New beauty from old supplies
New beauty from old supplies
Finding value in scraps and used materials is a fun and creative way to reduce waste.
As a printmaker, I often feel like I’m blowing through expensive paper way too fast. My favorite is Rives BFK, a heavyweight 100% cotton paper. Because the paper is so sturdy, I’ve always saved my reject prints, and tried to find a use for them. It’s not just the cost, this is gorgeous paper, and I want to give it another life beyond the landfill.
One thing I finally tried for using up some reject prints is collage. Below is ‘No Greater Treasure’, my submission for Yampa Valley Sustainability Council’s Insight: Art for Climate Action.
I haven’t done much collage, but I had a blast trying this messy art form. Above are photos of cut out trees, rivers, and flowers that turned into two final pieces. Because I had enough to make two unique collages, I’m keeping one for now because I like it so much!
In your daily work or hobbies, do you have materials going to waste that could still be used? Finding a way to buy less, and then keeping good things out of the trash is an important way to take action toward a healthier environment. Everything we buy was produced, packaged, and shipped using resources and creating waste or pollution along the way. So, if you use half the quantity, then that’s half the resources and pollution. (I’m generalizing for effect, obviously!) I’m not saying to never buy anything new, but look around and find the value in things you might already have. Reuse materials or pass them on to someone else. This skill falls under the sexy title of Waste Diversion.
If you already upcycle, meaning finding new life in old materials, go ahead and brag about it! This lets other people know how cool it can be, and hopefully encourages a culture shift. Below is my brag gallery.
1. Ornaments from reject prints
2. Star ornaments printed onto scraps of black paper
3. Reject prints turned into zine covers
4. Valentines printed onto scraps
5. A scratched round frame painted to look new
6. Painted and woven reject prints
7. Blank books made from scrap paper and reject prints for covers
8. Monarch butterflies stamped onto the backs of rejects prints
9. Assemblage built into a frame touched up to cover dings.
For you artists and parents with creative kids, here are some upcycling, repurposing, and waste diversion ideas:
• If you have scraps, make a series of small things to use the small materials.
• Make blank books for notes or sketching from extra paper.
• Collage or make cards or ornaments from past work, photos, or magazines.
• Pull out unused notebook and sketchbook pages for scrap paper.
• Put new art into frames that you already have, if possible.
• Check with frame shops to get scraps of foam core, mat board, plexiglass, glass, etc.
• Cover damaged spots on used frames making them look intentionally interesting.
• Get local materials, if possible, to cut down on shipping.
• Paint over the top of older work if you don't want to keep it.
• Give away tools and materials that you won’t use. Schools will usually take supplies!
• Use books that you won’t read to make altered books, or paint on the pages.
• Try sculpture, assemblage, or collage from found items or thrift store finds.
• Use scrap paper to create papier mâché, or even handmade paper.
• Ship art with used packing supplies. Ask retail stores if they have used materials or boxes to give.
Steamboat Creates in my community has Create Space. This is a place for people to donate materials for kid’s art camps, schools, or adults to use. Do you have a local art materials exchange? If not, think about how one could be started in your town. It could even be an online resource where people share what they want to give away, and others post what they are looking to find.
To wrap up, I’d like to share my friend Jodie Atherton’s artwork. Below is a lovely quote from her website.
“I repurpose old jewelry and found objects into jewelry and sculpture. I do what I do because I care about the environment. I hope my views, hopes, and dreams for a better future are contagious. Art is such a part of me, I don’t know where myself and my art end, just like how we all interact with the environment and nature. Where does one begin and end?”
‘If there is magic’ is made from a pit fired ceramic torso, handmade tile, willow, seed beads, metal grate, and glass marble. This beautiful piece will be available through Insight: Art for Climate Action, a fundraiser for Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.