Top 5 'From-Earth-to-Art' Regenerative Craft Supplies to explore for a Zero-Waste Studio in 2025 - Goh Ling Yong
Hey there, fellow creator! Take a look around your studio. What do you see? Tubes of vibrant paint, blocks of luscious clay, rolls of crisp paper—the tools of our trade, the very things that let us bring our imagination to life. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve also felt that little pang of guilt when you toss out a nearly-empty plastic paint tube, a pile of paper scraps, or a dried-up marker. The creative process can, unfortunately, be a wasteful one.
For years, the conversation has been about creating a "zero-waste" studio, focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling. That’s a fantastic and crucial first step. But what if we could take it further? What if our art supplies didn't just avoid harming the planet, but actively helped to heal it? This is the heart of a regenerative practice. It’s about choosing materials that are part of a circular, earth-friendly lifecycle—materials that come from the earth and can return to it harmlessly, often enriching it in the process.
As we look towards 2025, the world of sustainable materials is exploding with incredible innovations. The line between science, nature, and art is blurring, giving us a whole new palette to play with. This isn't about limiting our creativity; it's about expanding it in the most meaningful way possible. It's about crafting a story that begins long before our brush touches the canvas. So, let's explore five of the most exciting 'From-Earth-to-Art' regenerative supplies that are set to redefine what it means to be a conscious creator.
1. Mycelium: The Living, Breathing Sculpture Material
Imagine a material you can grow in your studio, one that forms itself into any shape you desire and then, at the end of its life, becomes compost for your garden. It sounds like science fiction, but it's very real. Meet mycelium—the intricate, thread-like root structure of fungi. It's nature's glue, a living network that binds soil together, and now, it's a revolutionary material for artists.
Mycelium is regenerative by its very nature. It's grown on agricultural waste products like sawdust, corn husks, or hemp, transforming potential landfill fodder into a valuable resource. The process uses minimal energy, and the final material is completely biodegradable and non-toxic. It's lightweight yet surprisingly strong, with a texture somewhere between styrofoam and soft wood. Here in the Goh Ling Yong studio, we're constantly amazed by its versatility and its deep connection to the natural world's cycles of growth and decay.
- How to Use It: You can purchase "grow-it-yourself" kits that come with a substrate inoculated with mycelium spores. Simply add water, pack the mixture into a mold (which you can 3D print, build from wood, or even form with plastic containers), and wait. In about a week, the mycelium will have grown to fill the shape. You then bake it at a low temperature to stop the growth, leaving you with a solid, paintable object. Think lightweight sculptures, custom art-shipping packaging that your customers can compost, textured wall panels, or even unique jewelry pendants.
2. Algae-Based Inks: Pigments from the Pond
Every printmaker, illustrator, and calligrapher knows the importance of a good ink. But conventional inks are often petroleum-based and loaded with synthetic chemicals and heavy metals that are harsh on the environment. The alternative? Look to the vibrant green (and black, and blue!) world of algae. Algae are one of the most efficient organisms on the planet at sequestering carbon, and innovators are now harnessing their power to create stunning, sustainable pigments.
Companies like Living Ink are transforming algae into carbon-negative black inks that are safer, biodegradable, and have a beautiful, rich matte finish. When used in screen printing, the ink initially appears faint but darkens to a deep black as it's exposed to UV light—a magical, interactive element to the creative process. These inks are not only better for the planet, but they also connect our art directly to the Earth’s carbon cycle.
- Tips for Your Studio: While commercial algae inks are becoming more accessible, you can also experiment with making your own simple pigments from spirulina powder (a type of blue-green algae). Mix the fine powder with a natural binder like gum arabic and a little water to create a basic watercolor or calligraphy ink. The colors might not be as lightfast as their synthetic counterparts, but they are perfect for sketchbooks, studies, and ephemeral works. Using algae-based ink invites a conversation about where our colors come from and the environmental story they tell.
3. DIY Bioplastics: Sculpting with Food Scraps
Plastic is everywhere in an artist's studio—from acrylic paint polymers to packaging. Bioplastics offer a fascinating, hands-on alternative that you can cook up right in your own kitchen. Unlike fossil-fuel plastics, bioplastics are derived from renewable biomass sources, like vegetable fats, corn starch, or even food waste. The best part for a zero-waste studio is that many are compostable, breaking down into natural elements.
