I'm headed for my big show next week and I've decided to only accept work for straught house markers without offering carved images like this...
I also will not be accepting any commissions for my straight decorative work,(which I jokingly call my day job ) like this...
Im Fried!!!!!
This has been comming on for a few years. I've got the commissions but I can't find the energy or motivation to just sit down and do em.....they don't even take a long time.
The house marker biz has taken off and is very profitable. I have several sources waiting for POP displays and I'm going all HDU and laytex. All easy, quick and mindless work.
I guess I'm just tired after 30+ years of it. I haven't totally closed the door on it but as of right now, I'm done. I think part of my problem is that I work alone. Same scenery, same music, same same same.
I guess I feel a little guilty.....I've never quit on anything before. That is probly why I'm posting this in the first place.....just to tell the few friends that I have here what the deal is.
Like AJ says, "Maintain!" and Thanks!
Joe,
Makin Chips
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Naaaahhhhh, you're just bored like the rest of us. Myself, I get bored doing the second side of a double-faced sign. If you get a job as a greeter at Wal-Marx and you'll be back here within two weeks. No matter how good something is, it always gets stale now and then. Sounds like a Letterhead meet might just be the ticket to get you fired up again. Don't fight it; just follow your heart.
Posted by Shane Durnford (Member # 8125) on :
Nice work Joe, I especially like the deer.
I hear you, every day is the same slideshow just in a different order from day to day. Sounds like you need a vacation to reboot your drive. I had a friend who spent a week in Paris and came back fully charged and rested. He said every where he looked there was art. Sometimes the job gets too predictable as well, I usually throw my hat over the fence on a job that scares me a bit - gets the adrenaline going. I'm on a 300 hour job right now of tedious work, it's always the mind game that gets challenging.
Take a vacation, sounds like you need it and earned it.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
In my experience the secret to being energized is to exert and challenge yourself...
Take on projects that are outside of your comfort zone... more complex than ever.
I still do the other work but limit it and use the best project as a reward for accomplishing progress the lesser projects.
The minute we fall into a groove of our own making life becomes pretty boring.
A vacation (business/research trip) is always a good idea too!
Still having fun after 35 years in my shop in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I too get into that syndrome Joe but as Dan states I change my hat and challenge myself as often as I can. For the past few months I've been designing my home dwelling and all that goes with it while putting off engagements for the next gig except with my accounts. Its wild and hairy but the winter is coming and boredom is sure to follow if you've got nothing accomplished for your lifestyle.
If you need a vacation, there's always my place
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Joe, a vacation is one of the best ways to charge your battery. Most of my life all I could afford was a one week vacation and at the end of the week I looked forward to getting back to work. Love of your work is very important, and it seems to keep boredom away. Bill
Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
It's all good, Joe. I find VARIETY is what keeps it ALL fun. I don't even know how many pages I have on my website because I do so many different things and each kind has its own page.
Also, can you charge more for the the pictorials? If you could charge outrageously high enough prices and get them, maybe that would inject an air of excitement.
I suspect you know yourself well enough to know if a vacation can help and how much.
Shelley just suggested maybe you could become a "plein air carver" to change the scenery.
Posted by Patrick G. Smith (Member # 3707) on :
Hang in there Joe. Take that vacation or go to a letterhead meet. It does help. I've been a sign painter for 38 years.I understand 'burn out'. Maybe do some creative things around the house. Good luck. Patrick Smith
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Wow Joe! Sorry to hear that. DOn't you guys have any cliffs or rocky formations up there? Why don't you go grab one of them and start carving on that? Should take you awhile......and get you out of the rut for a bit.
That's after you get back from the vacation!
Posted by J & N Signs (Member # 901) on :
Remember the hug I gave you in Quebec City and everything will be better! Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
Joe, I'm sure you've heard of the blues guitarist BB King. He was one of my favorites back in the early '70's. Now my 22 year old son is into him. And I thought he was old when I saw him back then. Anyway, someone once asked him if he ever got tired of playing the blues. He said "Sure. Whenever that happens I just take a vacation for awhile. Then I go back to it." Seems like the thing to do. You've got too much talent to let it go.
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
It sounds like you need a complete change Joe. How about checking Ebay for a used plotter or heaven forbid a CNC router. Okay that wasn't even funny. signdog ducks as an exacto just misses his shoulder. Seriously though, it sounds like you need a rest and a change of scenery. Then take on some new challenges, maybe chainsaw carving or totem pole carving or stick boy or sumpfin. We all hit a wall once in a while. You'll never lose the skills you've developed, so take a break and see where life takes you. Go get'm Joe!
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Thanks a lot everyone!!!!!
I like the vacation idea a lot. I havn't had one of those in a lot of years now. I'll have to get a plan together for a decent one. In the meantime, I believe my idea to cut back and simplify will help in the short term. I'll try to get my weekends back to start with.
I do have ideas for new work that go back several years. It's pretty dynamic. Problem is, there is no problem except me. Like Dan, once the idea takes shape in your head, all ya have to do is do it. Skill wise, I challenge myself a lot and seem to handle it OK...
I have no interest in switching mediums or in getting a CNC or a plotter (Duncan....could you give me my Exacto back? ) Neither would change the core of my business. Carving time on these house markers is minimal so there is no labor savings with a CNC. This really isn't about that anyway.
Thanks again for the encouraging words and suggestions (Fergie.....what hug? )
I guess I'll have some answers after I see how this goes at the show..... I'm not flushing this down a toilet....I will be taking names and numbers for the custom work, but I won't be making any promises either.
Your response means a lot to me.
Thanks!!!!!
joe,
Makin Chips!
Posted by Rene Giroux (Member # 4980) on :
WOW Joe...... the coin looks so real !
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.
.
.
.
Sounds like you're ready for a little time off !
Aren't we all, hey, come down to Toronte on Sept. 26-27 at the CONSAC show, there's a bunch of heads lined up there and it's going to be a great time at the Great Canadian BeaverDam !
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Moving to carving HDU seems like part of the problem. Most anyone can do that, wheras learning the grains of some of the more difficult woods challenge the carver. What about carving some architectural pieces? Mantle pieces and column caps. One friend of mine carves broken elements as repairs for antique pianos. Stuff like that isn't as challenging to the imagination, but does challenge the skill level. Sometimes that is the vitamin needed to get one pumped again. Change is good though. I hope that you find the next challenge awaiting you and greet it cheerfully.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Joe, in addition to the vacation, sometimes the "mindless" work helps to clear the mind, at least for me.
I enjoy the creative stuff but constantly having to come up with something new is taxing. We took over an awning lettering business three years ago and it's been a blessing in several ways.
For one thing, there's steady work and income brought in by others, which helps the work flow and bottom line. Another thing I like is that the work is relatively mindless. I can do it without burning out both remaining neurons, which keeps them refreshed for the more interesting jobs.
The vacations and simpler jobs help me to keep the creative fires burning for the portfolio type work.
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