1.) How did you get started?
I was a child of the sixties, thus I chose the road less traveled. While an art student at the University of Florida, I began laminating and carving plywood. After all, plywood was readily available and my professor realizing I was on to something gave me encouragement. Upon graduation in 1973, I made my way to Boston to live the life of an artist. My first experience of selling what I made was in the Christmas Store in Cambridge, then my big break was Rhinebeck in 1977. As my business continued to grow, I moved to the country in upstate New York, exhibiting in craft fairs all over the northeast. In 1983, I became tenured in the Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia and wholesaling was the way I would do business. In 1995, I found my way back to Florida and settled into an artistic community in Railroad Square Art Park. In 2017 my wife and I settled in the Pacific NW, outside of Portland Oregon. I work at home now without employees, trade shows or advertising. My line is still in demand but now I work at a slower pace. After five decades of working with my hands, I still find it challenging to create a well crafted piece that will be treasured by someone. I have remained true to my desire to follow the path of creativity and found support in the community of crafts. In an homogenous world of sameness, diversity is something to strive for and work toward. My goal is to make products that are a joy to look at, a pleasure to touch and an honor to own.
FAQs
2) Has you work been peer reviewed? The follow is an article in Niche Magazine written by Jackie Adamay….
Robert Hargrave is a master woodworker, taking wood to a new level by creating pieces that are both functional and striking. Robert began working with wood while he was an art student. A simple critique from a professor changed his life, showing him the direction he needed to pursue. "My professor said, 'this is a very intelligent use of material' so I pursued my passion to work with my hands," explains Robert. When asked what he does for a living, Robert is quick to reply, "I take a rather ordinary material and transform it into an exotic visual experience." Robert's appreciation for the warmth and beauty of wood is highly visible in his artwork. He explains, "I choose plywood to work with because of the unusual effects that can be achieved and the challenge to make something beautiful from a material usually looked down upon." To finish his pieces, Robert incorporates the highest quality European birch plywood, utilizing the lamination lines to make the final design. Having done retail shows in the past, Robert focuses on selling his artwork wholesale to galleries across the country, while retailing directly from his studio. He is quick to point out that marketing is key to any business. He focuses his efforts on tradeshows, direct mail, print ads, online, and by word of mouth. His number one rule that all artists must adhere to for success is to persevere. "Ride out the ups and downs and stay focused on the reasons you began making art in the first place. Stay vigilant for new opportunities, techniques, or the path forward." Robert knows that buying handcrafted work is a strong movement, but he knows that the consumer must also find a connection with a piece of artwork. He shares his thoughts. "I know I have had people mention their purchase is being made to support local and made in America, but I am unsure if it is the most important reason for buying art - in reality the piece must 'speak' to the buyer on some level."