I didn't make a dime for all this hassle. Hope someone enjoys the one I finally got to them! It's truly all lessons, isn't it?
Ahh the bitter taste a custom order leaves in the mouth and in the pocket book. So sorry to hear it didn't go as planned...
o agreed, i do not prefer custom orders, i never love being told what to do and they always take longer and problems occur. that tile is amazing though heather, whoa it's big. i can imagine it being very cool once it's installed.
My husband and I are also Ceramic Artists and Grr to custom made. At least we can learn from bad experiences :)
Heather,
How large is that tile in the kiln? The kiln looks like a 23" or maybe 28".
We we're working on a large tile project making a 12 x 18 inch tile of varying thicknesses that kept breaking either during bisque or glaze firing.
BTW all we do is custom work.
The tile was 18"
Bless you for only doing custom work..... I just don' have it in me.
Heather,
Thanks for responding!
Those tiles are truly beautiful. I love the urchin cups with the green or celadon inside too.
Did you have any problems with the 18" tiles cracking?
Did you throw the tile you applied the spikes onto or roll it with a slab roller?
The tiles did not crack, I attached stiff slab braces in an "H" shape on the underside, which prevented warping and cracking. I slab build most of my forms. I got this idea from Kathy Triplett.
The biggest problem was getting them into the kiln, I did have to reattach some spikes after the firing.
I get so frustrated when customers are like WHAT?! THAT'S SO EXPENSIVE. It's like they say all this crap about supporting handmade, but they don't want to recognize the costs.
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