Can I just preface this tutorial by saying that if I can paint this then EVERYONE can paint it. I told my husband that I was going to paint a canvas with brushstrokes and he seriously was like, “what, that’s not something you do”. He can paint (I mean really paint) and I can, well, I can do other things. lol. Anyways, today I’m showing you how you can do this DIY Art Canvas Painting. Spoiler: It will take you 5 minutes! Yay. Who loves fast projects?!
Do you ever love something yet it just doesn’t quite fit your space? That’s what happened to me. A few weeks ago, I rounded up some art that I loved. Included in that round-up was some brushstroke art. I loved both of them that were included in that round-up but they weren’t the right colors. I couldn’t get them out of my mind, so I decided I had nothing to lose by trying to DIY something similar myself.
First things first, gather your supplies. I used cheap watercolors.
Next, put a little bit of paint on your plate. To deepen the color, add a smidgen of black.
Add water (realize that you used way too much paint) and stir. #oops
Use the brush and start making brush strokes. I tried to stay somewhat in line, but it didn’t quite workout on some of the lines.
Without letting it completely dry, go back over some of the strokes that you want to be a bit darker.
Admire your handiwork, take a picture and proceed to lift the painting vertical. WAIT, don’t do that…. the paint will run all over everything!! Yep, that totally happened to me. Luckily, a wet paper towel cleaned most of the drips up. I’m calling the rest of the smudges “abstract”.
I really like how this piece turned out. I don’t think it would be able to stand on it’s own on a wall. I think the imperfections would drive me nuts, but layered on a nightstand it looks good.
Since, I had the paints and the canvas laying around, this pretty little project came out to $0! You know I love that.
Linking up to:
DIY Sunday Showcase, Found and Foraged, Skip to My Lou, Home Stories A-Z, Tip Junkie, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Work It Wednesday, On Display Thursday, Think and Make Thursday, Fry Sauce and Grits, The Inspiration Gallery, Creativity Unleashed – The Bold Abode, Remodelaholic, The Creative Collection, Tatertots and Jello, and Frugal Crafty Blog Hop.
Amy W says
May 13, 2015 at 9:41 amLOVE it! I’ve got a reoccurring art series and this is PERFECT for those easy but doable art pieces. Great colors, too.
Ashley Mayes says
May 15, 2015 at 7:22 amThanks Amy! This project was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I really like how it turned out.
Katie says
May 13, 2015 at 11:36 amI LOVED this when I saw it in your guest bedroom! it reminded me of a painting I saw at One King’s Lane and saved for future inspiration. It turned out great!
Ashley Mayes says
May 15, 2015 at 7:23 amAwe, thanks Katie! I’ve pinned and saved a few for inspiration as well, but that green is pretty hard to find.
Corey @ Tinysidekick says
May 13, 2015 at 9:03 pmI love simple art! This is so pretty!
Ashley Mayes says
May 15, 2015 at 7:24 amThanks Corey! I’m glad I attempted it, because I really love it.
Corinna - For My Love Of says
May 16, 2015 at 3:25 amLove how easy this is! The color you created is so pretty!
Ashley Mayes says
May 16, 2015 at 7:06 amThanks Corinna! Easy is the only way I do “art”.
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
May 18, 2015 at 6:23 amSo good! I now think you should make a fabric pattern out of this and sell it on Spoonflower. Gorgeous!
Ashley Mayes says
May 18, 2015 at 3:23 pmIt would be a cute fabric. =)
Lorene @Remodelaholic says
June 6, 2015 at 2:59 pmHi Ashley,
I emailed you about being featured on Remodelaholic, but my emails are prone to getting caught in spam filters, so I’m leaving a comment as insurance 🙂 So, check your spam folder and email me back because we’d love to feature you!
Thanks!
Lorene
Carmia says
August 1, 2015 at 3:35 amI love painting with watercolours. This idea is perfect for my next wall art project. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley Mayes says
August 2, 2015 at 3:54 pmThanks Carmia! If you end up trying it… send me a picture! I would love to see! ashley@biggerthanthethreeofus.com
Stephanie R says
August 2, 2015 at 2:32 pmThis turned out really pretty! If my husband hadn’t banned me from adding anymore canvas’s to my house I would totally try this one! Also- that brass lamp is stunning!
Ashley Mayes says
August 2, 2015 at 3:56 pmlol. Well, maybe you can get by with the “one in and one out” rule?! The brass light was a DIY out of a candlestick. Thanks for stopping by.
Marsha (Marsha Marsha) says
December 7, 2015 at 11:04 amI was looking for an easy DIY on a canvas – we’er in the process of moving – so I am busy/organizing/DIYing other things to really go in deep on a day-long painting right now. This is PERFECT, I saw it, and thought of microscope slides, (such as the rectangular flat pieces of glass you view sample slices through). I thought this could easily be done in deep red, to look like a blood sample would pressed in the slides. I might even use a dropper of the paint on actual slides, and, after pressing, pull apart and then “stamp” touch to the canvas to get good, interesting patterns really quickly. It makes a cool pattern, and (before you decide I am “too” creepy, although it might be too late for that, LOL – I think I’ll do red because I have that kind of sense of humour… but, really, it relates to my fiance and I in two ways; we were pre-med school together, and also we’re big fans of the Showtime series, “Dexter”, which the protagonist keeps slides of blood samples. Also, it’s an accent color in our home. I thought it would be an amusing homage, and at the same time, be abstract and stylish, as opposed to a “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Halloween” poster – we’re supposed to “grown-ups”… also, that would scare our son, he’s only 6 – big imagination.
I also was inspired to do a more involved version when I have time, which would be a photo collage arranged in this pattern of actual slide stills of things other than blood – such as leaves, maybe a microscope shot of a fingerprint in flour, a tear, a butterfly’s wing and things like that, of my son’s collection, water-sealed to hang in my son’s bathroom. We have a good memory with collecting almost every slide, and this would be a cool way to display them.
SOO… Thanks SO MUCH!!