Fine arts classes, specifically painting classes, are beautiful spaces for artists to produce art, get creative and create loads of waste. Observing my class week after week I’ve noticed that entering the room the garbage is limited and if empty and leaving the class, after a hefty six hours, the trash is filled to the brim, or overflowing. After the class trash is filled with TONS of of wasted paper towels, paper and plastic cups.
Thinking about all the garbage I’ve decided there had to be a better way. Yes people can reuse water bottles, cups, pallets, or towels but this isn’t always practical for a traveling New Yorker on the Subway. Compacting all the needs of an artist while reusing “garbage” can better the environment and make traveling much easier and lighter.
I’ve constructed a “painter set” by cutting an empty cereal box to fit a circular cup.
One side is open as a pocket to hold brushes.
The top of the box is coated in a sheet of pallet paper that can be washed and reused.
The cup that sits perfectly in the cereal box would be lined with a towel that is attached to the cup with velcro, so the artist can wash the towel and reuse the same towel to reduce the use of paper towels.
Although this may not be the sturdiest box, the materials can be interchanged within keeping the same design. The foundation could be made from thicker cardboard or other sturdier materials, and the cup could be glass but I worked with the materials that I was going to throw out.
