Upcycled Throw Pillow Project and Some Thoughts on Re-Purposed Art

There is a lot of fun to be had in re-purposing something old into something new. I may not be a great seamstress, but I have enough basic sewing skills to act upon my creative ideas when I see just the right something. I found this quilted calico appliqued wall hanging stretched on a hoop at a second hand store, and immediately re-imagined it as a homestead-themed throw pillow. It was so easy from there. When I got it home, I took it off the hoop, cut out a circle of brown corduroy I had saved from a cut-up pair of worn out pants as the backing, turned everything inside out and began hand stitching. Stuffing it with batting was no trouble at all, and pretty soon I had this very cool throw pillow that fit right in with my farmhouse decor. Now I am imagining all kinds of other things to re-purpose into throw pillows, including ratty handmade quilts I have seen discarded in the Goodwill bins up in Portland, those Holly Hobby wall hangings from the 70’s, articles of clothing…the possibilities are endless.

And while we’re on the topic of up-cycled and re-purposed art…I recently discovered an artist who’s work I am completely enamored with. Toronto artist, David Irvine of the Gnarled Branch, caught my eye and relentlessly tickled my funny bone with his pop culture icons painted onto old landscape paintings from thrift stores. From Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper spending a lazy Sunday fishing on the pond, to Godzilla visiting a country cottage, I think his Re-Directed Art is a brilliant example of re-purposing and some good food for thought. I have actually noticed some lively debates and conversations in response to his art revolving around the ethical dilemma of altering original paintings, so it seems to me he’s doing a great job at doing what good artists do, and getting a dialogue going.

“A Summer Place” from www.thegnarledbranch.com

Here’s Dave’s Bio:
“The idea behind the Gnarled Branch first evolved in 2004 when David Irvine noticed a wooden table that was discarded in the trash.
He repaired it, refinished it and it became a beautiful painted piece
of functional art. The positive reaction to it from friends and family
paved the way for Dave to expand from traditional art formats (i.e.
canvas, paper, board etc) into making furniture art.
As well as
furniture Dave tried his hand at painting glass ornaments. As a
Christmas gift for his wife Noreen, Dave created an ornament featuring a
pixie holding a lantern with moss and small stones glued to add depth
to the design. Feeling quite taken by it for it’s detail and uniqueness,
along with the furniture that received so much positive feedback, she
felt that they should start a business to fully market Dave’s abilities
as a professional artist.

From there the Gnarled Branch was born.

Being an active home-based business, the Gnarled Branch attends various
art festivals which causes most people to stop for a second look to
admire the originality, humour and skill that Dave applies to his work.” 

And here are a couple of articles with examples of his work, 
one from the DailyMail.com UK, Artist Paints Pop Culture Icons Onto Salvaged Thrift Store Art,and one from TwistedSifter.com, This Guy Paints Random Characters into Old Thrift Store Paintings. 


Have a look and prepare to either laugh or be offended.
 

When we take something old and turn it into something new, we are actually doing something pretty amazing. Not only does this creative action reduce our ecological impact by recycling and saving materials from a potential fate in a landfill, but it is revitalizing art that otherwise may have been discarded or lay hidden
away and unappreciated. We are doing that art a favor. I think we are also doing ourselves a favor by taking an innovative leap of creative re-imagining, which is good for us as an individual and something the world could use a lot more of.