Pottery/Prices

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Expert: Ric Swenson - 11/3/2009


Question
Ric,
I am a hobby potter who has finally gotten good enough not to be embarassed to give her creatoins away as gifts! I also have a few pieces at a store in my small town but they don't seem to be selling well. It may be that the people coming in there are not looking for pottery (it is acutally a furniture store)maybe I have them priced too high (the store takes 50 percent commision) or maybe they just aren't that good! Howerver, I did a home show last year and sold quite a few things. Not much profit though after it was all said and done. I am wondering if there is a "magic formula" for pricing things. I am an average potter as far as finished products looking professional but I am still fairly slow (making 6 mugs in an hour is pretty good for me) so an hourly rate of my time, firing time etc. doesn't make sense. but you can't discount the time it takes to add handles, lids embelishments... For example a vase should cost less than a lidded jar or mug of similar size because it is less work... I don't want to cheat myself or my clients. If you have any insights it would be appreciated.

Answer
do some research...go to some craft galleries and poke around for similar works to yours...check out the prices...ask the gallery owner about % commission/pricing/what selling?/what's not selling?

Most potters try to figure their costs for materials and firing/glaze/gas/electric... and pay themselves 10-20$ per hour for their time...tough to keep track of exactly ...but estimates will help...

this is a topic on

clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

or try

www.potterybasics.com


Hope this helps.


Ric  

Pottery

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Ric Swenson

Expertise

For nearly 40 years I have been involved with pottery. I specialize in wheelthrown pottery, but spent 12 years as Plant Manager of Bennington Potters, Inc. where I learned all about RAM pressing, slip casting, jiggering, OSHA regulations regarding clay manufacture, safety, etc. I have specific knowledge in forming techniques, texturing clay, clay bodies, glazes and application techniques, as well as firing and kiln building. I do not have knowledge of the values of ceramic works of the past.

Experience

I have taught ceramics and art history at the high school and college level in Anchorage, AK (UAA) and Bennington, VT.for 12 years. I ran Bennington Potters, Inc. for 12 years 1982-94. I was manager of Fine Art Tile Co.,San Antonio, TX for several years and taught Pottery classes in Atlanta, GA. at Elements (Kickwheel Pottery Supply), Currently in JingDeZhen , P.R. China, teaching Ceramics and Oral English.

Organizations
American Ceramic Society (Chair of Design Div. 1985-7) Current member of Tucker Arts Guild, Tucker, GA.

Publications
CERAMICS MONTHLY, AMERICAN CRAFT, CERAMIC VISION, (China)

Education/Credentials
BFA, Drawing and Painting, Pacific Lutheran Univ., Tacoma, WA. 1970 with certification to teach Art K-12.
MFA, Ceramics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. 1976

Awards and Honors
One Man Show of Pottery, Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum.
Alaska Art Bank Collection, Collection U. of Puget Sound, JingDeZhen Ceramics Institute, China.
Over 70 juried entries in State and Regional art shows over 30 years. Solo exhibition, 2006, The Pottery Workshop, JingDeZhen, China. Exhibitor and Conference participant, Wu Yi Shan Univ. China 2007. Exhibitor at Jingdezhen Ceramic Fairs 2007-2009. Collection of the City of Jingdezhen Ceramic Museum.

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