Thursday, June 14, 2012

My Very First Art Canvas

Before this week, I have never used an art canvas to create an original piece of art. Actually, I've never used an art canvas for anything. Seriously, never!

However, one of the projects in the BPC Lift Me Up workshop about upcycling is to find an "abandoned" canvas project and repurpose it into a home decor piece. Unfortunately we did not have any abandoned canvases. What we did have, however, was a package of three canvas panels that Robbie purchased before we were married. We have moved them around with us and stored them in a closet for over a decade now, so I decided it would definitely be upcycling to get one of them out of the package and create a piece of art.

I started by punching a few scalloped circles from tissue paper and an old hymn book (because the abandoned canvas that Mou Saha used in the example had tissue paper circles adhered to it already). I added a few butterfly rubons and a bling flower sticker.


Following along with Mou's example, I added some acrylic paint to the canvas.



I used a small piece of bubble wrap to stamp on the remaining white area of the canvas, then added a variety of items to make this a true multi-media piece - washi tape, dimensional flower stickers, thin colored tape and a handwritten quote. I also added glitter glue to the word "talent."


After letting the canvas sit so that everything could dry, I decided to stamp a little more with the bubble wrap, this time with orange ink. I also added a larger butterfly rub-on to the area that I felt didn't flow with the rest of the piece. Here's a look at the complete piece - my very first mixed-media art canvas.


I have to admit that I'm feeling pretty good right now. This piece makes me smile and will soon be hanging in my craft room.


There were two more canvases in that pack we've been carrying around for years, and I'm thinking about doing something similar with them. I could then display the three of them as a small vignette. What do you think? How do you display your mixed-media art canvases?

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Melissa! It will be perfect for your new craft room!

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  2. that is wonderful! I've never made a mixed media art piece & really envy those who do! Lovely!

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  3. What a great job you did Melissa and it looks like this might be a very interesting class!

    I have a tryptic piece I created in a class that I have sitting on the ledge of the office wall, but most of them I either give away or have hanging in my art room :)

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  4. What a great first piece!!! You rocked it, girl :) I give them away, sell them and hang in my house. Did you know your word verification is on, (was thinking you had turned it off).

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  5. Wonderful for a first attempt,Melissa...and you definately need to add the other 2 now!

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  6. Yea for you! Welcome to mixed media! It's kindof addicting. . . LOL!
    I display, gift, and sell my pieces.
    Rinda

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  7. Your canvas is lovely. You did an amazing job. I have a drawing I did that I'm going to get framed and hang in our living room. Other than that, I usually make items as gifts. Can not wait to see the other two!

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  8. Wonderful job Melissa - that additional bit of orange and the last butterfly really made a huge difference. I rarely keep my art pieces - with the exception of one canvas, mine have all been gifted.

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  9. I have never made a piece like this, but I just love admiring ones made by others. Your happy colour has helped you create a beauty here - well worth opening that package for!

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  10. Great first attempt Melissa. So sunny :o) Just what I needed to see on this grey day xx

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  11. What a gorgeous piece, and I love the sentiment!

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  12. gorgeous Melissa, it lifts the spirits just looking at it x

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  13. This is awesome! Great way to use your supplies for something different. I think the idea for the set of 3 is great - much better than having them unfinished in the closet! :)

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  14. A lovely canvas - now you need to do something with the other two!

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  15. That is way cool and way outside the box for me! But I love what you did!

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  16. this is just beautiful! Makes me smile to! Thanks for the email. I am looking forward to getting the book.

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  17. How pretty is that! Love it! I've never done that before. Looks so fun! tfs!

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  18. Well done you! This is FAB!
    Alison xx

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's like a ray of sunshine in my day!