Move Over Tin Man, There’s A Tin Woman In Town!

Hello, Vintage Indie Readers!~~~Gabreial asked me to contribute posts for 
the next two weeks. 
I am pleased to introduce you facets of my whimsical, vintage world! 
Today I want you to meet one of my favorite artists!

Jenny Fillius of Lady Bug Circus creates humorous, colorful, and whimsical art 
from recycled tin. I had the pleasure of interviewing this talented Tin Woman 
and am delighted to share it with you.

 



Why is tin your medium of choice?

Tin is great to work with because it's so available, durable, colorful and in some 
cases nostalgic- like the old tin dollhouses from the 50's. 
(I only cut up damaged tin things and leave the pristine things alone for the 
collectors to have.) It's quintessential recycling. One friend calls it 
"quilting" for the 2000s. The tin has lived its life and now gets another in the 
form of art. Just like an old cotton dress can become part of a quilt.

Your work is so colorful and fun and has a sense of humor. 
Does the use of tin lend itself to those aspects of your work?

Tin can be used as an artist would use paper in a collage, the only difference is I use tin snips instead of scissors, nails instead of glue… you get the idea. I like to be entertained when I look at art so my work is humorous and of course I love color, so often times there is plenty of that! I painted for 10 years and my paintings weren't to unlike what I do now. Both are kinds of art are done in the narrative style. Old tin toys are great for humorous situations.

 

Do you have any formal art school training under your belt?

My first solo show of my drawings was when I was 13, years later I attended California College of Arts and Crafts, but dropped out after 2 classes. Since then I have taken many classes and workshops in a multitude of media.

Tell us a bit about your studio/workspace.

 My studio is a converted one car garage (8' x 17'), it has a skylight and heater and plenty of outlets. The walls are lined with shelving for tin storage, the top of a flat file is a cutting and flattening space.I love having a home studio, parking is free,commute time is 15 seconds and I can work in there anytime of the day or night. Sometimes at 5 AM before I leave for my other job.

 How long have you been selling your wares on etsy? Do you sell your work anywhere else?

In June of 2007 I started selling on Etsy, then in 2009 I created a website and have sold some work off it as well. My work has been in shows, group and solo. I prefer cafes and coffee shops because they generally don't take a commission which keeps my work affordable.

Thank you, Jenny!~~And thank YOU for stopping by Vintage Indie today!

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.