Sometimes I can spend days (or even weeks) on a piece of decorative wall art trying to get a detailed light up marquee or giant gallery wall together. As much as I love to create rather complex ideas, it’s also nice to have some quick tricks I can use to create some art in a matter of a few hours rather than days. I love seeing all the abstract modern art paintings that adorn so many of the mid-century houses, so I thought it would be fun to create a quick version for my own house!
Once I found the right size canvas for the spot, I used some painter’s tape to block off a few strategic areas to color in with paint.
A little trick when you are trying to create clean lines with painter’s tape is to first paint over the lines with the color that will be next to the color you are painting in that area. The first coat of paint is usually the one that will seep under the tape a bit and seal the edge, so if that first coat is already the color of the canvas or wall base, you won’t even notice if you have any paint seep through! Since I was going to have the white of the canvas be next to all the color blocked areas, I used plain white acrylic paint and went over all the edges first.
Once that paint was dry, I filled in each area with the color paint I had chosen in as many coats as needed.
Once the paint had set, I pulled off the painter’s tape to reveal the clean lines underneath!
Not too bad for a quick art project, huh? Of course you can use whatever colors and line divisions you want for your painting. I just got the small sample sizes of paint at the store (Valspar Peach Whisper and Almond Glaze and Sherwin-Williams Black Fox), and they were more than enough for this type of project. I would suggest sketching out your design first on a piece of paper (or Photoshop or Illustrator if you know those programs) before marking off your tape lines to make sure you like the pattern first. Hope this helps you add a bit of art to your space! xo. Laura
Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
30 Comments
Wow, sometimes the easiest things create the best effect. I love this!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
So simple and yet so chic! Great DIY guys!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
This looks so cool, and easy to do. http://www.hannamarielei.com
Such a cute idea!!! I love it!
Nicky Zeeb
xx
Unbelievably that looks easy enough for me to make!
This is such a great idea! & it actually looks like something I could make 🙂
This is so perfect for me right now! I’ve recently been getting back into painting as a release from all my metalsmithing and love this simple idea. Love how you use the painter tape technique for art, I’ve always just thought of it when painting a wall two colors.
Thanks for the inspiration,
-Maggie
maggiefinejewelry.com
This looks good! And it’s easy to do, definitely keeping this close x
http://jessicawoods.fr/blog/
This is so simple yet it looks amazing! So simple maybe even I could do it!
http://eloue.blogspot.co.uk/
Cool! This matches the space perfectly, without needing to spend hours toiling in front of the canvas.
Are you going to a one-post-per-day format? I’ve been missing the post lunch posts! :-
This looks great Laura! I took a fabric painting course recently and we used this technique – it’s fun and simple to do on fabric too. I’ve been intending to do it on some new cushions I’m making for our living room and your post is a great reminder that I need to get on and do it – thanks! 🙂
We’re considering it for the future, but currently we have two posts on most week days.
xx- Elsie
Looks amazing! What size is that canvas?
Love it! So simple yet stunning. Can’t wait to try it! xx
I love it!
http://www.petiteandhungry.com
Very nice! I love doing my own abstract art! I played around with some geometric art with watercolors a few weeks ago. So fun! http://www.snugglebuguniversity.com/2016/04/geometric-watercolor-art-for-your-walls.html
This is awesome! I can’t wait to try this for my apartment!
ohsoalex.wordpress.com
It’s a great idea! Need to try!
Stacy from http://www.stacyco.com
This turned out sooooo awesome! That tip with the painters tape is going to save me so much work. I’ve never heard it before and I always have that problem so thanks for sharing! 🙂
Where did you source your canvas? Did you stretch it or buy it pre-stretched? I’m always on the lookout for large canvases that don’t cost a fortune!
I think it’s a 40×40″ 😉
Laura
I usually use coupons and get them at hobby lobby or JoAnns 🙂
Laura
So easy, but so cool! Thanks for sharing!
Laura
http://laurelandfern.com/
Hi Laura,
It’s amazing. Looking really nice. I like your creative ideas.
Thanks!
Good call. I was just scoping out the prices at Michaels… not bad with a 40% off coupon! 🙂
Thanks, Laura!
I love this! we really need some art in our place, thanks for the tutorial!
Maggie | BeautyPhD.ca
So simple. Love these DIY projects that anyone can do and require no building.
https://throughmyowneyes.com/2016/05/25/myneck/
So simple and decorative
http://soldenochedecocrochet.blogspot.com.ar/
Forget the art, that useful tip on painter tape!! :O Why did no one told me any sooner, like 15 years ago or something?! 😀