Saving paint from old tubes changed my watercolor game

Tbh, I was sorting through my art stuff and saw a pile of watercolor tubes with just a little paint left. I squeezed all the leftovers into a clean palette to make new pans, which was a bit messy but fun. Now I have fresh colors without buying more plastic. This got me thinking about trash from art supplies. I also save my painting water for my garden plants instead of wasting it. It feels good to cut down on waste. Does anyone else try to paint in a more eco-friendly way? Maybe you use recycled paper or natural brushes?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_dakota11h ago

What's your method for getting every last bit out of the tubes? I use the back of a small spoon to scrape them clean. I also keep a big jar for my painting water and let the sediment settle, then reuse the clear water on top for my next session. It saves a ton of water over time. Have you found any other good tricks for reusing supplies?

paige1661d ago

Ever tried making your own paper scraps into pulp? I save all my failed paintings and sketch paper, soak them, then blend it with a bit of water to make new sheets. It's kinda lumpy but perfect for texture practice.

caseyhart1d ago

My trash can is getting lonely since I started hoarding every half-dry tube. I think it filed a complaint about the lack of colorful sludge lately, lol. Guess being eco-friendly has its casualties.

hernandez.eric1d ago

Totally, I've been cutting up old sketchbook pages to make small practice sheets too.