Please check out www.haroldoconnor.com, who does not do production,
only does one of a kind pieces, has pieces in many jewelry books, is
in major museums and galleries and exhibitions all over the world.
He makes his own pieces, does all his own work, no assistants. He
occasionally teaches workshops. Gallery artists Jeff and Susan Wise
do all one of a kind pieces, they collaborate and have help
producing, Gallery artist Todd Reed does all one of a kind pieces,
has help producing his work. Figuring out how to make what you want
to make and how to make it is as much of a part your art as the
production of your work. There is a front end and a back end. Making
it is the front end, marketing it is the back end. Some people do
shows until they have enough galleries to keep them busy. Some people
only wholesale to galleries. Some do retail to the public, and
wholesale to galleries. Some are school teachers that show in
galleries. I started washing dishes in a restaurant to be able to
support my passion, thirty years ago. Now I have a retail store, for
14 years, and my wife and I support ourselves, not rich, no
retirement fund…and I will never regret my choice as my heart has
been happiest doing what I have done.
Richard Hart