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Smear Paint Abstract Art
May 01, 2020
Inspiration
I got the idea for this technique I'm referring to as "smear art" from a @Moglea Instagram post. The video featured this mesmerizing technique of dropping blobs of paint on a surface and using a stiff card to smear it across the surface, creating these interesting colors and patterns.
Moglea creates these really unique and truly one-of-a-kind cards and notebooks from their studio in Iowa. They have such interesting techniques, textures and color combos you can really pick out their work in a crowd. I love trying new things, so I thought it might be fun to experiment with this technique myself.
Materials
You'll need different colors of acrylic paint, a few pieces of rigid cardstock (or something stiff) & a surface for your design. I did several, starting with a small store bought canvas. It also works on heavy cardstock, but for my larger pieces, I used canvas.
I have a bunch of scrap canvas from my husband's cousin, who owns an awning business. I'm having all kinds of fun finding ways to use it, but one of my favorites is to make a wall hanging. I did one for my laundry room to cover up our electrical box and I LOVE it.
Process
I simply squirted drops of acrylic paint from the tubes directly on the canvas. I figured out the color palette for each piece before, and started dropping paint on the surface in random little dot patterns.
From there, I took a piece of chipboard in my hand and swiped it across the drops of paint, spreading the paint all over the surface. I made squiggles and curves, just doing whatever I wanted. The paint doesn't spread as much on the unprimed canvas, so it is a slightly different effect than on a slicker surface.
Easy Modern Wall Hanging
I love the modern aesthetic of a wall hanging and they are surprisingly easy to make! I like to do mine with canvas and use an inexpensive wooden dowel rod from Hobby Lobby. I stained them with Minwax stain in Natural, to keep that lighter, blond wood look. You can attach the dowels to the top and bottom of the canvas by hot gluing it on the front, or you can use a regular stapler to staple it on. Then, tie a string or yarn on the top dowel to hang it up and it's done!
You can use that technique again and again. It's so easy and inexpensive. I think this could be a really fun project with kids. I can see making t-shirts or frameable art for the house.
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I can't remember the first example of fluted wood furniture I saw, but it was probably either this gorgeous custom wood bathroom vanity from Chris Loves Julia , or the DIY fluted coffee table Fariha shared on Pennies for a Fortune . The custom cabinetry was done professionally using a router for each line, which isn't something I possess the skills to do. This did help inspire the colors I used in our bathroom remodel, though! I really connected to the method Fariha used to build the coffee table--wooden dowels. What a fabulous idea!
I did a little refresh in our daughter's room, and I decided we needed some large-scale art. I actually planned to order a print, but inspiration struck on a trip to HomeGoods when I saw two HUGE framed canvases on clearance for $25 and $9. I grabbed them up and headed home, with my head filled with ideas on what to do with them.
I love peel-and-stick wallpaper so much! It's an easy, DIY fix for any space that just needs a little refresh. Because it's easily removeable, I feel much more confident going ahead and choosing a pattern. I struggle to commit to traditional pasted wallpaper--I think it's because we removed so much of it when we bought our house. It is no easy task. Peel-and-stick is also very economical, so if you decide to change it up a few years down the line, it doesn't feel so bad. I've now put it in four areas of our house. Today, you'll see the kitchen and den. It's the same pattern in different colors. I love how much the simple pattern really just makes each space.
Just for fun, here's a freebie--a digital download for some fall wall art! This quote is from Anne of Green Gables. I still want to read the book, but I was a huge fan of the series Anne with an E on Netflix. Just click on the file, download it and print it at home or send it to a place like Office Depot. Happy October!
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