Why Steve Winterburn's Art Costs $13,300: The Viral Video Explained

A recent video on Imgur titled "Always getting told my work is too expensive…" has sparked a lively discussion about the value of artistic craftsmanship. The video features a catchy song, "It Costs That Much" by Woah Dude, which perfectly captures the frustration many artists face when their work is undervalued. The song's lyrics emphasize the hours of labor and the years of skill development that justify the high prices of custom art pieces.

The artist behind the owl sculpture featured in the video is Steve Winterburn, a renowned sculptor whose work commands significant prices. This particular owl sculpture is priced at £9,950, which is roughly $13,300 USD. The video's popularity has led to a slew of comments from both supportive fans and curious onlookers.

One user humorously summarized the intricate process with, "Step 1: Squeeze some foam in a circle. Step 2: Cast the rest of the owl." Another user provided a link to the song, praising it as an excellent anthem for artists dealing with price negotiations: "The song is 'It Costs That Much' by Woah Dude."

Other commenters shared their own experiences and insights. One noted, "The number of people I see complaining about the price of handmade objects on YouTube and TikTok is shocking. People need to try crafting things with their own hands before they say a ring that took 8 hours to make shouldn't cost more than $100."

Another user shared a valuable lesson learned from selling crafts: "Wife started selling her crafts. Went to an event. Told her to price them double what she thought she should, because the rich women that were interested would buy it without haggling. She sold two items at the event, more than made up for time and cost."

The video's message resonates beyond the art community, as one commenter pointed out, "If it makes any creatives feel better, attorneys get the same thing regarding price (small firms or independent practitioners - the ones that don't make the big bucks)."

The discussion also touched on the importance of understanding the difference between mass-produced items and handcrafted art. One user eloquently put it, "People need to learn the difference between the Walmart owl and this guy's owl. The Walmart one was mass-produced, there are countless copies of it, and it was made by machines (and/or borderline slave labor). This guy's owl was handmade and is one of a kind. Those two things do not have the same price tag."

Steve Winterburn's owl sculpture exemplifies the high value of genuine craftsmanship, and the video effectively highlights why such art pieces command premium prices. The viral nature of the video and the ensuing discussion underscore the broader societal need to appreciate and fairly compensate creative labor.