As a child growing up, I'd always messed around with acrylic paint..but never really got back into it again until about 2008, when I landed a job at Michaels (the arts & crafts store). That job TOTALLY exposed me to anything and everything arts-related. Although I'd always had a very strong appreciation of the arts since childhood, I took that job not knowing a damn thing about how to make art (or jewelry, for that matter). In 2009, I began to delve more into painting and mixed-media collage-making. By late 2009/early 2010, I began tinkering around with jewelry-making (something else that I knew absolutely nothing about), and then I was instantly hooked!

I've always had a deep love and appreciation of all that is Neo-Victorian and Steampunk, so naturally, that's what I began to gravitate towards when I began making jewelry. I decided to pay homage to the original ultimate steampunk man -- the Tin Man -- by creating pieces under the moniker "The Tinman's Cellar" in late 2010. I've always had a long-term love affair with names involving the word "tinman" because long before I ever was an artist, I was a musician..and my old musician alias was Tinman Rusted. (Which came from a song that I had written about wanting to be heartless like the Tin Man.)

In celebration of my new alias, I created everything from bracelets to necklaces to accessories to paintings and more..all of them eclectic in their own way. Then a few months later, I realized that I needed a platform to sell all of my wares. I started by opening up my Etsy shop in April of 2011. I've been a long-time supporter of Etsy, so I figured it'd be the perfect place for me to start out. I also began to research other avenues to sell my art locally..and by the fall, I was doing art walks in the Phoenix metro-area every Friday night. I also became involved with The Firehouse Gallery in downtown Phoenix and joined their artist collective known as the 23 Collective -- which lent me another place to spread my art & jewelry to the masses.

Although I am no longer with the gallery, I am still in full support of them, and continue to participate in Friday night art walks. Aside from that, my life currently consists of my day job, running my Etsy shop, and continuing to push myself artistically.

The past few years have been very challenging for me, as I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, TMJ issues, and chronic migraines back in 2010, mild bulging discs in my lower back w/ sciatica in 2012, and as of 2015, I was diagnosed with Cam-type Femoroacetabular Impingements in both of my hips and Carpal Tunnel in both of my hands. I've had 6 surgeries just in the past year alone to try and fix my jaw, hips, back, and hands. (Mind you, I'm only 27.) The chronic pain and fatigue has definitely put a damper on my creativity (and every other aspect of my life), as I can't do a lot of the things that I used to be able to do..but no matter how bad things get, I will ALWAYS continue to create, whether it be poetry, songs, art, or jewelry. Art truly is MY LIFE, and there is nothing that I enjoy more than sharing my art with others. ♥

Much Love!

-Trevor Singh aka The Tinman. ♥