UPCYCLING INTO ART

ZAVIEN FAYAD -

Ways to creatively reuse so resources aren't wasted

Upcycling in the art community is well known, but not always used. Occasionally artists will use old bottles to paint on, or cardboard, but 8 out of 10 artists will go to the store and buy a canvas to paint on. They typically don’t realize how creative you can be with upcycling. Personally, as a artist I know it's easier to go and buy a canvas, but if you want to reuse here are some amazing examples:

  • Drift wood painting is simple and can be used as easy decor for any room.
  • Old bottles are a common thing to paint on, you can use them as storage containers or a new funky water bottle.
  • Rock painting is super fun and creative, it's also quite popular! Plus, you can find them in your backyard.
  • Card board is so easy, it's an amazing substitute for a canvas, it also helps bring down your recycling!
  • Dehydrating mushrooms to paint on, I know it's a little weird but super fun! Seeing as you can find this type of mushroom in most parks on trees.
  • Broken plates are usually thrown in the trash, but you can paint them and put poetry, stories, labels, or some fun learning on them.
  • Broken glass is so fun for garden decor just don't cut yourself!!

These are just some ideas, but they help reduce trash by quite a lot. Moreover, we are helping the planet by doing what we love! Some other ways of reusing recycling where you don't have to paint are:

  • Old glass bottles into candle holders or vases, an easy decor for your shelf.
  • Monster can (or any can with a cool design) cut outs, where you can cut out parts of the design you like, and you can even tape them to your wall!
  • Using cut out phrases from a book to create a collage
  • Sea glass jewelry is so fun to do and it's also a great gift

My personal journey with upcycling/reusing is quite big, ever since I was a kid my mom would reuse anything she could. Every plastic container in the house was reused in some way or another, we would barely even take out the trash. I love reusing, it makes me feel happy that I'm doing everything I can to help our wonderful planet. At this point my house and garden is full of upcycled art, I even made a hobbit garden display with broken glass and paint pens!

I hope this inspired you to reuse and help our beautiful planet 1 piece of art at a time, have a wonderful day/night!