Deb Hastings
Mixed Media
Creative and thrifty, I've always sought possibilities in items others might discard. My guiding principle is straightforward: living resourcefully is a workout for creativity. This mindset took root when I was five—my mother encouraged me to build a toy wagon rather than purchase one, igniting my lifelong passion for upcycling.
Today, I transform thrifted leather and vintage cookie tins into imaginative and practical works of art. While fast fashion prevails, I seek out quality secondhand leather, restoring durable purses and wallets. For earrings, I repurpose colorful tins, turning vibrant patterns into lighthearted accessories that avoid ending up in landfills.
Outside my studio, I have worked as an Art Educator since 1988. After retiring from teaching elementary art in Lee, NH, I now share my skills across ages in libraries, local art shops, and continuing education. I also craft large-scale projects, ranging from murals to Artist-in-Residence initiatives helping students design lasting school mosaics. This April, I'm excited to collaborate with Horace Mitchell Primary School staff and students in scenic Kittery, Maine.
Interested in becoming a guest artist? Learn all about it.