Path of the EcoArtist
An ecoartist is an artist who chooses to minimise their footprint by creating artwork using reclaimed and recycled materials as their media.
No different to other conventional artists, creating as an ecoartist involves making choices that shape the output of the artwork. Working in "found-object" or "trash" art, the artist is always presented with a unique shape and individually for every piece.
The greatest cost for an ecoartist is time.
Sourcing and processing second-hand materials for use within artwork requires the artist to be agile and patient in their development.
And like all artforms, effort equals output. While a abstract artwork might take only minutes to paint, the time and care taken in the setup is where experience and skill is demonstrated. This princible is even more relevant when creating from salvaged goods under the disciplines followed by ecoartists. In the case of recent artworks by SpaceKitty.NZ, each canvas was cut from a roll of discarded window blinds or past artworks. The ink and paint were mixed from quality household and industrial substances rescued from landfill, applied with repeatedly reused "single-use" applicators. As the process of clean-up is as important when creating ecoart, overspill was avoided, and applicator washing was chemical-free and required minimal water. The result achieved is vibrant artwork made from quality materials.
