As an artist who works with many materials, it's crazy how quickly excessive art supplies and scrap paper accumulates in my studio. This summer I've made it a goal to be more conscious of using what I already have in order save money and reduce waste.
The first thing I did was to take stock of all the materials I currently have. I was amazed by how many materials I had stored away from previous projects such as book making, jewelry making and wedding DIYing!
Here are some ways I've been able to reduce waste creatively:
1. Using smaller paper scraps to make new pieces
Instead of throwing away scrap paper, I've saved it all in a shoe box. See all the colors sitting in the box inspired me to create some fun new pieces.
Tapis Magique (Magic Carpet) Series | Paris 2016
2. Cutting up old paintings into thank you cards
I've seen many other artist do this as well. It's a wonderful way to cut back on branding costs as well as add a human personal touch to your thank you cards/ note cards. Many clients love framing them as art :)
3. Using up leftover paint
There have been many times I've washed leftover paint down the sink after finishing a piece. Such a shame to let all those pretty colors go to waste! Now, when I have leftover paint, i'll use what's left to decorate the envelopes I use to ship orders in. Not only am I wasting less paint, but my collectors LOVE receiving their colorful packages in the mail!
4. recycling shipping material scraps as a canvas
A big part of my art sales comes from art prints, which means I need lots of shipping materials to make sure they arrive to their destinations in good condition. I purchase large format boards and then cut them down to fit my prints, which leaves a lot of extra board that are too small to use for shipping other prints.
I visited Amsterdam in July and knew I wanted to do some painting during my visit. Not wanting to carry bulky canvases around, I quickly grabbed some of the extra stiff board pieces and took them along with me to paint on. Not only was I able to create some cute small paintings, but I was able to create a whole new series without having to spend extra money on supplies. Since, I've painting throughout my summer travels in Amsterdam, Italy and the south of france <3
Red Lights | Amsterdam 2016
I'm having a blast exercising my creativity in a different way!
As a result:
I've taken less trips to the art store, which is always a temptation since it's located just around the corner!!
Challenged myself artistically by using materials I wouldn't normally use
Saved money
I've also sparked many new ideas just from doing things differently!
Looking forward to seeing what else comes of this little revelation! Have a great weekend everyone :)
xo,
Jessi