How to Paint Your Own Artwork

Everyone wants to save money. Don't you? Well, painting your own, color matched art can be a lot easier than you might think!

Usually the picture that you want for your room will have an outrageous price. Or maybe you just can't find anything that matches your new color scheme?

There is a simple way to paint your own pictures and save a fortune. Not only will you save money but you can exactly match your décor as well. Use this easy method and you can make your own unique pictures.

First decide what size of picture you want and buy a suitable stretched canvas. It needs to be suitable for acrylic paints which are water based. Some canvases are only suitable for oil based paints, and will not work for this project.

It will be easiest to choose an abstract theme. Abstract art will look good in most rooms. You can include shapes from any of the patterns in the furnishings. Use a basic shape rather than trying to copy the shape in detail. For example, just use a simple leaf outline rather than showing every vein in the leaf as it is depicted in the curtains.

Any water based paints used in the room can be included in the picture for a perfect match. Otherwise take along a color sample of your paint or wallpaper, as well as any fabric samples when you go to buy the paints for the picture.

I like to use acrylic paints as they come in a large range of colors. It is easy to adapt the colors to match those that are already in the room. Also acrylics come in a range of metallic colors which can look stunning.

Another option is to use tester pots of interior paint. This can be an economic way of buying colors for your picture - as long as the paints are water based.

Keep the painting simple for the best result. When you see paintings that you like you can use them as the inspiration for your own abstract. Simple bands of color can be very effective. Also blocks of color can look good too. Use tape to mask off the areas before painting if you want a crisp edge. Acrylic paints are an adhesive, so remove the tape before the paint dries - unless you want to the tape in the final picture!

You do not need to cover all of the canvas. Leaving areas of the white canvas will help to brighten the final effect. One method is to just splash on a few colors and leave it to dry.

If you are unhappy with the result of your efforts simply paint over the canvas and start again. No stress!

Leave the picture to dry. When completely dry you can improve or highlight parts as necessary. This would be a good time to add metallic paints if you are using them.

Once the final coats of paint are dry, give the picture a coat of acrylic varnish to seal it. Once sealed, it can be wiped with a damp cloth to keep it clean.

The canvas could be framed, but a lot of modern pieces are displayed without a frame. In modern surroundings this is a very good look, and saves on the cost of framing.

It really isn't that difficult to paint your own pictures. By learning a few simple techniques you will be able to paint with confidence. When you paint your own pictures you will be able to match your décor exactly and repeat the patterns already used in the room - all at a fraction of the price of buying one from a gallery. Your own unique masterpiece!

Catherine Calder, author of the Acrylic Painting Course. This 'No-Draw' painting course shows you, step-by-step, how to complete 12 pictures, and ideas for more! For a free report about painting your own artwork -'How to Paint Abstract Pictures for Pleasure and Profit' Click here => http://www.learnanddo.com/acrylic.asp

Latest News


The Age

Space Shuttle Crew Home Improvement Project
KTNV Las Vegas, NV - Nov 30, 2008
The space shuttle endeavour and its seven astronauts are making their way back to earth. The shuttle undocked from the international space station Friday ...
Video: Raw Video: Shuttle Endeavour Lands in Calif. AssociatedPress
Space shuttle Endeavor returns home College News
Space Shuttle Endeavour forced to make westcoast landing WCBD
ChattahBox - MyFox Houston
all 4,857 news articles

BioIQ and Alere to Provide At-Home Biometric Screening Tests to ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Services include wellness, healthy living, productivity improvement and complex care management as well as case management of acute and catastrophic ...

Home improvement contracts regulated
Daily American Online, PA - Nov 29, 2008
The bill will regulate written home improvement contracts and require contractors doing more than $5000 of work annually to be registered in the state. ...

Good wallpaper can give an affordable facelift to any room
Detroit Free Press, United States - 16 hours ago
As with any home improvement project, it's best to get several estimates. Mathison says it's likely you'll be quoted a fee between $25 and $75 per roll, ...

Make choice for severe storm protection
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 19 hours ago
So, save those home improvement receipts and inform your insurance company of improvements. You may qualify for a discount. The new law allows homeowners to ...

Secondhand home improvement stores stock big savings
Trading Markets (press release), CA - Nov 30, 2008
The store is Stardust Building Supplies, a nonprofit organization that sells donated home improvement items at up to 80 percent off retail prices. ...

Boston Globe

Sears Holdings Posts Loss After Sales Decline (Update2)
Bloomberg - 9 hours ago
“This is not a department store, this is not a home-improvement store. “This is a combination of the two that suffers inordinately during times of economic ...
Sears swings to a steep loss MarketWatch
all 379 news articles

Economic Downturn Sparks New Home Improvement Trend
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
With the harsh reality of uncertain economic times, and the average consumer shouldering $10000 or more in credit card debt, a new trend in home improvement ...

Ahead of the Bell: Home improvement retailers
Forbes, NY - Nov 19, 2008
The home improvement retailers are part of a sector that has "competitive dynamics, stable gross margins through the downturn, and clear cyclicality ...
Home Depot Is Not in a Fix Barron's
all 6 news articles

Senior Citizens Beware of Lame Home Improvement Companies
Floral Park Dispatch, NY - Nov 28, 2008
Over the past year, at least three local senior citizens have been taken advantage of by an out-of-town home improvement contractor for tens of thousands of ...

Resources