Are We In A Recession?

[🪦 PREMATURE INKER ●]

I am not disputing the hard work that goes into everything mask and glove makers do...I know its alot of work and like it is in my profession as an artist myself,I know what its like to do a ton of work for minimal profit.I took a huge paycut this year in animation but I still have to make money and keep pushin on.I love this hobby and wish everyone could know what its like to get a new mask in the mail(my favorite part)!!...I just see the massive cost and wonder if its worth picking up again.J

[🪦 SideshowFreak ●]

<!--quoteo(post=341411:date=Dec 6 2009, 12:11 AM:name=Fredsmidfinger)<div class=\'quotetop\'>QUOTE (Fredsmidfinger @ Dec 6 2009, 12:11 AM) <a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=341411\"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class=\'quotemain\'><!--quotecI cant understand why a mask goes for $250 but us glove makers are lucky to sell a high end glove that is true to a film for $200.. Real work goes into every glove every time on is built, it is made from scratch, and its much more of an art form that painting, and laying hair.. I sculpt to but you only have to do it once then you mask is ready to mold. Of coarse im gonna get reamed for this but i dont care!<!--QuoteEnd</div><!--QuoteEEndDo you not make a pattern for a specific glove that you're building? If not that's quite bizarre. The same principle goes for mask making, the sculpture is the pattern. As for comparing painting a mask to building a glove, some artist put more time into painting eyes then it would take to build a whole glove. ie. Jordu,casey, ectI'm not saying that glove building isn't an art, hard or time consuming. I was an apprentice tin knocker (someone who works with various metals) in the union so im familiar with the medium. IMO I feel there can just be many many more hours put in on a specific paint scheme than a full glove build.I'm sure a few gloves could be built in the time it took to paint and hair this piece![attachment=32185:IMGP0595.jpg]

[🪦 monteburns ●]

If I pay $200 & up for a mask or bust from an artist & then decide to part with it one day there is no chance that I would consider letting it go for less than what I originally paid.There will always be a buyer out there willing to pay the price for a high end piece & rather than taking a loss I would just keep it.Too many hours go into some of these masks/busts to just give them away.

[🪦 JigSaw ●]

You know what I find funny? The price of latex hasn't gone up a penny since I've been buying it... yet for some reason, artist's prices have gone up astronomically. <img src=\"style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\" emoid=\":mellow:\" border=\"0\" alt=\"mellow.gif\" />

[🪦 ThePhantomKiller ●]

I don't think the price of latex has anything to do with it. If some of these artists sole source of income is their masks, it seems irrelevant to me what prices they wind up charging for their work, regardless if we're in a recession. Who caters to who here? Look back at when we weren't in a recession and you'll generally find the prices were the same.

[🪦 Fredsmidfinger ●]

Like I said its an opinion. For the glove a template is always made "At least i make one" and that takes time effort allot of money, and building many gloves before its anything close to what you need. Allot of time goes into it As you say. (I spent 7 or 8 hours on the finger templates alone for my last glove). $250 for a myers mask ? I find that flat out sillyI don't want to go off topic but here is my side and this is extreme but a reality for this gloveIm not getting into the R&D of this glove but its not a simple as "ahh crap i took to much clay off with that stroke"1- 1.5 hours per blade1-2 hours for shaping the fingertip (only one at a time)2-3 hours cutting out mid fingers and shaping20 min for cutting shaping the back plate30 min for the cutting and aging of the leather glove45 min to solder on all finger straps20-30 min soldering on the blades20 min per finger tip for clean and sand2-3 days for aging process of the metal armature15 min for assemblyAdd it up and you have a lot of time. If you were to go by the industry standard 4 years ago at $65 an hour your looking at a nice pricetag <img src=\"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/stealthunter1/1115092248.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />

[🪦 SlaughterHouseVictim ●]

Thats why things cost so much is the time you put into the items..

[🪦 Mutilated ●]

<!--quoteo(post=341416:date=Dec 6 2009, 01:58 AM:name=Jigsaw)<div class=\'quotetop\'>QUOTE (Jigsaw @ Dec 6 2009, 01:58 AM) <a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=341416\"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class=\'quotemain\'><!--quotecYou know what I find funny? The price of latex hasn't gone up a penny since I've been buying it... yet for some reason, artist's prices have gone up astronomically. <img src=\"style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\" emoid=\":mellow:\" border=\"0\" alt=\"mellow.gif\" /><!--QuoteEnd</div><!--QuoteEEndBut the price of shipping has gone up, A LOT. You can't mail out a small mask for under $10 these days, I remember mailing them out for $5 - $6. You figure an artist orders latex and other supplies in bulk, the price of shipping alone is a lot.

[🪦 psychosocial91 ●]

Shipping has become ridiculous and those flat rate "boxes" are a joke as well. <img src=\"style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/down.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\" emoid=\":down:\" border=\"0\" alt=\"down.gif\" />

[🪦 scabboy ●]

I see people paying that and more to this day. It all depends on if you are still working and how much you collect.If someone wants to pay $400 for a nice bust that's well made, then so be it. First off that bust will be rare by default (because of it's price) which makes it worth it, IMO.