Helping the Next Generation

Yesterday, I found in my messages area of Facebook, a message from a young woman. She lives in Cornwall and is at the university there studying Silversmithing and Jewellery. She was asking me to fill out a questionnaire for one of her classes.   My response was OF COURSE I WOULD.  

I did think it was cool that she was asking me. I don't know who else was asked but hey, if someone from the other side of the pond wants to ask me questions about I started, who am I to argue. Plus I find it interesting that part of a class has the students asking other silversmiths or any artist some questions to how others got started. 

I won't share my responses, I think you can figure them out yourself - especially if your read this blog. But I thought you would like to see the questions asked. 

FdA Silversmithing and Jewellery  - Work based Learning module.
Questions for the Craftsman 
Education

• How do you start? what was your education?
• How did your education fit you for a career in the industry?

• What was missing?

• Do you still do any courses?

Starting up

• How did you start?

• What kind of finance did you have? 
• Did you receive any help? (grants etc)

Working Practice

• What kind of workshop do you have?
• What specialist equipment do you use? 

• Do you recommend a certain piece of equipment? 
• What does your typical working day involve? 

Their work

• What (if any) special techniques do you employ?
• Do you subcontract out any technical work? (casting, stone setting, plating) 

• How do you catalogue your work?
• How do you photograph your work?

• What kind of personal advertising do you have?(leaflets, post cards, web presence)

Selling

• How have you worked out the costs for pricing your work?
• How do you sell your work?
• Do you work to commission?

• If so how do you conduct the commission process?
• Do you exhibit?
• Where do you exhibit?
• How did you get into the gallery, craft fair etc

Advice

• What advice do you have for someone starting out.