Here's an interesting tidbit about myself - I previously worked for a trash and recycling company where our main goal was to divert 100% of materials [from businesses] away from the landfill. Cool right?! Needless to say this is pretty hard to do as I'm sure you see from what goes in to your kitchen trash! I was thrilled when I started working at Art ala Carte because so many of the materials we use are recyclables or old toys/supplies that are donated by our loyal artists. I knew that this was the place for me instantly!
I'm constantly taking home paintings that have been left behind in the studio and muraling my walls with some really awesome kids art. It makes me smile to see my in-home studio covered with mini artist's work! I'm always inspired by the things created at Art ala Care with our non-conventional materials.
One day in the studio I was cleaning the paint supplies and noticed that an old ice-tray had been donated and filled with paints. There was a little bit of paint in each cube and when I accidentally dropped it - which happens ALL the time here ; ) - I notciced that it made a very cool design! So naturally, I grabbed a sheet of paper and went to work.
Here is what I did :
Step 1 - Flipped the pallet upside down on to a piece of paper
*must hit it hard on a flat surface to get the paint out of the holes
Step 2 : Took small pieces of paper and scraped excess paint out of the pallet
Step 3: Used a paint brush to smear paint across some of the papers in a linear fashion
Step 4: Folded paper in half and pressed firmly; opened up paper revealing a "Rorschach" technique
Step 5: Put one piece of paper on to another and used my fingers to rub the paint from one to the other
I had tons of fun finding ways to use the paint that gets leftover from finished projects! Never assume you can't use the end of something - there is always a way to re-use, recycle, and re-create!
What will you repurpose today?! E-mail your recycled art project to kirsten@artalacartepdx.com to have your work featured in the studio!
If you're interested in purchasing tempera paints (the ones I used for these projects) they are available on our Dick Blick affiliate website. Proceeds from your purchase help Art ala Carte buy more paints too!
