I don't think most people have a clue what it takes to make a piece of art. I really don't. Particularly if you work with tin. Painters can mix the color they want while tin artists need to "find" the color that is lithographed on the tin already. Hours are spent combing thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets and EBay. Hours! And being a tin artist is a commitment of time and space. You need a lot of it to create engaging works which also means you need to have the space to store it. A painter's palette and paints can be carried around in a tidy wooden box that is the size of a briefcase. I know because I used to paint. Then I discovered tin and whoa Nelly there was no turning back, even I didn't know what was before me.
Now let's also take into account the years it has taken to become proficient at making the tin art which has been a circuitous route. 16 years of trial and error and innovation in tin. I've taken innumerable work shops and classes in drawing, textile dying, paper mache, mosaic, rug hooking, painting, assemblage, book arts , jewelry and beading and each has contributed to the ability to successfully work with color, patterns and layout. A lifetime of art making!
There's also the costs associated with my practice. Materials - tins and rare vintage broken tin toys, cabinet grade plywood and hardware, shipping materials and cost of shipping, advertising, studio space, insurance, utilities, parking, gas AND photography! It adds up fast.
So when you see the price tag think about what went into creating that unique one of a kind piece of tin art. It’s so much more than what you see.
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