Second, all Courses NOW have the patterns applied to the lesson boards so you're ready to go! Essentials Course, Deliberate Practice, Rosette Carving and Letters and Numbers Course!

 

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Tip #3 Put yourself out there 

 

Let’s say you’re working hard at developing your skill (Tip #5) by completing the Course work at MyChipCarving.com, taking an in-person class from a solid and helpful teacher and regularly doing Deliberate Practice.

 

Your chip carvings are looking better than ever and your confidence level is hitting all time highs.

 

Also, you’ve given some serious thought about a unique niche that would set you apart from the crowd with your chip carving (Tip #4). You think your idea has legs and you’ve already gotten positive feedback from those close to you as well as those you don’t know very well who are not shy about telling you what they really think about something. 

 

So far so good! Congratulations. 

 

Now it’s time to Put Yourself Out There, Tip #3.

 

Break out from your usual carving circles and make yourself visible to others you’ve not interacted with before. Your developed skill and unique niche won’t take you far if you don’t expand your circles and stretch your boundaries. Here are a few ways to Put Yourself Out There.

 

Enter a Show / Competition:

Becoming active in the nearest carving club should lead you to entering your work in the nearest carving show. Depending on your skill and length of carving will determine the level your work will be judged. Always enter the highest level possible! If you’re confident you can get a blue ribbon at the intermediate level, try to enter the advanced level! 

 

The only way to improve is to compete against someone who is better than you!

 

When I was a beginner tennis player, 14 years old I suppose, someone thought it a good idea that I enter a summer youth tennis tournament. I entered the Whitefish Bay Tennis Tournament as my first real competition. Whitefish Bay is a wealthy suburban area north of Milwaukee. It was known for tennis and generated a lot of good players. My first round match was against a small Jewish boy who had to be a head shorter than me. His small stature gave me a bit of confidence when it shouldn’t have. He’d clearly played tournaments before and took care of me quickly. I lost 6-0, 6-1.

 

At the time I thought it was a waste of a summer day and entry fee (that my parent’s paid). But in actuality it gave me a clearer perspective on what I’d need to do if I wanted to be a competitor in tennis. I had to practice and compete against players who were better than me knowing that I’d never improve by competing against equal peers.

 

So Put Yourself Out There and compete against carvers who are better than you!

 

Submit an Article:

Consider photographing some of your work and writing an interesting article about how you got to this point with your carving and what it takes to complete a carving. There are plenty of places to submit your work. Search online for the editor of a local business magazine, Chip Chats or Woodcarving Illustrated. Woodworking Blogs are hosting places to pursue. If there is a local newspaper still available in your area, by all means contact the editor.

Post on Social Media:

Get over your fear or hatred of social media and create one post today, another tomorrow, and so on. Set a goal for yourself. Maybe 3 posts / week or 10 posts / month. Set your calendar as a reminder. Anytime you get feedback or questions, always reply. Did you know that when you post on Instagram you can have it automatically posted to Facebook? Don’t forget Pinterest. 

 

Get a table at your local craft fair:

Craft fairs can be an affordable way to dip your toe in the water when it comes to Putting Yourself Out There. They’re often not expensive and very low key. This allows you to get the feel for showing your work and selling if you like (more on selling in Tip #2). Avoid the large craft / art fairs when first starting because they are very expensive and if you are unfamiliar with exhibiting you can find yourself in a financial hole very quickly. 

Submit an application for: 

Art Walks - my chip carved sculpture never would have been accepted if I hadn’t applied! I became familiar with it by signing up on the mailing list of the local Art Foundation/Group and going to a few of their events.

Gallery showings - as your confidence in your work increases, you have to take a risk and see what happens. Find out how to submit a  proposal to a gallery you’re familiar with and has shown work you feel on par with. You’ll need a virtual portfolio along with other personal work information to create a solid submission. Consider also approaching your local bank that you’ve done business with for umpteen years and see if they would display your pieces. Be prepared with your virtual and physical pieces to show the decision maker and give it a go! You’ll never know until you try!

 

And always remember - don’t take criticism personally.