Today I am sharing a simple DIY abstract artwork piece I created for our entryway. I’ll walk you through how to create a masterpiece of your own!
Without further adieu, I present my art!
I had needed something for an awkward area in our main hallway that I had yet to fill. I’ve always been a fan of abstract art, but I also love water/beach elements. So, I decided to create a piece that fit the bill.
This canvas honestly took me about 30 minutes to make, using only six colors and $.69 craft paint {this brand}, but I am really loving it! I feel like the real secret to art that looks at least semi-legit is the canvas size. I always feel like bigger as better, and I always go with the deeper canvases for a more professional look. This particular piece was 24×36 inches {I picked it up at Michael’s during a buy 1 get 2 free sale but you can also buy a similar one here}.
Because it only took me 30 minutes, I don’t have many photos of my steps along the way. However, my technique was very similar to this and this project, both of which I completed previously.
Here were my SUPER fancy supplies. A paper plate, six paint colors {$.69 acrylic craft paints – my favorite is this brand} and a 3″ brush {just a cheapy from the hardware store – nothing fancy}. The paint colors I used specifically were the following:#485 Raw Umber, #407 Kelly Green, #427 Ivory White, and #2499 Skyline {the deep blue that was by far my favorite}. Also used, but not shown, were#640 Light Periwinkle and #442 Baby Blue. Shown, but not used is #503 Yellow Citron.
I don’t load a lot of paint on my brush. Early the process, I just layer the paint, starting with the darker colors first. And then just kind of dab my brush in the paint lightly.
I just keep working up the canvas and adding in lighter colors as I go.
Make sure you are covering all the white canvas. As I worked towards the top, I still painted over all the white, I just used white paint. That will help your colors to blend better. Once the entire canvas was covered in paint, I then went back with an even drier brush to add in light touches of green and to lighten some of the areas with white paint.
The key thing to remember when trying DIY art – especially in this capacity. You really CAN’T mess it up! If you hate a section, just paint over it! The process really doesn’t need to be stressful so try and have some fun with it. You’ll love your results so much more.
I am really happy with how my artwork turned out! I still need to figure out how to finish off the sides – not sure if I’ll paint it gold or another solid color or add a wood frame with lattice wood like I did on this piece. Regardless, the entryway is now a much prettier {and more colorful} space! It is hard to photograph the piece in this space though because all the natural light from the windows tends to wash it out. But I promise, in real life, the saturation is beautiful and looks much more like my third image below.
This was one of my favorite projects so far and I can’t wait to see the creations the other ladies came up with!
Now, be sure to check out all of the other amazing art projects from this talented group of ladies:
Rosa Beltran Design / Commona My House / Suburban Bitches / The Project Girl
Lastly, be sure to stop and check out the Friday Fall Home Tours! If you would like to follow along on more of my home decor, DIY, lifestyle and other posts, I’d love to have you follow me on any of the following:
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LOVE this. I make something similar a year ago, but on acrylic paper. A canvas would look amazing in my foyer! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
I love how your art turned out!!! SO much better than how mine turned out and this was more like what I had in my mind 🙂 I’m definitely going to give it another shot! Pinning…
I love this! Turned out great… thanks for the inspiration 🙂
What brand of paints are these ??? I love your color choices ..
Thanks! They are Folk Art brand.
Do you sell your art? I love this
Thank you! Unfortunately at this time, I do not sell it, but maybe at some point down the road 🙂
This is a beautiful piece of art, especially for something so easy to do. I like that you didn’t go with something tacky such as coffee filter “flowers,” or a ditzy thing like that. Your house is beautiful, and if it’s the one I’ve been seeing at various times over the last couple years, you’re doing a lot to it; it deserves something as beautiful as this. Just out of curiosity, are you perhaps going to put a small table or a narrow shelf below it to ground it?
Your work on your house so far has been wonderful and inspirational (in the decorative sense), and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it as you continue working on it.
Thank you SO much! I actually bought a bench for underneath the artwork a few days after this post and it looks so much better now 🙂
I just stumbled upon this project via Pintrest and it reminded me of when several years ago I was trying out new wall colors for the house. I purchased several canvases and just randomly painted them with test colors. Last year when my ex was selling the house, he came across them thinking that they were one of my daughter’s art projects. When he realized they were just paint samples he was about to toss them. One of them captured my eye, and I took it back to my apartment and hung it on the wall. No one was the wiser…..
I absolutely love this painting! We’re redoing our kitchen and I’ve been struggling with choosing the paint colors that will be in kitchen and swooping around into the dining and living rooms and into the hallway. It really will bring on a full design change. These colors are what I’ve been looking for! I did a Sherwin Williams Chip It on the painting and it presented me with a beautiful pallet of colors. Hoping it’s the direction we’re going. (And what a great idea by the previous comment to test paint samples on canvases! )
This was me one year ago!! I just came back to the post today to share your painting with a friend and found my comment. I DID use two of the paint colors that the Sherwin Williams Chip It suggested for your painting — Smoky Blue and Fleur de Sel — for my kitchen remodel and we LOVE IT!!! Now to figure out where I can put a painting like this in my living room!
Love this idea for the background of my “rocks”…abstract people on a beach with palm trees!!
I would have continued my painting around the edges and not had the addition cost of a frame! beautiful though, love it!
Thank you thank you for showing me how to make a beautiful painting I painted over an old picture and it turn out great. your home is very nice, love your colors