How I Ended Up Painting a Dumpster (And Why I’d Totally Do It Again)
Last summer, I got an unexpected call from our Main Street director, Katie Graves, here in Union City, TN:
“Hey Abi, would you want to paint… a dumpster?”
Insert dramatic eyebrow raise.
You know me—I love a challenge. And apparently, Main Street had big plans for some not-so-pretty parts of downtown. Five dumpsters in high-traffic areas were getting what I like to call a facelift (or, lipstick on a pig, if we’re being real).
But hey, art is art. Even when it’s on a dumpster.
🎯 Dumpster Hunting: Picking the Perfect Canvas
As the first artist to take on the challenge, I got to handpick the dumpster of my dreams. I went with a smaller one that was neatly tucked into a concrete holding area—only one visible side to paint, and that side faced Kiwanis Park and City Hall.
📍Location: Prime.
🧼Surface Area: Manageable.
🎉Mood: Let’s do this.
🎨 Designing a Dumpster Masterpiece
Next step: submit a design to be approved by the Main Street board.
My first thought?
“Let’s make this thing a real work of art—Like, hang-it-in-your-house level art”
I had just taken a trip to Atlanta and snapped a photo of a mural with bold florals over a black and white chevron background. Loved it. Except… tiny issue. I had never painted florals before. And a dumpster wasn’t exactly the place to start.
Tip #1: Paint what you know.
Big surfaces mean big time investments. Don’t waste hours perfecting one square inch of something new. For me, that meant going back to my signature color streak background.
Our director, Katie, also asked if I could tie in something Tennessee-themed. So of course, the Tri-Star had to take center stage.
And then came the fun part:
The Tennessee state animal is the raccoon… aka the "Trash Panda."
I couldn’t not put a raccoon on a dumpster. That’s practically destiny.
🖼️ From Sketch to Street
With the idea locked in my mind, I put it on canvas and submitted the final design. ✅ Approved!
Now came the real-world part: paint, weather, and logistics.
Tip #2: Time it right.
We waited until after winter to start. March felt like a safe bet... until it wasn’t.
Spring in Tennessee = rain + pollen + allergies = one very sniffly artist.
Shoutout to our local waste company, Platform, who cleaned and primed the dumpster beforehand. That was a HUGE help.
🛠️ Painting Prep & Materials
Tip #3: Think about wear zones.
Dumpsters get… well, dumped. Often. I avoided painting areas that would take the brunt of the impact from the truck. Painters tape was my best friend here.
What I used:
With so many colors in play, buying outdoor-grade paint in every shade wasn’t realistic. Thankfully, owning a studio means access to lots of materials. I pulled acrylics, chalk paints—whatever I had. And to seal the deal, I finished with several coats of water-based polyurethane. (Pro tip: water-based = less yellowing over time.)
@abihellmich19 BTS of my dumpster painting. This proves that anything can be a canvas. #trashpanda #dumpster #dumpsterart #raccoon #raccoons #downtown #art #publicart #mural #smallbusiness #theartroom #tennesseetrashpanda #tristar #tennessee #dumpstermural #brs #btsart ♬ My Blue Heaven - Django Reinhardt
Tip #4: Embrace the imperfections.
Even a “clean” dumpster comes with its quirks—dents, rust, or what I call “boogers.”
The color streak background helped camouflage all of that. Most people will never notice the flaws I worked around.
🧢 The Aftermath (In a Good Way)
I loved this little dumpster so much that I turned the design into a full merch line. From stickers to tees, the Tennessee Trash Pandas are now living their best lives beyond Union City.
And yes—I’d paint another dumpster in a heartbeat.
💡 Final Thoughts
So, to all my fellow artists: if someone ever asks you to paint a dumpster, say yes. You never know where your art might take you—or what unexpected joy you’ll find in the most unlikely of canvases.
@abihellmich19 The time has come for my dumpster painting to be revealed!! I am so excited my little trash pandas have found their permanent home. #trashpanda #dumpster #dumpsterart #raccoonsoftiktok #raccoon #raccoons #downtown #art #publicart #mural #artist #painting #studiolife #artroom ♬ Pretty Little Baby - Connie Francis