After trying decoupage with my friend Kathianne a couple of weeks ago, another friend and super-artist, Cynthia told me that she likes to decoupage her canvases to add texture and interest. Hmmm, I thought. I was planning to paint three canvases during the upcoming weekend with some simple color shading (just a clean, dark to light gradient type of thing), but this might be a fun way to mix it up a little. So, that’s what I did.
1. Started off with three blank, flat canvases that come in a 3-pack from Hobby Lobby for less than $4.
2. Covered the canvases with strips of newsprint – purposely left random lines and wrinkles to add texture. (Bought my own jar of Mod Podge w/a 40% off coupon!) Ooops! Don’t use glue on paper when leaving your canvases lying on paper – uh, they stick. Had to peel them off and insert some empty paint trays to lift them up.
3. Did a gradient color effect, with acrylics, in a different hue on each canvas. Wasn’t thrilled with it, so I started playing with the white paint and followed some of the texture lines, leaves started sprouting here and there. (Note: painting on top of dried decoupage had a very different feel from painting directly on a canvas. Not sure I really liked it. I love the feel of running the brush over a canvas, so I really missed that aspect in the project.)
4. After drying I framed them up with existing white mats in old gold frames that I spray painted with black lacquer. Voila! A fresh, colorful trio.
What do you think? I’m not 100% sure I love them (though, I will say they look better in person than in this pic). Should I go back to my original idea of simple color grades or stick with this textured vine look?
I like the paper layers, very nice effect!
I think they look great! Nice job. There are so many ways to use decoupage – with photos, on glass, wood or metal. The options are endless.
I also like the paper look, it adds texture based on the scene being painted. In this case, every effective for leaves.
Wow, nice effect. I like the texture. Nice job!