joy pope alandete on mon 29 sep 97
>Hello everyone.
Your opinion is needed...
I'm a production potter apprenticing in the Northeast U.S. The potter with
whom I am currently associated has been a production potter for many years
and makes a good living selling exclusively at craft shows and a
renaissance fair here in the DC area.
The only potters I know personally live here in the East. My wife,
however, is a University of Oregon graduate and her heart is in the
Northwest. And I certainly don't want a heartless wife so we're strongly
considering an eventual move out west.
The problem is this: everyone I talk to says it is very difficult to make
a living in the Northwest. Why? Is it solely a matter of
population/differences in income? Or, is it just an ugly rumor?
thanks for your help
Miguel
Pennsylvania -- where the Canada Geese are fattening themselves...
joanna on tue 30 sep 97
joy pope alandete wrote:
> The problem is this: everyone I talk to says it is very difficult to
> a living in the Northwest. Why? Is it solely a matter of
> population/differences in income? Or, is it just an ugly rumor?
>
i don't know about the rest of the pac northwest, but i can assure you
that finding work in the eugene area is one ugly thing. lots of
competetion, low pay, etc. part of the problem is that it is sooo great
to live here, and no one wants to leave.
however, i know several potters who make their living selling their
wares, so i know it can be done.
if you guys have your hearts set on coming out, have a buncha bucks in
the bank to tide you over, try and take an extended trip out here to
check out the possibilities, visit the state employment service pages on
the internet (i've got site addresses for oregon and washington should
you desire them), and pay close attention to all the other input you'll
get from clayarters.
good luck!
joanna in eugene, oregon where autumn is teasing us with cool nites and
foggy mornings, but where the days are still heartbreakingly beautiful.
--
joanna deFelice
prepress@cyberis.net
Robert Speirs, M.D. 12 4450 on tue 30 sep 97
Hi Miguel. Living in the Northwest (Portland, OR) is about as close to
heaven as I can ask for. It is soooo beautiful and the people are
really nice. It is also OVERRUN with potters. I have always heard that
pottery sells for quite a bit more in the east. I just assumed that
there must be less potters there (who knows?). I think you can make it
as a potter here, but it isn't easy. I, myself, would weigh all aspects
of living here with the difficulty of making a living as a potter. Cost
of living is reasonable in my area except for housing, which is very
costly on a nationwide standard. Of course, there are plenty of places
to live out here outside of cities where you can surely live for less
than in the east! I moved here from New York City and couldn't believe
how cheap things were here and still marvel at all the "deals" I can
get.
Best of luck in your decision.
Laura in Oregon
Wendy Rosen on wed 1 oct 97
Perhaps thats why more than 70% of our BMAC Philly exhibitors come from
OUTSIDE of the Northeast!
70% of our shop and gallery owners are FROM the Northeast!
45% of our February exhibitors live WEST of the Mississippi!
Wholesaling their work makes alot of sense when they live in a low cost of
living/low pay scale area of the country. As an artis,t you can compete
effectively with artists living in high rent/high paying areas...
your apprentices are more likely to be more loyal and more affordable.
Artists are welcome to visit our Philadelphia show February 14-17, 1998 to
see the market in "action". We have herds of art students from as far away
as Canada attending as well. Internships are available to emerging
artists, recent graduates and grad students needing the "experience of
working with professional clay artist to learn how to negotiate with shops
and galleries"...
Wendy Rosen
410/889-2933
wendyr@rosengrp.com
americanstyle.com
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>joy pope alandete wrote:
>> The problem is this: everyone I talk to says it is very
>>difficult to
>> a living in the Northwest. Why? Is it solely a matter of
>> population/differences in income? Or, is it just an ugly rumor?
>>
>i don't know about the rest of the pac northwest, but i can assure you
>that finding work in the eugene area is one ugly thing. lots of
>competetion, low pay, etc. part of the problem is that it is sooo great
>to live here, and no one wants to leave.
Wendy Rosen
The Rosen Group
Niche Magazine
AmericanStyle Magazine
americanstyle.com
3000 Chestnut Ave #304
Baltimore, MD 21211
410/889-3093
VICTOR JOHNSTON on wed 1 oct 97
I don't know aabout pottery, itself, but I have sjpoken with a
number of very successful artist here, in Utah. They all agree
that you can be a successful artist and live here as long as your
customers don't (i.e. you have a way to sell the majority of your
work outside the state).
I don't know if it is because of the conservative nature or what but
people here are slow to pay real value for art. I am always told
how wonderful and beautiful my work is, but if they have to pay for
it, they don't want it.
The upside to this is that I don't have to deal with much sales tax
issues.
Vic - in Ogden, where the reds and yellows are starting to come
out strong on the mountains. Guess its almost fall
kinoko@junction.net on wed 1 oct 97
Dear Miguel, The problem is not making a living but: What level can you
accept? In the US I had no difficulty making a moderate living by
potting,lecturing at local schools.Teaching classes,etc. IMHO, Settled
communities often have much more loose cash to spend. These you find in the
Eastern section of the US>as well as the population centres of Canada. Much
of the Western areas consist of younger couples or retire
persons.....paying-off huge mortgages, very insecure about thier livlihood.
They have little loose cash to spend on hnad-made pots. Again: making a
lving depends upon your personal demands. Don
M.----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Hello everyone.
>
> Your opinion is needed...
>
> I'm a production potter apprenticing in the Northeast U.S. The
potter with
>whom I am currently associated has been a production potter for many years
>and makes a good living selling exclusively at craft shows and a
>renaissance fair here in the DC area.
>
> The only potters I know personally live here in the East. My wife,
>however, is a University of Oregon graduate and her heart is in the
>Northwest. And I certainly don't want a heartless wife so we're strongly
>considering an eventual move out west.
>
> The problem is this: everyone I talk to says it is very difficult
to make
>a living in the Northwest. Why? Is it solely a matter of
>population/differences in income? Or, is it just an ugly rumor?
>
>thanks for your help
>
>Miguel
>Pennsylvania -- where the Canada Geese are fattening themselves...
>
>
*****************************************
*****************************************
** Don and Isao Morrill **
** Falkland, B.C. **
** kinoko@junction.net **
*****************************************
*****************************************
Roxanne Hunnicutt on thu 2 oct 97
Is it solely a matter of population/differences in income? Or, is
it just an ugly rumor?
thanks for your help
Miguel
Pennsylvania -- where the Canada Geese are fattening
themselves...
Well, I'd guess that it is a difference of expendable income,
educational levels and such. I imagine that a US census would
tell all! It is a very good question that I hope to hear more on!
Roxanne in Grants Pass, near Wonder, OR, where it has been
unseasonably hot but today was overcast, partially by smoke
from slash burning. (This is a local rite of fall that the loggers
irreverently persist in, though potters definitely could put the
wood to better use!)
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