The treasure trove that is Scrapstore.
Every Saturday I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I’m fascinated by artistic practice – it’s not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist’s unique approach shapes their work, making it more than just a finished piece.
This week, I’ve decided to open the post to all subscribers.
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Thank you,
Thank you so much for joining me in my art practice this week.
Around a year ago I found a local treasure trove for artists called Scrapstore. In short, businesses and individuals donate their unused items to Scrapstore, whom are based in a huge warehouse. There’s a load of items (including household and gifts) that you can buy at a discount. The part I am most interested in is the membership, you pay £40 per year as a member and you get so so so much more for your money, let me explain…
For the £40, you visit as often as you like and fill your trolley with ‘scrap’. This scrap is two whole isles of bits and bobs that have been donated but are deemed unsellable. The isles will change every week as soon as new items arrive. As you’ll see in the video below, there’s so much an artist can use!
Not only that! Every time you visit you can have 3-metres of any material. I was very lucky to get a canvas roll which was 3m x 1.5 metres in size! It had some painting on the front, some kind of protest banner, but that’s fine. They have so much more fabric, if you’re into making clothes, it’s even more of a treasure trove.
So, I finally went down there and paid my £40! I had sent in my application 4 months prior.
Check out the video of me walking around the ‘scrap’ isles below:
Back at the studio. My wonderful canvas roll! I mentioned last week that I will start framing my finished canvas pieces, I’d also like to create new canvases using the roll. It’s like anything, I just need to complete one to have the confidence to complete more as there is a tiny bit of resistence. I loathed woodwork at school, and I feel antsy with precision, but now it’s part of my art practice, and I’d like to give it a go.
I’m over the moon with my new acrylic paints. They include pump nozzles at the top, ideal for me as I’m clumsy. It was a joy pumping these into little pots ready for mixing my oranges, blues and browns.
A shoutout to Cowling & Wilcox I’ve found my new paint supplier! (Disclaimer: *They paid me £1.5 million to endorse them).
I finished off this piece. I quite like the feeling of completing and signing off the piece with my signature. Although, most of the enjoyment comes from losing myself when painting, then it’s on to the next creation.
I did a bit more work on this piece. I got a bit further along but forgot to take another photo, more on this next week.
I started painting on the linoleum floor tiles that I collected from Scrapstore. The way the acrylics slide on the smooth tile surface is beautiful. I look forward to seeing how these dry, then I will carry on adding layers next week.
Orange and blue in my day-to-day life this week:
My daughter’s baby walker.
Thank you for joining me in my art practice for this week.
If any of my art moves and inspires you and you’d like to make a purchase. All you need to do is get in touch via steve@slart.me
Best wishes,
SLART
P.S. If you have any questions, please comment below.
*Just kidding. They paid me £0.00. I was just so happy with the 80% discount they had that I felt like sharing!