DIY: How to Create Abstract Paintings

If you are looking for unique and creative art to hang on your walls and don't want to spend a alot to find the perfect painting, then I suggest giving this project a try! You don't have to be the next Picasso to be able to create a beautiful painting....

Suggested Supplies:

• Canvas or plywood. You could even find an old framed painting at a thrift store and use that .
• Fabric ( I used left over fabric from my curtains for this particular painting)
• Scraps of different textured fabric
• Textured Scrapbook paper
• 2 oz bottles of inexpensive acrylic paint
• Galleria Structure Gel. I used two different types for this painting: Glass Bead Texture Gel and Regular. You can find this particular paint in the fine arts department of craft stores.
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Hot Glue Gun
• Paint Markers
• Paint Brushes

The first step is to cover the canvas with squares and rectangles using a ruler and a pencil. There was no particular strategy I had in mind. I just started drawing lines to create squares and rectangles on the canvas. As shown above, I then painted these squares in various shades. It doesn't have to be neat, and if you were never taught to color in the lines, that's okay too. That's what gives this hap-hazard painting its charm!

After my initial coat of paint dryed, I started adding random pieces of fabric that I adhered to the canvas with a glue gun.

After hot gluing the pieces of fabric to the painting, I added a second coat of paint, as well as some of the fabulous structure gel I had mentioned earlier. I even painted over some of the fabric.

Here it is drying. Don't be alarmed when the structure gel is white. Just like Elmers glue, it will eventually dry clear.

After allowing all the different layers to dry overnight, I then went in the next day and added details with Deco Color Paint Markers. I added circles, dashes, outlined the fabric in certain places along with other random little marks.

The last thing I did was paint the sides of the canvas. It gives the painting a more finished look.

The final painting, dryed, hung and just what I wanted for this little nook in my living room. I even found a candel holder to match on clearance at TJ Maxx.  What do you think? Is this something you think you can do?