US junk mail artist makes a fortune

WASHINGTON: Sandhi Schimmel Gold, a collage artist from Phoenix, Arizona, is making a fortune out of trash that arrives in her mailbox.

Gold, 56, makes intricate collages that sell for up to $10,000 a portrait- and all of her materials, apart from glue, don't cost a dime.

She spends weeks on her works which range from the classical Venus to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.

She did a junk mail portrait of Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.

Gold is particular about the kind of junk mail she likes. These include old cinema tickets, business cards and Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons.

She cuts the paper into pieces, making sure to remove logos, and puts each colour in a separate filing cabinet. One drawer is dedicated to 'celery green.'