A Sale

On By Mick CanningIn Art, poetry, Wood Carving, writing

Wood carving of Crucifixion scene

I always have mixed feelings when I sell a piece of my artwork that I’m fond of. On the one hand, I’m delighted someone likes it enough to want to buy it, but part of me doesn’t want to let it go. After all, we make artworks primarily to please ourselves (or am I being naive?), and I was pleased with this when I finished it.

But, it was in the shop to sell, so I can’t really complain. And I’m resigned to it going, now. Indeed, it’s already been dispatched and I hope it will give pleasure in its new home. The purchaser appears to be an Italian priest, and so it should be in an appropriate setting.

My sharp-eyed viewer will have noticed I’ve posted a few book reviews but almost nothing about my own writing recently. It’s still rather hit and miss, but I’ve been working on a number of poems over the last few months which have gone quite well. Or so I think. But I’ve not put any of them up here on the blog this time and in case you’re wondering why that is, I’ve decided it’s high time I tried submitting some poems to magazines and journals and they’re not usually interested in work that has been previously published on blogs or social media.

This does mean buying a few books and magazines to find out whether my style would fit in with what the publisher likes, but that’s no bad thing. It means I’ve got even more poetry books to read!

33 thoughts on “A Sale”

  4. That’s a beautiful carving, Mick. Do you make many carvings? I can understand how difficult it must be to part with a work of art, something you’ve probably put your heart and soul into, but I’m pleased this has found a suitable home.

    It’s great that you’re considering publishing some of your poems. It’s a bit of a minefield out there, though, isn’t it? I will miss your poetry if you decide not to publish anymore here. I wish I had time (and the concentration) to read more, but it’s not my strong point, and I always seem so busy keeping up with my blog work and coursework.

    I’m vaguely thinking about having a book published with my poetry, but I hadn’t realised that you couldn’t have posted this work anywhere else. ALL my poems are published on WP, so I’ve no idea where that leaves me, although I do follow one blogger who has had his WP poems published in book form. Perhaps, it depends on the publisher. I can’t afford to pay a publisher (the cheapest quote I found was for £600 – way out of my league). I’m thinking of self-publishing anyway (with a bit of help – no idea where from yet!). My blog is the only place I share my poetry at the moment, and it’s been like that for nearly nine years (WP informed me the other day that I’ve been ‘flying’ with them for nine years). Mind you; I did take three years out in the middle of that time.

    Sorry for the long waffle! I hope you and your family are well. Take care.

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    1. Hi Ellie. Thank you, yes – it’s hard sometimes to sell something you’ve spent ages making, but there’s no room to keep everything anyway, and much of the point of making these things is for other people to enjoy. Once I’d packed the piece up, though, I felt better about it and was happy to send it off. If it’s enjoyed by the new owner, that’s great.

      I don’t carve at the moment. Again, it’s a case of having nowhere to work. And not much time to do so, either. I have decided I’d like to have a go again soon, though.

      Poems and publishing…yes. It all depends where and how you want to publish. If you’re self-publishing, of course, there’s no problem with doing whatever you wish with your poems. And if you’re paying someone else to publish them (which is not something I’d advise, but that’s another thing entirely), again there’s no reason they can’t be on your blog first. The problem comes when you submit them to a publisher for inclusion in a book or journal. Then, the publisher will usually (although not always) demand they haven’t been previously published, including on blogs or social media. Their thinking is if they’re available anywhere else, and for free, why would someone purchase them?

      All the best, Mick

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      1. Thanks for your advice, Mick. That’s very helpful. I definitely want to carry on with my poems on my blog. I think I’ll have to find a way to self-publish, as I can’t afford to pay a publisher. I can see why publishers would feel that way now.

        I’m glad you feel happy about sending your carving off to a new, appreciating home. It must be difficult to do any art, especially something like carving or sculpture in a small space. I would have the same problem if I could do anything like that. I always say I haven’t got an artistic bone in my body!

        Best wishes to you too, Mick.

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        1. Self-publishing is a bit tricky and time-consuming, but with patience it’s not too difficult. And the advantage is you don’t have to pay out any money as well as having complete control over your book.

          No artistic bone in your body? You are painting, I believe…

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  6. I’m glad your carving found a good home. Now, in time, your poems will, too — or so we’ll hope. I ran into that business with “never previously published” in the past. In fact, after having some of my poetry included in a book, I had to get permission from the publisher to re-post the poems on my blog. That is one thing you could keep in mind. Ask your publisher if they’d be willing to allow publication on your blog, with attribution and a link back to the publisher’s page. Some will.

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    1. That’s a reason to always be careful about terms and conditions. The journals I’ve investigated so far all state that total copyright remains with the author and their rights are limited to publication in said journal and permission to quote in publicity, or somesuch. I’m always mindful that you retain the copyright to anything you create unless you actually sign away that permission – something I wouldn’t do. Any that demand you sign away that right should be kept at permanent arm’s length.

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  10. HI Mick, My cake and fondant art is short lived by its nature so I don’t have any feelings of wanting to retain it. I am thinking of transferring my sculpturing skills to a more enduring format like clay. I may feel differently then. It is a nice piece. Good luck with your poetry submissions.

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              1. It’s our conditioning, Mick. We’re both from an era in which showing off was considered to be one of the major social crimes. Probably on a par with picking your nose in public.
                Next to impossible to turn that ship around. 😦

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