Your creative journey doesn’t need to rely on new, synthetic, or expensive art supplies, especially with the rising cost of living.
What I’ve found is that your home — and even a walk through a forest or along the beach — can be filled with natural, plant-based, eco-friendly materials that can fuel your artistic process in ways you never expected.
This blog post is all about finding beauty in the everyday and getting inspired without the financial strain.
Repurposing these everyday items not only helps reduce waste but also opens up a world of unique textures, colours, and effects that can add unexpected richness to your work. These natural and upcycled resources offer infinite possibilities, helping you cultivate a more sustainable and mindful studio practice.
Here are 20 eco-friendly, plant-based, found materials you can repurpose from your home to inspire your next body of work:
1. Cereal Box Cardboard for Stencils
Repurpose cardboard from cereal boxes as stencils. This simple, eco-friendly material can be cut into shapes and reused for painting, giving new life to what would otherwise be thrown away.
2. Old Washing-Up Bottles for Art Tools and Paint Dispensing
Repurpose old washing-up bottles as convenient paint dispensers or tools for creating unique textures in your artwork. Fill the bottles with diluted paint or inks and use the nozzle to squeeze controlled lines, drops, or splatters onto your canvas, giving you more precision or a spontaneous, fluid effect. You can also cut the top or bottom off to create stamps or rollers for texture, making these household items a versatile and eco-friendly addition to your studio.
3. Collect Leaves and Fallen Objects to Create Art in the Landscape
Gather fallen leaves, flowers, and natural debris from your surroundings to create temporary art installations directly in the landscape. Arrange them into patterns, mandalas, or abstract designs on the ground, celebrating the beauty of nature’s textures and colours. Once your creation is complete, take photographs to capture the moment before the elements reclaim the materials. This type of eco-art not only connects you with the natural world but also highlights the transient beauty of the environment, leaving no trace behind.
4. Kitchen Sponge for Soft, Cloudy Textures
A simple kitchen sponge can be an amazing tool for creating soft, fluffy clouds in your artwork. Lightly dip the sponge into white or light-colored paint, then gently dab it onto your canvas, layering the paint for a textured, airy look. The sponge’s texture mimics the softness of clouds, allowing you to build dimension and create natural, wispy edges. This technique is perfect for adding realistic clouds to skies, giving your landscapes a dreamy, atmospheric touch.
5. Egg Cartons for Mixing Paint
Save your egg cartons to mix small amounts of paint or use them as paint trays. They’re sturdy, compostable, and can be reused again and again, reducing waste in your studio.
6. Glass Jars for Water or Brush Holders
Repurpose glass jars (like jam jars) to hold water for rinsing brushes or for mixing small amounts of paint. They’re reusable, easy to clean, and perfect for an eco-friendly studio setup.
7. Bubble Wrap for Texture Creation
Recycle bubble wrap to create texture in your paintings. Simply press it into wet paint to create a raised effect. It’s a fun, sustainable way to experiment with texture without creating unnecessary waste.
8. Sea Glass
Look for pieces of sea glass found on the beach into stunning jewellery. Its smooth, frosted texture and natural colours make it perfect for creating one-of-a-kind pendants, earrings, or rings. Simply wrap the glass with wire to make a necklace or bracelet. Each piece of sea glass is unique, adding a personal, nature-inspired touch to your accessories. This is a beautiful way to repurpose ocean treasures into wearable art that tells a story of the sea.
9. Used Tea Bags for Dyeing Paper or Fabric
After drinking your tea, save the bags for natural dyeing. Tea contains tannins that can be used to create warm, earthy tones on paper, fabric, or even wooden surfaces, giving your art a vintage feel.
10. Coffee Grounds for Texture or Pigment
Save used coffee grounds and mix them into your paint for a natural, textured effect. They can also be used to stain papers or create a rich, earthy pigment for your artwork.
11. Plant-Based Paper for Collage
Use plant-based papers, like those made from hemp, bamboo, or cotton, for collage. These papers are sturdy, eco-friendly, and bring a natural, tactile quality to your creations.
12. Eggshells for Crushed Texture
Save and crush eggshells to add a delicate, organic texture to your paintings. Crushed eggshells can be sprinkled onto wet paint for a rough, textured surface, or mixed into your paint for a speckled effect. The eggshells provide a subtle natural texture and a unique addition to your artwork, while also being an eco-friendly way to recycle kitchen waste.
13. Repurpose an Old Dish Rack as a Drying Rack for Artwork
An old dish rack can be the perfect drying rack for your art studio! Use the slots meant for plates to hold canvases, boards, or even sketchbooks as they dry. The utensil holder can be used for brushes, palette knives, or other small tools, helping to keep your workspace organized while freeing up valuable surface area. This setup is especially useful in a small studio, keeping your art safe from smudges while drying and repurposing a household item into a practical studio essential.
14. Plant-Based Dyes for Colour
Use natural, plant-based dyes made from items like spinach, beets, turmeric, and berries to create beautiful colours for your artwork. These dyes are a great alternative to synthetic paints and are better for both you and the environment.
15. Wine Corks for Stamping
Repurpose wine corks for stamping unique textures and patterns onto your paintings or prints. They can easily be carved into different shapes and used for repeated impressions on paper or canvas.
16. Spices for Natural Pigments
Many spices, such as turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, and saffron, can be used to create natural pigments for painting. By grinding the spices into a fine powder and mixing them with water, gum arabic, or a medium like acrylic gel, you can create unique, earthy tones for your artwork. Spices like turmeric offer vibrant yellows, while paprika gives warm reds and cinnamon offers deep browns. This method not only adds a personal touch but also connects your art to natural, sustainable ingredients.
17. Vegan Paints
Explore plant-based or vegan paints made from renewable ingredients and without toxic chemicals. Brands that focus on environmentally friendly paints offer rich pigments while maintaining sustainability.
18. Coffee Filters for Staining or Absorbent Textures
Reuse coffee filters to create unique textures in your paintings. They’re perfect for absorbing excess paint or for staining projects, and they bring an organic feel to your work.
19. Old Books or Magazines for Collage
Repurpose old books or magazines by cutting out images or text for collages. This is a great way to add layers of meaning to your work while breathing new life into forgotten materials.
20. Food Containers as Paint Palettes
Recycle old food containers (like plastic takeout containers, yogurt pots, or even the lids of coffee cans) to create your own eco-friendly paint palettes. These containers are the perfect size for mixing and holding paint, and they’re easily washable and reusable. You can also use the separate compartments of takeout containers to organize different colours, making them an efficient, no-waste solution for your studio. Once you're done, simply wash and repurpose the container again for your next painting session.
Until next time, let your creativity bloom in unexpected ways.
