Creative Reuse in Mixed Media Art: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected

Sometimes, the most beautiful creations come from the things we overlook. An old canvas with layers of past creations. A scrap of fabric from a worn-out dress. Dried leaves that crunched underfoot on a forest walk. All these pieces, often discarded, carry stories waiting to be told anew.

In mixed media art, there is a certain magic in creative reuse—a practice that invites us to see the world not for what it is, but for what it could become.

Reviving the Past: Reusing Old Canvases

There is a quiet joy in taking an old, forgotten canvas and breathing new life into it. It’s a bit like whispering to the past, “You still have a story to tell.” Perhaps it was a piece that didn’t turn out as planned, or a canvas found at a thrift store, covered in another artist’s faded creation. By sanding it down, layering it with gesso, or embracing the texture of what’s already there, you create space for something fresh to emerge. There’s no need for perfection—only the willingness to start again.

Be sure and visit the Creative Delight Studio Channel on YouTube and watch:

‘Hitting Refresh on an Old Canvas: Mixed Media Tips & Tricks!’

In this 35 minute video, I show you how to use paper collage, gesso, and a bit of creative courage to transform a "meh" painting into a visually captivating mixed media adventure. I’ll be sharing some of my favourite mixed media tips, tricks, and discoveries along the way.

And hey, why not create alongside me? Grab an old substrate and see where this journey takes you—sometimes the best art comes from reimagining what’s already there!

Old Fabrics and Textures from the Past

Old clothing carries stories. Maybe it’s a tattered scarf from your grandmother, or a piece of lace from a dress that saw its last party decades ago. When we cut these fabrics, sew them onto our canvases, or fuse them with gel medium, we are not just adding texture—we are weaving history into our art (our history). We are saying, “This mattered. This was loved.” There is a peace, and a satisfaction, that comes from honouring the past in this way, from turning what might have been discarded into something cherished.

Recycled Papers and the Layers of Life

There is an almost meditative quality to working with recycled papers—old letters, book pages, forgotten notes. Each piece holds a past, a fragment of time. When we tear, dye, layer, or burn these papers, we are not just altering their appearance; we are transforming their stories. There is healing in this act, in the way we can take something broken and make it whole again, in a different form. We learn that nothing is ever truly lost; it simply changes shape.

If you would like to dive deeper into the papers and layer of mixed media collage, browse through last week’s blog post where we explore all the layers of possibilities in ‘Artisan Inspiration Bundles’ and ‘Creating a Sensory Map of Memories’.

Crafting Your Own Story Through Mixed Media Collage

Join Me in This Journey of Creative Reuse

I invite you to explore this journey of creative reuse with me in one of my Creative Delight Studio workshops.Together, we will find beauty in the unexpected, turning what might have been cast aside into something soulful and meaningful. Whether it’s a dried-up tube of paint or packing materials, there is always something new to discover. Use the code 10OFF to get a $10 discount on any workshop!