Paint Your Own Simple Abstract Art

It's easy to make your own abstract art using simple materials

Posted by Julie from Sum of their Stories

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Want some modern art on the cheap? Take a canvas from a charity shop and paint over it! Build up layers with regular household paint in colours that match your decor. The hardest thing is knowing when you've done enough and it's time to stop.

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You Will Need (3 things)

  • Canvas
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes

Steps (5 steps, 240 minutes)

  1. 1

    Take an old canvas, I picked this one up from a charity shop. Cover it with a layer of white emulsion (latex in the USA)

  2. 2

    Start painting a base layer. I had a little blue spray paint left over from another project so I used that, along with a little silver.
    Don't worry if it looks a little messy at this point.

  3. 3

    Add more paint, I found a fairly dry brush and lots of up and down stroke gave a nice effect. The a band of grey across the middle added interest.
    Just keep going adding more paint in colours you like/have.

  4. 4

    Let it dry every now and again and take a step back to look at your art. Then add more where you think it needs it.
    In this photo you can really see the dry brush effect. You just use a little less paint on the brush.

  5. 5

    Here I was almost finished, the blocks of colour were just a little more vivid than I wanted so I went over the whole thing with more white.
    Now all you have to do is hang you art on display.