I have a good buddy who has been potting for several years. The first time he put a piece in a show, he really didn’t want to part with it, so he put some outrageous price on it - something like $60. Needless to say, he was shocked when it was snapped up without questions, and was asked if he had more.
His work is strictly non-utile. You have to realize that if you are making “useful objects” instead of “art”, in a way you are going to be competing against Walmart. Unless your technique and glaze are spectacular, it can be tough to get someone to pay $10 or more for an earthenware mug or vase, when they can get something similar elsewhere for far less.
The main thing is to continue doing what you enjoy, instead of for hopes of gain. If any gain comes, well, that’s just an added benefit.
I’ve been told by experienced stained glass artists that I should charge material plus 1/4-1/3, and not add anything for my time. The thought is you’re doing something you love to do, and would probable do anyway.
All have said, that after I’ve been at it a while and am doing it like a job, I can start including something for my time.
Potting may be different.
BTW, I love the little bowl you sent. I keep polished rocks in it on my book shelf.
So this is going to be the first craft show in the area - a remote area - where booths only cost $30?
I think that you should charge slightly higher than what your confidence level is because I am gonna bet that there won’t be other “pros” selling pottery there. If you go to bigger shows with other potters yeah maybe you need to price more competitively.
You might think it’s crap but you have to put it out there like it’s not crap and sell it like it’s not crap. Make yourself the “pottery lady” in your neck of the woods and people will flock to get this exclusive product made by The Pottery Lady Of BFE.
Here are my guesses on what people might pay for your wares :
Mugs - 5 to 8
Mid-size bowls - 8 to 12
Big stuff - 15 to 30 $
I definitely think you could sell some things, I would buy them! I think your votive holders are especially nice.
Constructive criticism from me, a lousy potter (better handbuilder) :
You’re not doing bad for a relative beginner. Nice shapes and colors, not too heavy and clunky.
That said, your handles need work, you need to learn how to pull handles that are flatter and more stylized.
The bases of your pieces don’t look like they are very well trimmed, they could be finished to make them prettier.
There are good how-to’s here: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_clay/0,2024,DIY_13750,00.html
Wow, they show about every trick in the book!
These little things will really help to make your work look more “professional” and help you sell more stuff.
FCM- In going through the pics I recall a large shallow bowl, yes? I keep seeing this on either in one of those 12"x12" clear plastic cubes sitting on a white lacy doily or mounted in a shadow box type thing, maybe with small dried flowers of sea oats or some such.
Just a thought.
FCM, my one suggestion is for your “don’t know what to call it” piece, with essentially a smaller bowl inside a larger one - looks like a chip/dip or veggies/dip plate to me!
Zipper, I live in Southern Maryland, far away from, well, just about everything. And we share the county with a large Amish population, so there’s a lot of crafts around here, but I have to travel to Annapolis to take my class - it’s the closest place. I suppose it’s better to be called The Pottery Lady than That Crazy Nutcase Who Plays With Clay…
Snowcarpet, thanks for the link! My base trimming is pretty simple - it’s how I was taught. Some of them may look bad because of the glaze. I forgot to buy wax, so I tried to glaze without it - bad idea… And I struggle with handles, as is obvious. It’s one of the things I plan to talk to my teacher about in the next session. So much to learn!!
mlerose, unfortunately, that piece is waaaaay to small for chip/dip unless the chips are the broken little pieces at the bottom of the bag. Really, it’s just something I was screwing around with and when I got done, I thought, well, that’s something. Yeah, I’m pretty discriminating, huh?
Incidentally, to those of you who are trying to spare my feelings: I do appreciate your consideration, but I’m aware that I’m not a great potter. Sometimes I’m a good potter, mostly I’m a so-so potter, and sometimes I really suck. Now, you don’t have to be brutally honest and detail my suckitude, but if there are specifics that you would care to point out, I would appreciate your input.
I promise not to cry! But I do need to get a feeling for what appeals to people and what doesn’t. I’ve found that I’m not typical of any demographic, so my judgement is marginal at best. Please, be frank. If you’re not stern, I’ll never learn.
For ME - and this is ME speaking. Me me me and only me. (Me.) My taste is not worth a plug nickel I’ve been told.
In order of how they were on the website:
[ul]The blue with black stripe candy dish/bowl - I really, really liked that. I’d buy it.[/ul]
[ul]The pitcher and spouted pot that someone changed on you - those two would make a cool creamer and sugar bowl - if you had like four mugs in the same color, they could be a set.[/ul]
[ul]The big bowl that had the design that wore off - I’d buy that too.[/ul]
[ul]The Not Sure What To Call It that someone else said “dip and chips” - that would go really good in my bathroom with potpourri in it, or cotton balls and qtips - something like that.[/ul]
[ul]The bronze man and parrot - I loved those. I’d pay $20 for the two of them but I shouldn’t say that because $20 could be an insult and I have no experience in buying fine art, or any art for that matter.[/ul]
[ul]The blue bowl and elongated dish - the elongated dish is my favorite of all of them, - it’s just beautiful. [/ul]
The Not Sure What to Call It is obviously a dip or salad dressing bowl for outside parties. Put a creamy ranch or dill dip in the center with a gravy spoon resting in the spout so people can ladle themselved some dip, and place crushed ice in the outer ring to keep it nice and chilled in the sun!
(I’d actually really like it. Let me know if it doesn’t sell. I’d throw down $10+shipping for it.)
You could also put two different kinds of nuts in the “not sure what to call it” dish, though I like the potpourri/cotton balls/qtips idea, too. It’s a cool piece.
I need to find me a pottery class. I took two classes several years ago and loved them.
You, my dear, are a genius!!! You figured it out for me! Now I can make more of them and know how to describe them. Thank you!
**Missy ** - I was really pleased with how the man came out. I’m definitely going to do more of those. They’re pretty labor-intensive, putting all the parts on, but he’s definitely my favorite of the batch. And I do appreciate your opinions - thanks!
**monstro ** - I was ready to quit after my second session. I was very frustrated and discouraged because nothing seemed to go as I wanted. But being cheap and having paid for the 8-week class, I was going to stick it out. By the end, I realized that I really liked doing it and thanks to Tina, my most wonderful teacher, I felt like maybe I could actually learn to make decent stuff. And I’m getting there. Like anything, it takes practice. I’m so glad I stuck with it.
But of course! You’re welcome. I knew it because I spend a lot of time finding dishes that fit inside of other dishes for just that reason. I do a LOT of potlucks!
Oh, the other thing I was going to say is to forget about trying to figure out what people want. You’ll always be wrong. Well, not always. It takes about 4 or 5 years to get a really solid idea for what sells and what doesn’t, and even then you’ll misjudge the occasional fad. In the meantime, just keep making what makes you happy, and keep good notes at your fairs of what sells. But don’t make 2 dozen blue whatsits for your second show because you sold out your 3 at your first show. You may sell none at the second show. It’s all about moving stock consistently over time. And don’t listen to what people *say *they want. They’re wrong. Seriously, I’ve lost more money making things people asked for and never actually buy than I have just making what I feel like. There’s almost more of an art and intuition to predicting what is marketable than it is a science.
But I do need to get a feeling for what appeals to people and what doesn’t. I’ve found that I’m not typical of any demographic, so my judgement is marginal at best. Please, be frank. If you’re not stern, I’ll never learn. 
