I've heard that If I sell my turnings I might be a professional. Does it matter what I turn or where or to whom I sell my turnings, or even how many turnings I sell or their quality? I read somewhere that a professional is a person with exceptional abilities. Does this mean that if my work is quite good, I need not sell my work in order to be a professional woodturner?
If my work isn't outstanding and I don't actively market it, am I therefore an amateur? Amateurish implies that my work is of poor quality, or that I might be a beginner. I hope I don't belong in either camp. I've been told that I might be an amateur and still do good work if I turn just for the pleasure of doing it and not for profit. That suits me better, however If you would like to buy a creatively priced bowl from me ...
I considered that I might be a professional amateur, but that sort of makes me an expert at doing poor work. Could I be an amateur professional? I hope not, that might make me a poor professional.
I have to wonder if it matters much or at all what woodturning pigeonhole I occupy. Opportunities for my growth as a wood turner/artist either pro or am are plentiful and are easy to find. Of course. my knowing about them isn't quite the same as my successfully utilizing them.
Maybe being accepted into a guild or voluntarily joining a subset of woodturning professionals (or amateurs) would define my turning life, but either tunnel might eventually isolate me from friends on the path not taken? I can think of myself as a professional or as an amateur or both, but no one else has to agree or give a damn.
Maybe it helps me to remember that amateurs built the Ark ....professionals built the Titanic. :)
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter