Sometimes it’s hard to be an artist with eco-friendly values. In a way, art is inherently wasteful because it isn’t necessary for survival – it’s not a basic need, but it still adds undeniable value to my life. That’s why I enjoy being innovative with the materials I use. I was about to toss some stuff in the trash last week, but I realized that I could use it as creative art supplies instead!
Creative Art Supplies
If you search on Google for, “creative art supplies,” you will likely find some decent options to purchase. However, this post is about using stuff you already have lying around and preventing items from going into the trash.
Haven’t you noticed that sustainability for the environment often coincides with sustainability for your finances? It’s a win-win!
Origin of My Creative Art Supplies Quest
In a previous post called, Art Therapy for Anger Management, I talked about how my rapidly degrading quality of life influenced my art when I was a teenager. The content of my images wasn’t the only thing that reflected my tumultuous reality, but my use of materials changed too.
No one was willing to buy me art supplies, but my grandmother was happy to give me all of the second-hand cosmetics I could ever ask for. I never asked for it, by the way, as I had no interest in wearing it. Instead, I used the makeup to add color to my demonic sketches.
The fun thing about using cosmetics to create art on paper was that there was a sense of rebellion to it. As a kid who grew up in the Bible Belt, I was rarely exposed to unconventional thinking, so I felt like a pioneer every time I smeared lipstick and dusted eyeshadow across the page.
In addition, I’ve always been a sucker for eco-friendly thinking, and I was happy to have found a use for the discarded cosmetics.
Hair Dye as Creative Art Supplies
My husband and I are moving to Alaska in a couple of months, so I’ve been packing, sending things to Goodwill, and throwing things away – cutting the fat, so to speak. When I came across a few bottles of used hair dye, I realized that I don’t want to dye my hair anymore.
Back when I was dying my hair, I used a decent brand called Arctic Fox, because it’s cruelty-free and probably less toxic than some hair dyes. But, after I had my hysterectomy and subsequent surgeries due to complications, I decided to eliminate all chemicals from my beauty routine, just to be on the safe side.
However, I was still reluctant to throw the dye away. I realized the hair dye would probably make an excellent sustainable paint for art! So, I decided to give it a try.
This painting is far from finished, but I’m so happy with the way it looks! I’ll be adding more colors in the next few weeks and posting my progress.
The blue hue is gorgeous, with a wonderfully smooth texture. No water is required. It’s easy to work with and doesn’t smell. Thinner spots only take 10 minutes to dry and the thicker spots dry in about 1 hour.
Thanks for Reading!
Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to creative art supplies! Have fun, save money, and reduce waste!
Want more sustainable art ideas? Check out my previous posts: how to make bracelets from potato chip bags and how to make hair heart accessories from plastic drinking straws.
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