Creating your own bioplastic is a wonderfully experimental process that feels like a blend of cooking and alchemy. By combining simple ingredients like corn or potato starch, water, glycerin (for flexibility), and vinegar, you can create a polymer that can be cast into sheets, poured into molds, or used as a glaze. You can embed natural objects like leaves, flowers, or threads into the plastic as it sets, creating beautiful, translucent effects.
- A Simple Recipe to Start: In a saucepan, mix 1 tablespoon of corn starch with 4 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of glycerin and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. It will thicken quickly and become translucent. Once it's a thick, smooth paste, spread it onto a non-stick surface (like a silicone mat) to dry into a flexible sheet, or press it into a small mold. You can add natural food colorings or spices like turmeric or paprika to the mix for a pop of color. Use these custom sheets in collage, for making jewelry, or as unique covers for handmade books.
4. Kombucha Leather (SCOBY): The Fermented Fabric
If you've ever brewed your own kombucha, you're already familiar with the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). It's that rubbery, alien-looking disk that floats on top and works the magic of fermentation. But once it gets too big, what do you do with it? Don't throw it out—turn it into art! When harvested, washed, and dried, a SCOBY transforms into a durable, flexible, leather-like material often called "vegan leather" or microbial cellulose.
This material is a perfect example of a closed-loop system in a creative practice. The "waste" product of one process (brewing tea) becomes the raw material for another. The resulting textile has a beautiful, organic texture and a translucent, amber-like quality. It can be dyed with natural pigments, oiled to be more water-resistant, and even sewn, cut, or sculpted. It’s a living material that carries the history of its own creation.
- Creative Applications: Grow a large SCOBY in a wide, shallow container. Once it's about a quarter-inch thick, carefully remove it, wash it gently with cool, soapy water, and lay it flat on a wooden or plastic board to dry completely (this can take several days). You can shape it over forms as it dries to create three-dimensional objects. Use the finished "leather" for bookbinding, creating unique collage elements, crafting avant-garde jewelry, or as a canvas for natural inks. Every piece will be unique, with its own patterns and imperfections.
5. Foraged Earth Pigments: Painting with Your Local Landscape
This is perhaps the most ancient and direct 'From-Earth-to-Art' practice. For centuries, artists have created paints by grinding down rocks, clays, and soils found in their immediate environment. Reviving this tradition today is a powerful way to de-commodify your art practice and build a profound connection with your local landscape. This is more than just making paint; it's about understanding geology, ecology, and the history written in the ground beneath your feet.
Foraging for pigments, which I, Goh Ling Yong, find to be a deeply meditative practice, involves responsibly collecting colored clays, soft stones (like ochres and siennas), and even charcoal from sustainable sources. These raw materials are then crushed, ground into a fine powder, and washed to separate the pure pigment from debris. This powder can then be mixed with a variety of natural binders to create any type of paint you need: egg yolk for tempera, linseed oil for oil paint, gum arabic for watercolor, or even soy milk for a simple, casein-like paint.
- Getting Started with Foraging: Start by researching your local geology. What types of minerals and clays are common in your area? Always practice responsible foraging: never take more than you need, get permission if you're on private land, and avoid disrupting sensitive ecosystems. Look for colorful clays along riverbanks or soft, colored rocks at construction sites (with permission!). A great beginner's set to forage is yellow ochre, red iron oxide, and white kaolin clay, which can be found in many parts of the world. Grinding these by hand with a mortar and pestle and then mixing your first paint from pure earth is an unforgettable experience that will change the way you see color forever.
Your Regenerative Journey Starts Now
Embracing a regenerative art practice isn't about achieving perfection overnight. It's about curiosity, experimentation, and a shift in mindset. It’s about viewing your studio not as a place of consumption, but as an ecosystem that is interconnected with the world outside its walls. By exploring materials like mycelium, algae, bioplastics, kombucha leather, and foraged pigments, we do more than just make art—we become active participants in a more sustainable and beautiful future.
These five materials are just the beginning. The world of regenerative resources is vast and growing every day. The most important step is the first one: pick one idea that excites you and give it a try. Get your hands dirty. Grow something. Forage for a color. See what happens when you let the earth become your primary collaborator.
Now, I'd love to hear from you. Which of these 'From-Earth-to-Art' materials are you most excited to explore in your own studio? Share your thoughts and any of your own zero-waste tips in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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