I’m not a painter.
I have zero art training and my only knowledge is what I have gleaned from the internet.
So why I suddenly decided I would try my hand at canvas art is a mystery!
Nevertheless here is my first attempt.
And I must say I’m pretty happy with it!
What You Need
- Large canvas – mine is 15″ x 45″ (38cm x 114cm)
- Paint – I used chalk paint but any paint would work
- Large flat brush – mine is size 12
What To Do
I started with all the little pots of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that I had collected last year – some from the ProBlogger Event and others that were gifted to me for my Painted Basket project. I had four colours: Antibes Green, Louis Blue, Country Grey and Pure White.
I wanted a mix of these so I grabbed a plastic paint tray with sections that my kids use for painting and poured a little of each colour into it. I put the white into the middle section so that I could easily mix it into each of the other colours.
Then I grabbed a thick flat brush and just started painting!
I started with the green and created a stripe. Then I added some white so that my green got lighter and lighter. Eventually I did a little of just the white paint, overlapping the wet edges of the stripes so that the paint blended.
I continued across the whole canvas switching colours when I felt like it. I used the same brush the whole time and didn’t clean it at all other than by painting with it until I needed to dip it in more paint. This really made the stripes blend together.
I didn’t paint down the edges of my canvas but I’m thinking now that I should go back and do that. The sides will be seen once the canvas is on the wall so I think it will look better.
What do you think? I’d love your feedback.
This whole project took me an hour or so one afternoon, then it had to dry overnight. The chalk paint is super easy to use and comes in lots of different colours. Read more about it here at Paint Me White.
If you’re looking to paint furniture, check out this article: How to Chalk Paint Furniture
Project Tips
- Blending the stripes is key so you need to paint the whole canvas at one time without letting the paint dry
- Pour out your paint beforehand so that you can mix easily
- Watch out for drips! I had to do some creative blending after dripping paint from my brush across the canvas.
- Consider painting the edges of the canvas as you go – I didn’t but I think now I should have!
More Paint Projects
More Canvas Art Ideas
Check out my Canvas Art Ideas Board on Pinterest
Great start, love that you’ve jumped in the deep end and started painting. Best way to learn!
Hi again. I once attended art school. One of the task given to us was using oil crayons on canvas & paper. Not only can you melt crayon (which personally I’ve never liked the effect, but that’s just me) you can disperse it like water colour using turps. I also get a terrible reaction to normal turps but I can use gum turpentine, which is what artists use. I get it from Masters or Bunnings. A lot more bang for you buck than buying it from an art store.It has a eucalyptus leaf on the label & that’s what it smells like. You load you brush with the turps & rub the crayon. You can load it with a lot (really runny affect) or you can remove excess turps & scrub at the crayon. I’ve never forgotten this project as it has so many possibilities.
Thanks, Peta! You sound like a much more accomplished artist than I so it is great to hear your tips!
great work and super simple idea.. this would make a great piece on its own or the back drop to a mixed media piece 🙂
Beautiful Tonya, I love this.
I love it!! The colors you chose are so calm and beautiful! I’m going to have to try this sometime.