People often assume that artists create out of thin air, that inspiration simply arrives, and the work somehow materialises without cost. I wish that were true. The reality is that every piece of art we make is built on a long chain of expenses, both visible and invisible. Cameras, lenses, memory cards, films, printers, ink, fine‑art papers, software subscriptions, photo frames and framing accessories, backup drives, archival storage… the list never ends. Even today, another