Managing Waste for Creative - Projects Material Musings

In this week’s Material Musings, I share some of the ways of incorporating fabric into mixed-media artwork. I use natural fibers alongside paper clay to create 3D sculptures and share some of the figures like “Stilt Walker’s Treasure” and “And Still I Rise.” Alongside experimenting with a self-made fibrous pulp, 

I also use natural dyes (henna, avocado, tea), and techniques include wax resist, stenciling, and bead embellishments. 

It has become increasingly important for me to consider sustainable sourcing for my supplies, and I experiment with techniques and recycling materials either from my own supplies or thrift stores and also revisit unfinished projects for renewed inspiration.

Before You Go....

Check out the FREE Mixed Media Art Tags Course

Use What You Have - Filling the Creative Well Blog Series

 

We can easily fall into the trap of waiting for the perfect art supply or not using that art supply because you are saving it for best - the perfect brush, or the perfect moment.  

I am reminding you that you already have what you need to make a start. We don’t have to wait for the stars to align or the wind to blow in a particular direction before we take that step.

Dig into your current supplies, what haven’t you used for a long time? What has been neglected?  We can often overlook our supplies in the pursuit for more. There is beauty in using what’s available and, creativity often thrives when we set limitations and work within them.

In the video I speak about all the books that I have bought over the years and thinking about what inspired me from the book and how I can adapt it with what I have.

When you use what you have, you practice gratitude. And you discover unexpected possibilities. There’s nothing missing, you are already surrounded by potential.

What you can Try

• Create a full page using only what you already have within your immediate space 

• Look around your space: what is within arm’s reach? What can be repurposed or transformed?

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Limitation sparks imagination
2. What you already have is more than enough.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Texture Exploration - Filling the Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Texture Exploration

I love creating texture in my art and developing a piece of art that entices you to to run your fingers over surfaces, to notice the way layers interact, and to connect our creative senses. We have all come across art where we have been compelled to touch – mindful of the ‘Do Not Touch’ signs and the gallery attendants.

Texture can give depth and emotion to your work, it doesn’t need to be fancy. Even crumpled tissue paper or a coat of gesso can add a tactile quality to your page. As you build the layers, pause to touch. What does this feel like? What does it evoke?

What Can You Try

• Experiment with adding texture to your page using unusual tools and materials. Notice how touch changes your process.
• Explore texture and use tools that aren’t typical: a fork, a sponge, lace, leaves, cardboard, your fingertips. You could also consider layering paper, fabric scraps, or scraping back the paint. Allow the surface to become a story of layers.
• You can also play with making marks that look textured without being raised. Scribbles, hatching, rough brushwork, and even stitched lines can create visual texture that invites the eye to linger.

Takeaway Nuggets:

• Texture adds depth, memory, and emotion to your work.
• Creative exploration often begins with your fingertips.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important.

Stitched Surfaces - Filling the Creative Well - Blog Series

There’s something deeply soothing about stitching, I find it very meditative. The steady rhythm of needle and thread offers a moment of stillness, a connection to our hands, our breath, and the slow making. We explore the texture, patience, and pleasure of adding stitching to your creative practice.

Stitching onto paper or fabric doesn’t have to be complex. You don’t need fancy embroidery skills or perfect technique. Even the simplest stitch - a running stitch, can add beautiful texture and quiet emphasis.

Slow stitching encourages us to slow down, to be present. Each stitch becomes a small meditation, a mark of time passed. You can create abstract designs, outlines, or simply “draw and paint” with your thread.

What you can Try

Choose a surface to work on: painted paper, fabric scraps, see what you have. Thread your needle and follow your instinct. Why not create a fabric art journal and embellish with different stitches. You might stitch a border around a found poem or add thread to a torn paper edge. Don’t worry if it’s messy or uneven, these details carry their own beauty and voice. As we bind materials, our ideas come together and we intertwine our stories and messages too.

Takeaway Nuggets:

• Stitching slows us down and roots our creativity in presence.
• Imperfect stitches tell beautiful, honest stories.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .