Cut Out + Keep

Paint Your Own Simple Abstract Art

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

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/paint-your-own-simple-abstract-art • Posted by Julie from Sum of their Stories

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.

You will need

Project Budget
Cheap

Time

4 h 00

Difficulty

So-so
Medium 2019 03 25 183732 art

Description

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.

Instructions

  1. Small 2019 03 25 193614 before

    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. Small 2019 03 25 194214 all%2bblue

    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. Small 2019 03 25 194442 half%2bway

    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. Small 2019 03 25 194549 dry%2bbrush

    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. Small 2019 03 25 194707 nearly%2bdone

    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.