This week we caught up with Sophie, a volunteer at Community RePaint Northampton to hear all about her latest RePainting project.
Tell us about how you came to volunteer at your local Community RePaint scheme.
“After struggling with my mental health for some time and not being able to work, I decided I had to do something. Volunteering seemed like the perfect first step to building up my confidence again, whilst also giving back to the community. I’ve always had a passion for painting so The Paint Shop is a great place to get ideas for personal projects.”
What do you love about volunteering there?
“Every customer brings their own personal story, tips and inspiration. We’d love to see more pictures of how our customers have used their paint, whether it’s big or small projects!”
We love your T-Rex mural, what’s the story behind it?
“The inspiration for the mural came from my son, he struggles to sleep in his own room so I thought it’d be a good idea to brighten it up a bit so he feels more comfortable. When I asked him what colour he’d like he said “a big T-Rex in the jungle!” I wasn’t planning to do a mural but seeing his face light up with excitement gave me the motivation!
I started by drawing the design on paper, using a picture of a dinosaur as a reference. I then had to figure out how to get that onto the wall so I made a projector using a card board box, a Polly pocket, a marker pen and my phone torch. Finally, I traced the dinosaur onto the wall and free handed the jungle behind it.”
Thanks Sophie for sharing your Community RePaint story, and for inspiring us all to get creative with leftover paint. We have no doubt that your son will treasure this mural for many years to come!
Sophie picked up the paint from Community RePaint Northampton, where the paint is saved from landfill and made available for reuse in the local community for projects just like this one.
To find your local Community RePaint branch to pick up preloved paint for your project or inquire about volunteering opportunities: click here.
Do you have a RePainting story of your own, get in touch with us at repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk