Art is relative and subjective. For Brian Quail, art is a rusty tool or the grill of a 1940s Chevrolet.

Quail, the man behind ReFind Works out of his rural shop between Lansing and Brownsdale takes items like those and creates what he terms as rustic, industrial art.

His concepts range from flowers created from faucet handles to AR-15 rifle replicas created from a mishmash of tool handles, padlocks and chains all the way up to tables and consoles created from the front ends of old vehicles, grills and tailgates.

“I’ve always been into art — building stuff, painting, drawing, sculpture,” Quail explained from inside his shop.

It would be easy for people to be confused by Quail’s choice of career. Entering the shop someone might be convinced they are walking into an auto repair shop. There are car parts, welding supplies, tools. It is, at first glance, a handyman’s shop.

But taking a closer look, there is much more. It reflects Quail’s own change in the course of his life.

“I had a construction business running for 20 years and I just decided to do something else because it was getting hard to find employees and guys that wanted to work,” Quail said. “Started messing around in the shops, doing small projects and then friends and relatives ended up loving it.”

So Quail made the move to full-time artist, a move his six kids: Cassie, Davin, Lincoln, Lila, Christian and Madalin had to adjust to in a small way.

“They love it,” Quail said with a laugh. “They kind of had to get used to it, because I was always gone spring, summer and fall and now I’m always home; they are driving me crazy.”

Though Quail’s art medium itself is rather specific in materials, what he creates fans out over a wide area.

“It’s kind of all over the place,” Quail said. “I’m trying to cover every genre of art. Young guys, older guys, ladies — I build a lot of stuff.”

Quail creates many smaller to midrange items, such as the flowers and the AR-15s. But every once in a while a bigger purchase comes along.

“They kind of pay the bills until you get that right person to come in that wants the big automotive table,” He said.

The parts and items Quail uses to make his creations come from all over and feature so many different items. Next to Quail’s main work area are buckets and containers filled with old tools.

You can see these pieces in each one of his works. A pistol standing out among the flowers has the handle of what could be pliers, a padlock at its center and a chain from a bike or motorcycle used for the handle.

On the wall are flower-looking items made from wrenches.

“I just kind of build what I like and I think is cool,” Quail said.

One of Quail’s best pieces features a console table with lights set on top of a 1940s Chevrolet grill. He said it didn’t take long to garner some attention.

“It was just an old grill I picked up, didn’t cost very much, but it ended up turning out pretty sweet,” Quail said. “Everybody wanted it and it sold within five minutes.”

A large majority of Quail’s customers are car guys who stick to the brands they love driving with their art. Ford guys dig Ford art; Chevy and Dodge. But often it’s still people who are simply into cars and, like Quail, appreciate cool-looking pieces.

“I usually take parts that I think are kind of cool and I think a regular guy that’s into cars or hotrods would like and then I just incorporate it and do something different,” Quail said. “You always see those tailgate benches. You see the same old stuff and I try to put a different twist on it. Show people that you can do other cool stuff with tailgates, fenders and grills.”

While Qual’s winters are focused on finishing pieces, the summer takes him on a tour of the state to hit up car shows and festivals.

At these events, his stand sets him apart from many other venders. It looks much like a small portion of a junk yard, his pieces displayed for those walking buy.

It’s also through these festivals and shows that Quail does a lot of his networking, which helps him acquire parts for his creations.

“I network with everybody,” Quail said. “I do shows in the summer; I do all the festivals. It’s getting to be now that people know what I do, so if they come across something they know it kind of fits my style, they will get a hold of me and I’ll get it from there.”

Quail said he’s either out at shows or looking for parts, all for a simple end.

“Every weekend when I’m doing a show, I’m usually out talking to people,” Quail said. “Every weekend during the summer I’m out. When I’m not looking for parts, I’m building cool stuff.”

While Quail’s pieces vary in price, they usually reflect the amount of work that goes into them. Things like the AR-15 replicas can go from $400 and up, while the furniture can range anywhere between $799 all the way up to $1,800.

Those prices also reflect the parts that go into them.

“Materials play a price in how I price,” Quail said. “If you get an old school, 1930s Chevrolet grill, you make that into a table, you got $200, $300 into just the grill. They aren’t giving those prices away.”

Like so many artists, Quail’s art isn’t about some larger meaning or message. Rather, it’s a simple idea that continues to push him.

“I just try to make stuff that I like and is kind of cool,” he said. “I hope everybody likes it. I meet a lot of people at these different shows and I appreciate all the support from the people that come to every show and follow me around.”