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The decorative art of applying paper cutouts to a surface is called decoupage. The term comes from the French word decouper which means to "cut out." The art has been around for hundred...
This is a brief tutorial on how to stretch you own canvas. It will definitely save you money stretching your own versus buying one pre-stretched. Also it is rewarding to do it yourself :)
When painting with acrylics, it is not necessary to prime the canvas before beginning. However, priming the canvas will help the artist to achieve different effects in surface texture and color....
Preparing a canvas for an oil or acrylic painting is really very easy. It shouldn't cost you a ton of money to ready the canvas for your art. Canvas purchased in traditional art stores can be very...
Canvas has long been used as an easy low cost substitute for more expensive rugs. When made into floor cloths the canvas becomes a thing of beauty.
Gesso and gilding make beautiful finishes on portrait and picture frames. Gesso is a mixture of powdered calcium carbonate applied to a frame before a final finish is applied. Gilding refers to...
Canvas rugs have been popular since colonial times. This is probably due to the fact that they are inexpensive, durable and easy to make. You don’t have to be an artist or have professional art...
As an artist of any level, a good way to save money on your art supplies is to make your own canvases rather than buying pre-stretched and primed canvas. Priming your canvas tightens the canvas,...
Painting rocks is a cheap and fascinating hobby. They can be geometric flowery or dramatic - whatever your mood at the moment. They make wonderful gifts and last for years if taken care of. An...
Anyone can arbitrarily throw paint on a canvas and create an abstract painting. My dog can paint an abstract by walking across a canvas with paint covered pads(which looks pretty cool) but, would...
Acrylic paints are water-based and faster drying than oils. Many artists enjoy this medium for landscape painting. The background is just as important as the foreground in landscapes, so it is...
Turn an empty check box into this charming little quilted keepsake container. Use this cute little creation to store jewelry, hair accessories, receipts, loose change, or even... cancelled checks!...
Making a wooden sign can be a fun and simple way to create custom signs, memorial plaques, yard signs or even a small decor sign to let houseguests know to take their shoes off. Depending on how...
Although some people like to paint straight onto a rough canvas, a smooth surface is the more popular approach, and allows for finer details. Preparing a canvas for an acrylic painting project...
According to Dictionary.com, to cannibalize is to remove parts, equipment, assets, employees, etc., from (an item, product, or business) in order to use them in another. You don’t have to be a...
Encourage your kids to save their hard earned money by making these fun coin banks. Using recycled containers and old magazines, you can transform garbage into functional items, all while teaching...
Here's how to gesso a stretched, unprimed canvas.
Even in the packaging the canvas comes in reads that the canvas has already been pre-primed, it may not be enough. It is important to prepare the canvas with primer prior to using acrylic paint.
Canvas that is freshly stretched, or raw canvas, is rough and cannot be painted on. Priming the canvas with a primer will fill all imperfections, smooth the surface and prepare it for either oils...
Do you like the look of Altered Art small books but don't know how to get started? Have you ever wanted to make one that is shaped like a small house for that perfect gift for one of your friends?...
You have a canvas, and now you want to 'prime' it so that you can paint on it. This article will tell you how, step by step.
If you would like to know how to oil paint flowers, I’ll tell you. But I have to warn you, if you’ve never painted before, you might want to start with acrylics instead. You need a whole new set...
It is not difficult to stretch and prime a canvas for painting. In fact, it is fun, you will save money, and your canvas will be of a better quality than if you bought an already prepared canvas.
Acrylic paint is water soluble under most circumstances, so it is reasonable to believe that you can thin acrylic paint with water alone. Sometimes you have acrylic enamel, and that needs...
Are you building your own painting canvas? Well, here is the second step. Learn how to stretch the canvas over your frame.
Used as a tag on Christmas gifts and as a Christmas ornament, this personalized sand dollar can be customized to suit your needs. Add pictures of children, parents, and friends, or use a favorite...
Canvas is a form of cotton that is commonly used as a surface for oil, watercolor and acrylic painting. You will most likely be working with an easel, but canvas is also sold in pads. Canvas needs...
Many artists paint on wood panels. They offer different textures and properties compared to traditional canvas. You can buy wood panels, and so long as you can find exactly what you're looking...
Before you can begin painting on a canvas, it must be properly prepared with primer. Acid in the paints can cause the canvas to deteriorate if this important step is not followed. Gesso or a...
If you want to create a unique home decor, you can paint custom pictures and designs on rocks. It's not only a way to get the whole family involved in a craft project, but also makes rocks more...
Altered books are discarded books that are decorated and embellished to create a personal work of art. Children's board books are the easiest type of books to work with since they are sturdy, but...
Raised gold lettering is one of the most beautiful techniques in text illumination and calligraphy. Originally developed during the Renaissance for use in sacred texts, gilding and raised...
Painting was smoke was invented by Wolfgang Paalen and utilized by Salvador Dali. Also known as "fumage," using smoke and flames, alone or in combination with actual paints, is a technique that...
Learning to control opacity and thickness when working with acrylic paint can take a bit of experimentation and time. However, once you learn the techniques, you'll find you can use acrylic paint...
There are a variety of surfaces you can use as a base for acrylic paints. Choosing the correct medium all depends on your budget, the look you desire and your skill level. Painting with acrylics...
Painting can be as simple or as complex as you would like it to be. To go the simple route, you can buy pre-stretched canvases at most craft stores that are already primed. However, some artists...
Texture helps lead the eye across the surface and create depth in a painting. You can create texture in many ways. You can make tracks on the gesso ground, add materials to the gesso and...
To restore an antique chalk picture frame, many materials are needed. Time, patience and skill is required. There are places that will do the restoration, but can be very expensive due to the...
Oil painting can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but not all surfaces take oil paint very well. Interestingly enough, one of these surfaces is also one of the most common surfaces used for oil...
Before you start painting you have to gesso your canvas. Although it might seem pointless with all the ready made canvases available, if done correctly these will last far longer.
Making altered books is not so much a project as a set of techniques for artistic experimentation. Junk mail postcards are great for altered books because they are free, colorful, funny and easy...
Children love craft projects, so make sure you have great ideas for each new season. Nothing says spring like a fluffy tin can lamb which you can use to hold Easter eggs, pens and pencils, kitchen...
There is nothing quite as satisfying as growing your own herbs to season your favorite dishes. Tin can herb pots put your recycling to creative use, add color to a kitchen window and help to get...
Canvas rugs are a great, low cost accessory to add to your indoor or outdoor living spaces. These canvas rugs are very durable and you can make one for a fraction of the cost of a store bought...
Want to start painting but unsure of how to get started? Follow the simple steps below and you can be on your way to a great painting in no time!
Create a lightweight Fall leaf pin using an acrylic modeling paste. The light modeling paste is an airy and workable paste used in acrylic painting. It provides a textured look that can be...
Acrylic paint may not have the wet-on-wet mixing possibilities or the depth of oil paint, nor the water solubility of watercolors when dry, but it is an excellent medium for its versatility, quick...
Why would you want to use gesso on a board? Gesso gives a board a different texture once it dries. Instead of painting on just a plain surface, gesso will add texture to the surface, such as...
Transferring paper to canvas is a technique many types of artists may want to try. Painters can find that adding a three-dimensional element to their compositions creates a new dynamic. Collage...
When painting on canvas, artist paints (acrylics, oils, and watercolors) are typically the medium of choice. For those artists who like to experiment with other mediums, however, house paint will...
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