Victoria artist Beverly Hancock used to paint a painting and be done. But now, she cuts it up. And then, she weaves it into something new.

Karen Guilbault gathers pine needles 91裸聊视频� sometimes she91裸聊视频檒l even politely ask city removal not to rake over a spot. She then patiently bundles and weaves them into intricate baskets.

Award-winning fibre artist Martina Edmondson now makes whimsical creations out of nature foragings.

These women are all established artists riding the waves of a rising tide: the growing trend of repurposed art. Essentially, it91裸聊视频檚 using found or existing objects to create something entirely new.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a huge trend in the world, but the biggest trend is to use garbage and reuse things that we don91裸聊视频檛 think are beautiful,91裸聊视频� Hancock said. 91裸聊视频淎nd to try to make something that no one91裸聊视频檚 ever seen before out of something you would usually throw out.91裸聊视频�

In February, another 91裸聊视频榬epurposed91裸聊视频� artist from Victoria, driftwood sculptor Tanya Bub, was at an international exposition of repurposed art in Qatar called the Tadweer Art Exhibition. The exhibit merged the worlds of art and environmental consciousness, stated to be a testament to Qatar91裸聊视频檚 commitment to sustainability.

For artists who approach art through this lens, the draw lies in reconnecting with the natural world while relinquishing control and embracing spontaneity.

91裸聊视频淚 start with something that I find really interesting,91裸聊视频� Edmondson said of her diverse pieces, which include collage, sculpture and eco printing (using natural materials to dye paper with earthy tones and create imprints). 91裸聊视频淚 might think, oh, maybe this looks a little bit like a face or this could be an eagle. And then my imagination takes a flight.91裸聊视频�

She also does embroidery, but, 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not pretty embroidery. I guess I don91裸聊视频檛 do pretty very well. Or, I don91裸聊视频檛 find it pretty.91裸聊视频�

Pretty isn91裸聊视频檛 the point when approaching art in this manner. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e making it for yourself. And I think that comes with age,91裸聊视频� Edmondson said.

Hancock, an expressionist and figurative artist who finds it 91裸聊视频渆xhilarating91裸聊视频� to rip up and re-imagine her paintings into new works, agreed this is a new era of art-making for her. 91裸聊视频淚t is really interesting to see how artists91裸聊视频� work changes as their situation in life changes.91裸聊视频�

A growing eco-consciousness in the arts community

While repurposed art has always been around, all three artists said they91裸聊视频檝e seen it growing in popularity, all part of a growing eco-consciousness.

91裸聊视频淚 think with the way climate change is going, there will be more and more emphasis on, what are we using? What are we doing to the environment?91裸聊视频� Edmondson said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not saying everybody91裸聊视频檚 there, but, you know, I have a big following online. It91裸聊视频檚 a very big topic,91裸聊视频� Hancock said.

91裸聊视频淢any, many artists would say, 91裸聊视频楾here91裸聊视频檚 no paper towel in my studio. I91裸聊视频檓 using rags.91裸聊视频� So if you can91裸聊视频檛 do everything, you91裸聊视频檙e trying to do something, right? And I think every artist is sharing that information with each other.91裸聊视频�

Guilbault primarily uses pine needles to create her baskets. But she also paints stones to feature in the centre of these baskets, and once she91裸聊视频檚 done painting, she wipes her palette so the paint doesn91裸聊视频檛 go down the drain.

91裸聊视频淵ou see how we are all thinking about it,91裸聊视频� Hancock said. 91裸聊视频淲hen I went to art school, what a squiggle of time ago, in the 1970s, nobody talked about that. There wasn91裸聊视频檛 a single person in the art world that had ever even discussed, what do we do with this paint? Is it bad for the world?91裸聊视频�

Experience repurposed art

While the artists just wrapped up a group exhibit at Gage Gallery in March, Beverly Hancock will be exhibiting at Gage again April 2-14 with RAW: Unveiled Layers, which delves into the raw experiences that shape the human condition.

If you are interested in this type of artwork you can also check out art by Gerhard B盲r, Martha Haversham, Michelle Reader, Wim Delvoye and Yuken Teruya.

But Hancock, Guilbault and Edmondson would probably also encourage you to try it out for yourself.

91裸聊视频淚t is magical. After you get going, you go, 91裸聊视频業 could have never thought of that91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� Hancock said.