How to Make Art From Debris

Next time you see a wayward golf ball, hunk of twisted metal or foil gum wrappers on the side of the road, look again. Those things can all become art. It’s fun and easy to make art from debris and it also helps out the environment because you’ll be picking up trash. Just be careful nothing is contaminated, follow a few steps and you, too, can make art from debris.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Keen eye
• Assorted debris
• Paint pens, markers, paint
• Heavy-duty craft glue
• Imagination

1. Find the debris. These things can range from sticks to socks to broken glass shards. One of my latest takes was a couple of sticks, a golf ball and the rubber end of a shower curtain rod.
2. Take the stuff home and wash it, brush it or otherwise remove caked on dirt. The golf ball was clean enough, the sticks had some junk stuck to them and the rubber shower curtain rod end was only a little discolored.
3. Place the items on a table and gaze at them to see what calls out to you. My items screamed "man standing on his head."
4. Paint, glue, adjust, readjust and otherwise assemble the debris into something art-like. I drew a face on the golf ball, a design on the rubber shower curtain end and made it his hat and the sticks into a cross-like body. I glued it altogether into my masterpiece (pictured).
5. Let dry and enjoy! Debris art makes awesome conversation pieces, bookcase adornments or gifts.

Tips & Warnings

• Travel with a plastic shopping bag for spontaneous debris moments.
• While you’re scouring the street for debris, you often find cool things like jewelry or money.
• Always keep an eye out for flat-surfaced items that can be drawn or painted on.
• Debris-seeking doesn’t only have to be on the streets. You can find fine specimens in the desert, the beach or the woods.
• Be careful picking up any debris and don’t go for anything too gross. Also refrain from needles, baggies or anything else that may have bad connotations.
• Don’t pick up dead animals--they smell.