How to Make Nautical Themed 3-Dimensional Artwork

Nautical is the hottest trend in home decor, however, it can often be difficult to find just the right wall pieces to set off a modern nautical design. Follow the steps below to make your own three-dimensional nautical themed artwork.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canvas (either stand alone or framed; old or new)
• Faux granite spray paint or craft paint of your choice and course sand to make your own
• Fish netting (plain or colored)
• Fish hooks, lures, or other nautical items
• Seashells, star fish, sea horses, and/or sand dollars
• Artificial fish
• Small wooden boat (sail or other style)
• Acrylic sealer
• Craft paint
• Hot glue gun with glue

How to Make Nautical Themed 3-Dimensional Artwork

1. Make some initial decisions about how you want your three-dimensional artpiece to look. If possible, sketch out a rough design of the wallpiece you want to create and decide on its size and scale. Decide exactly what you want to include on your piece. This could include fish netting, sea shells, star fish, sea horses, sand dollars, boats, fish, or anything else you want to use.Decide on the type, size, and shape of the canvas you want to use for your artwork background. You can use old canvases and repaint them in your desired background color or purchase new ones. While most old canvases come in rectangular shapes, new ones come in square, rectangle, oval, and round. Your chosen design may have an impact on the canvas that you choose.

2. If you don't have all of the supplies on hand that you need, now is the time to make the appropriate purchases.

3. Prepare the background of your canvas. If you are leaving it white, spray a clear acrylic sealer over the top. If you want a background color, this is the time to paint and seal it with a clear acrylic overcoat. Make sure everything is dry before moving on to the next step.

4. Lightly spray one or more faux granite paints over part or all of the canvas. If you can't find faux granite paint, you can mix your own textured paint with craft paint and course sand. Make certain that it is blended thoroughly before using. Be careful to use a fan brush to apply a light and airy coat of your prepared paint over the canvas.

5. Apply a piece of fish netting to the canvas with a glue gun. The size, shape, and color of the netting is up to you. You can leave it flat, bunch it, or drape it depending upon your ultimate design.

6. Add sea shells, star fish, sea horses, and/or sand dollars to your piece with a glue gun. The size, shape, and amount of the materials added to the wallpiece is completely up to you.

7. Add other sea-related items you want to the wallpiece using the best adhering product for the type of material being used. This could include boats, fish, or any other nautical-themed items that you want to use as accent.

8. Finish off your wallpiece with other accents like fish hooks and lures and your piece is ready to be hung.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix various textured colors together to mimic the colors of your room or to simulate the colors of the beach.
• Be creative and add whatever you want to your wallpiece to make it uniquely your own.
• Do not try making your own textured paint with fine sand. It won't provide the texture you want. Course sand is required.
• Do not use hot glue to adhere materials to the canvas as it may burn through the wallpiece. Choose a lower temperature glue.