carboard art
CONSERVATION - As artists & consumers, we have an impact on the environment and world around us. Repurposing cardboard into wall art is one way to divert this material from contributing to landfill waste, and reduce the need of further resource extraction. It’s ease of use, transportation and accessibility make it a versatile and playful medium.
ACCESSIBLE - Cardboard has been a continual pal in my art-journey as as packaging material; makeshift palette or sketchpad and crafting labels; product dividers; studio organizer and just all-around helpful resource. The best part is that it’s is continually abundant, especially with the world-wide web of online shopping at your fingertips.
IMPERMANENCE - While I don’t want to make disposable art, I also don’t feel the need to create art that will last 100s or thousands of years. I enjoy creating work from discarded/salvaged materials and knowing that they will naturally break down over time, as is the cycle of life. While climate change is upon us, I’m continually looking for ways to minimize my impact and extraction of new resources as an individual, creator and small business, while maximizing my intentions and efforts toward sustainability.
process & Materials
My process is pretty simple. It’s also fairly cheap or free if you already have the art supplies!
Drawing: I use a pencil to sketch my design, then markers or micron pens to draw my cardboard art.
Add color: I’ll use either a primer spraypaint for background color or gesso before adding my paint. That way the cardboard doesn’t get saturated or warp from the moisture.
For unique shapes: I either use scissors or x-acto knives. The thicker the cardboard, the more quicker your blade will get dull so try and keep a back up blade or sharpener on hand.
