Spotted: Recycled Folk Art by Deane Bowers

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers* makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces.

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces from found objects.

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers* makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces from found objects.

Deane scours streets and beaches for litter and natural materials, which she transforms into brightly-colored art. No ancient piece of rusted metal is safe from her creative eye! She collects all of her found objects, and brings them back to her studio in Charleston, South Carolina. There, she cuts, glues, bends, and paints her finds to create whimsical wall art.

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces from found objects.
Deane says that rusted-out materials like these old cans are her favorite to reuse.

Deane’s passion for reuse began with a rained-out beach weekend. She and another artist friend were stuck in their rented beach house because of heavy rains. Rather than let the terrible weather ruin their vacation, they got out into the rain and gathered everything they could find on the beach and in the parking lots to make some art. They got to work, and she discovered her passion for turning junk into colorful, beautiful art.

I have to admit: after living in the south for 14 years, I have a soft spot in my heart for folk art. I love the cheerful colors, the eclectic feel, and the rough edges. Deane’s nature-inspired pieces just warm my heart. I love her birds, flowers, trees, country houses, and gardens!

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces from found objects.
Peas ‘n’ Carrots by Deane Bowers

Not only does Deane make beautiful recycled art, she shares her skills as a volunteer art educator. In an interview with Winterthorne, she told Myra Caballero about volunteering in classrooms and at local events to teach kids how to make their own upcycled art. She also does talks at local retirement communities and donates her art to charitable organizations. She told Caballero, “I especially love finding organizations that need some happy art to brighten their facilities and uplift their staff and visitors.”

Mixed media artist Deane Bowers makes vibrant, cheerful upcycled folk art pieces from found objects.
Bird and Sunflowers by Deane Bowers

Get Yourself Some Recycled Folk Art!

Like her folksy aesthetic, Deane keeps her business simple. She doesn’t maintain an online shop, sticking instead to galleries and individual sales. If you’d like a piece of Deane’s for yourself or for a gift, you can contact her at DeaneValentineBowerArt@gmail.com.

Want to check out more of Deane’s work? Follow her on Instagram, find her on Facebook, follow her on Pinterest, or follow her on Twitter. I spent hours perusing her Instagram account to research for this article, and you guys. I am hooked!

This article was sponsored by Deane Bowers, all opinions are my own. 

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