Elaine Bounce is an autistic artist and creator. Passionate about using up-cycled waste materials and transforming them into functional objects. Elaine is self taught through experimentation, experience and research. Iveragh eco drums came from the requests to make an eco friendly frame drum at various events with a giant 14ft drum Fuinneamh. The drums are fully vegan, 90% up cycled waste materials are used in the design and construction The only vegan drums made in Ireland using only Irish waste material’s.
When I can spend a day in the studio it involves me cutting pipes/sail cloth/seatbelts and painting drum skins. I usually do large batches of ten at a time of each which takes me a full day.
Painting is usually the last stage and then it’s off to the sewing room to attach the seatbelts to the skins. Another aspect which must be done separately is the sorting and washing of fishing nets which can take a full day depending on the size of the net.
I then undo the knots to create the individual strings needed to string the drums. Once the drums are made I can the start looking at the right design for a drum and the designs only happen once I’ve heard how an individual drum sounds. So a day in the workshop can look very different depending on the jobs that need completing.
Don't be afraid to stand out from others in your chosen discipline, follow your heart and be true to your artistic vision.
Elaine Bounce
Iveragh Eco Drums
I love painting the drum designs. I also like the structure of getting the waste materials from their original form to bring a useful part of a drum. Undoing the nests is quite meditative too.
The Sewing machine and jigsaw.
What do you like least about your work?
Cutting and sanding the pipes.
Cleaning the nets, that can be quite smelly.
Usually take the cats for a walk.
What do you listen to?
Old school house or reggae.
What’s your favourite time of the day?
Early morning when it’s quiet.
What other maker in your discipline do you most look up to?
Don’t know anyone else making vegan drums.
How do you start your day?
Tea, chi gong and porridge in that order.
Favourite meal?
Vegetarian stew.
