Original Art — Handcrafted from Recycled Materials

What others
throw away,
Sylvia turns
into a face.

Every portrait is built entirely by hand from cardboard, paper bags, and coffee cup sleeves. No paint. No brushes. Just patience, vision, and materials most people never look at twice.

Coco — recycled cardboard portrait by Sylvia Douglin
Viola — recycled cardboard portrait by Sylvia Douglin

Signature Collection

Eclectic Faces:
Portraits with a past life.

These aren’t prints. They aren’t paintings. Each portrait is built layer by layer using only salvaged cardboard, paper bags, bamboo forks, and coffee cup sleeves. Sylvia cuts each element by hand and assembles them into faces with real depth, texture, and emotion.

The result is something you can’t replicate with a brush and canvas. The material itself becomes the art. And because no two scraps are identical, no two pieces ever will be either.

View the Gallery

The Process

How a piece of cardboard
becomes a portrait

01
Gather & Select

Sylvia collects everyday materials most people discard. Each piece is chosen for its texture, weight, and potential before the work begins.

02
Cut & Shape

Every element is cut entirely by hand. No templates. No machine cutting. What you see in the finished work was shaped by Sylvia’s hands alone.

03
Layer & Build

Pieces are layered to create depth, dimension, and expression. The face emerges gradually. The material does the work that paint would in another artist’s hands.

Second Collection

Personalized Denim:
Wear your story.

Hand-painted denim jackets that go well beyond fashion. Each one is a canvas for your memories, milestones, and passions. You bring the story. Sylvia paints it on.

No two jackets are the same because no two people are the same. It’s wearable art that means something.

Commission a Jacket

Marilyn — personalized denim jacket by Sylvia Douglin
Sylvia Douglin

Meet the Artist

Sylvia Douglin:
A Creative Spirit, Always.

Creativity has been woven into Sylvia’s life from the very beginning. At four years old she was already sketching faces and designing clothes for anyone who would sit still long enough. That instinct never left her. It simply found different expressions along the way.

For over 30 years she channeled that creative energy into corporate America, designing leadership and development programs that required vision, precision, and the ability to see potential where others didn’t. The medium changed. The drive never did.

When she retired in 2024, she didn’t start something new. She came back to what has always been true. Today, Sylvia works exclusively with recycled cardboard and paper, building portraits entirely by hand with no paint and no brushes, just material, instinct, and decades of a creative life finally given its full room.

Sylvia Douglin
Full Story

What Collectors Say

The work speaks for itself.
But they said it anyway.

Sylvia beautifully captured a joyful moment in time with her incredible artistry, transforming simple cardboard into a heartfelt reflection of happiness. I’m truly grateful for this unique and personal piece.

Denise R.

Puerto Vallarta

The mask I got is not just a piece of art, but a conversation starter. The craftsmanship and creativity in using recycled materials are outstanding. Highly recommended.

Mitchell W.

Seattle

I am so in awe of her work. Every piece she creates is a testament to her incredible talent and meticulous attention to detail. I look forward to the day I commission a piece for my new space.

Janet M. T.

Philadelphia

Commission a Work

Own something no one else has.

Every piece Sylvia creates is one of a kind by nature. Whether you’re looking for a portrait, a statement piece, or a gift that actually means something, a commissioned work starts with a conversation.

Commission a Face
Commission a Jacket