Bringing New Life to Old Buoys
Our Ocean faces many challenges, acidification, deoxygenation and plastic pollution, just to name a few. Marine plastics are threatening the health of our ocean ecosystem, everything from every day plastic items like plastic packaging to lost fishing gear winds up floating in our ocean and washes up on our beaches. While I can’t paint plastic bags or micro-plastics, I can use old fishing buoys as my canvases. Since 2018 I have been sourcing old fishing gear, either donated by local fishermen, or collected by beach combers and creating art with them. I paint kelp forests on these recycled buoys because it is my vision of a healthy marine ecosystem. I am endlessly inspired by the marine life off Vancouver Island and use my photography as a reference for my art.
How do I buy a buoy?!
I will be selling on a first come, first serve basis through Facebook, Instagram and my mailing list.
This is my way of making a tiny difference
I grew up working in the fishing industry on the West Coast of Canada and am a passionate advocate for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 14: Life Below the Water. We need to keep our Ocean clean and healthy so that we can continue to harvest marine protein respectfully and sustainably.
Sometimes I feel quite helpless as to how to make a difference in this world especially as we face the devastating effects of human caused climate change.
When you purchase one of my buoys, it comes with the story of who found it, where it was found and what it might have been used for. I want people to think about how their actions on land can impact our marine neighbours, even oceans away where we might not be able to see.
10% of the proceeds from sales of these recycled floats are donated to the Ucluelet Aquarium’s Marine Debris Initiative, OrcaLab, Pacific Salmon Foundation or another local marine charity working to help our marine environment.
Suggestions for buoy care: I paint these buoys with a plastic bonding primer base and hand paint the designs using acrylic paints. The buoys are all finished with a clear protective coat that is rated for outdoor use. I have had my buoy hanging on my porch (under cover) outside for 5 years and it has showed no signs of fading or peeling. To ensure your buoy stays looking fresh, make sure your buoy is displayed in an area out of the elements and where it cannot rub on another surface. Hard plastic buoys are more delicate and buoys should be kept away from contact with other surfaces that may crack or wear paint off the surface.