Headpiece – made from plastic garbage bags.
Ring – made from plastic straws
Handmade by Sonya Sanchez Arias
©Sonya Sanchez Arias – Art Jewelry

Reclaimed Beauty – Eco Godesses

USING RECYCLED ACCESSORIES FOR A BEAUTY PHOTO SHOOT!

There is great satisfaction in transforming one material, having one purpose, into something entirely different.

Headpiece – packing paper, wire and twisted brown paper.
Ring – Wire and twisted brown paper.
Handmade by Sonya Sanchez Arias
©Sonya Sanchez Arias – Art Jewelry

In this new body of work titled “Reclaimed Beauty”. I wanted to create ‘beauty shots’ with a twist. Instead of going the traditional route and using designer accessories and head wraps. I chose instead to make accessories out of materials that people normally discard or throw out as trash. I wanted to make the statement that with a little creativity, ingenuity and a different point of view “The possibilities are endless”.  I used black garbage bags, brown paper bags, plastic shopping bags, foil, brown packing paper, twine, wire, and old ball chains to make my accessories and head pieces for my Eco-Goddesses ; ) I have always enjoyed the challenge of repurposing and transforming discarded materials – and showcase a lot of that recycled work on this site. 

Headpiece – aluminum foil.
Ring – plastic spoon and fork.
Bracelet – Plastic knife, spoons and forks.
Handmade by Sonya Sanchez Arias
©Sonya Sanchez Arias – Art Jewelry

I collaborated with a beautiful model Leann Crupi who was happy to get some new beauty shots for her book, and an amazingly talented make-up artist Rochelle Lee who was willing to experiment with me on some creative make-up for my “Reclaimed Beauty images. It’s always a pleasure when exceptional people trust my vision and are willing to work together to make that vision a reality.

Headpiece – made from brown paper shopping bags and plastic shopping bags.
Ring – made from plastic shopping bags.
Handmade by Sonya Sanchez Arias
©Sonya Sanchez Arias – Art Jewelry

As an artist I am always a work in progress, always growing, always learning, always inspired by the possibilities. I always experiment with unusual subjects and materials and constantly try to bring something different to every shoot and collaboration. If my work has a mission, it is this: To see the beauty and potential of all things, and the possibilities that a different point of view can create.

Headpiece – made from plastic garbage bags.
Ring – made from hammered wire
Handmade by Sonya Sanchez Arias
©Sonya Sanchez Arias – Art Jewelry

When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change! -Wayne Dyer.
One of my favorite quotes that pretty much sums up my attitude towards my photography and many other aspects of my life!

CREDITS:

Rochelle Lee – Hair & Makeup (crazy talented – a joy to work with)
Leann Crupi– Model (the total package)
Sonya Sanchez – Concept, Art Direction, Styling and Photography, Recycled Accessories
Fernando Arias – Photography, Lighting, Retouching
(My Partner In Crime – the other half of the Dynamic-Duo that is Sanchez Arias Photography ; )