Scrap Art Discoveries

Using recycled, upcycled, and reurpused materials in my art journals and artworks is really important to me.  I always try to use at least 50% found materials in my art journals, heck its where I can up with the idea to start making them.  I was moving and in the process of packing my art room, I discovered that I owned 3 giant tubs full of random papers/magazines/books, that I was saving for some unknown future project.  So I created the Creativity Art Journal, where the covers are taken from used shipping boxes and the papers are mixed with pages from old books, discarded stuff, used paper bags/newspapers, and taped-together scrap pieces.


But I really like to challenge myself to get more of these types of materials in my art pieces as well.  This can sometimes be a bit more tricky.  This is how I came up with Scrap Art.  (it was also a huge part due to the fact that my son (who's 2) HAS to be painting anytime he sees that I am painting.   So with my little boy in hand and a box of supplies, we set up our "studio."  With some torn up squares from an old box, some acrylic paints, a big brush, and a pile of random bits and pieces of collage elements that I saved from the trash or were left over from other projects, we CREATED together.  He did all the painting.  I just arrange the elements to be added and squirted more paint when he instructed me.   I blogged about this day HERE.  As promised in the previous blog, I finished up the pieces (added some pen work and some words, and chained them together as a cohesive wall piece).  I just love them!  Scrap Art is my new favorite blend of my art time and mothering!  I predict many more pieces will appear over this year.  Here is some pics of the finished piece and some close-ups.

It says (from top to bottom) Imagine/ Dwell in Possibilities/ Free Your Spirit/ Find Bliss.  The other painting next to it is a work in progress.  Just hanging there to dry at the moment, and I will show you more of her when she's finished.

Ooh I just adore them!  A bit of messiness to add beauty to your day.  Let me know what you think.  Have you created anything from "trash?"  Tell me about it and post links.