Here I go again, telling you how easy it is to create your own art canvases for your home. Well, if you haven't tried it yet, why not? If you've priced out any paintings or prints recently you will realize that creating your own wall art is a much more affordable and creative option.
Our feature photo, courtesy of Benjamin Moore, shows three painted canvases that, when grouped together, help create a lovely vignette along with the mirrored chest and tabletop accessories. Creating a painting out of thin air isn't easy, but recreating something that catches your eye may very well be. It wouldn't be all that difficult to paint a similar canvas to the ones shown here, for instance. Some acrylic craft paint or even interior house paint can be used to paint pre-stretched canvases, which are available at arts-and-crafts supply stores. Dollar stores also carry canvases but not in larger sizes. The small ones are great for practice, though.
The fun in this project is that you can use leftover wall paint from your décor palette to create a painting that will definitely work in your space, where the colours are already set as a backdrop. So, search through magazines and on the Internet to find abstract art you like that can guide you in creating your own work of art.
Use a variety of textures
Using different materials, such as textiles, can also help you create a one-of-a-kind canvas. Stretch a great piece of fabric over the canvas and hang as-is. Embellish with notions as desired. Paint a canvas in a dark colour and stretch lace fabric over top for a two-toned, romantic effect. Use stencils (from lettering to figures) to create a beloved quote or words of wisdom. Glue wallpaper to a canvas for a different look. 'Frame' the canvas with decorative buttons, furniture tacks, beads or whatever you like. Glue string to the canvas to make a unique design (including names or words if desired) then paint the entire project in one solid colour. Hint: adding a texture, like sand or sawdust to the paint beforehand will provide even more textural quality to your piece. Paint small twigs in a solid colour and adhere to a canvas painted in a contrasting colour, or paint in a monotone palette. Use old road maps to cover a canvas then age the item with watered down brown craft paint.
Don't be afraid of silhouettes
You can easily create an art canvas of any silhouette you desire, whether it's of your pets, kids or yourself. The trick is to find photos of your chosen subject, enlarge them to an appropriate size for your canvas and cut around the subject's image. Paint the entire canvas in matte black craft paint and let dry. (If not the entire canvas, be sure to at least paint where the silhouette will be placed.) Cut out the silhouette of your subject photograph and place on the canvas where desired. (You'll be using the actual image of person or pet, not the background portion of the photo.) Wearing plastic gloves, hold the image in place and spray the canvas in a desired colour. Once you pull away the photo, you are left with a black silhouette. Hint: Use photo paper on which to print your image. It will hold up better during the painting process. You can add to this image by gluing a small string of pearls around the person's neck. For pets, consider adding a collar and/or tags. A smaller pet canvas would be cute hanging on the wall over a pet dish.
Many other items can be used to create a textural art canvas, from silk flowers to puzzle pieces. Once the item is painted in one solid colour, it will look fabulous and will give you a unique 3-D effect.
What to paint
Abstract painting is best, unless you are an artist. I'm definitely not, so I'd go with an abstract painting using colours that work in my décor. I did see a great idea on Pinterest, wherein the artist used rectangular canvases to recreate a large paint chip. Use three hues of one colour and tape off a border in between. Paint each section in a graduated colour then create a 'colour name' and write it on the card just like you'd find on a paint chip at the hardware store. It's a fun idea and would be neat for a home office.
I think a grouping of various sizes of canvases is more interesting than one gigantic painting. You can create an interesting vignette like the one pictured here. Take the plunge and try your hand at a creative project for your home. You may be surprised just how ingenious you are!
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