Creative energy is big in everyone and then, for one reason or another, it begins to dwindle the older they get. For proof of creative flair not discriminating, take a look at just how creative and imaginative kids are.
Do it yourself projects, also known as DIY, is a fun and cost-effective way to create things for the home. DIY projects are fun and fulfilling and allow you to pursue something that you may not do at your day job. In the pursuit of a project, you may realise a skill you otherwise didn’t know you had. There’s much and more to discover with DIY and we’ve put together a list of art projects you can complete in less than a day!
Pick up a paintbrush, choose your favourite colour, and get started. Here is a list of thirty DIY ideas for art.
Fabric Art
Sustainable artmaking is everywhere now. Maybe there’s an old dress or shirt you can’t bring yourself to throw away because the fabric is stunning. Repurpose the fabric by creating a wall hanging out of it.
Drip Painting
Source: The Shabby Creek Cottage
Drip painting is a fun exercise and a beautiful finished product. There’s no telling how the paint will fall, making the whole experience exciting. With drip painting, you’re truly getting a unique artwork that no one else will ever have. What’s more, you can inexpensively create your own drip painting at home.
Textures
If you’re playing with DIY drip paint you might want to try your hand at creating textures. This effect will give your canvas art a new feel.
Branches
Bring the forest into your home, while also leaving the twigs and bugs outside, with this awesome DIY art idea! Discarded branches haven’t had better use than this neat, framed canvas art.
Geometric Shapes
Take inspiration from Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian by creating art out of geometric shapes. Geometric canvas art isn’t difficult to achieve – maybe if you don’t have a ruler.
Stripes
If you prefer stipes over geometry. It’s a matter of straight lines and they don’t even have to be the same width.
Cityscape Cut-outs
For this unique canvas art, take your favourite city skyline, cut it out and spray paint it over the canvas. First, start by spraying the backdrop you prefer, let it dry, then apply the skyline with a contrasting paint colour.
Embroidered Canvas Art
Take your DIY canvas art to a whole new level with embroidered details. This is the perfect combination of art and craft, and a blend of the two create truly beautiful looks.
Quilt Canvas Art
Often, quilts are family treasures. They’re beautifully designed and filled with wonderful stories of family history. If you have such a quilt in your home that isn’t getting the proper use, consider hanging it up to showcase all the colour, patterns, and beauty of the quilt.
Maps
Memorialize your trips by framing the map. Hiking trips, cycling adventures, road trips, or well-deserved or transformative holidays. You don’t need a tutorial of this one, just a clear image and a frame. For a cool look, pick out mas that have a vintage look as these give out a warm feel to the room.
DIY Lavenders
Did you know you can create some pretty cool lavenders by using cotton swabs? To give the purple flower some depth and dimension, add some white dots to the purple.
Repurpose Old Frames
For a bohemian touch to your home, take your old frames to create a herringbone-type pattern.
Artwork Dipped in Paint
Take an old, boring painting and dip part of it in a bucket of paint. You can usually find unwanted paintings at charity stores or garage sales, and, most of the time, these are framed.
Sea Glass Mosaic
Sea glass is a beautiful material and unique in its making. What is it, though? Sea glass is weathered down glass found across beaches. Many people pick up these pieces to create a mosaic picture, and you can too!
3D Animal Art
For a pop of colour, take old plastic toy animals and stick them to the canvas. Here is a unique way to create animal art.
Superhero Art
This collage of superheroes is perfect for any child’s room, so long as they’re a fan of superheroes!
Floral Stencils
Take floral stencils and paint them onto a colour block. For your floral print, use one solid colour and place it on a canvas with a contrasting colour. There are as many arrangements to play with as there are colours!
DIY Photo Art
Showcase your family photos in a fresh new way by using their initials. This creative project practically reframes the ordinary way of showcasing family photos.
Cherry Blossom
Bring cherry blossom trees into your home all on your own in this inventive and creative way. A simple stroke of the paintbrush will have you creating cherry blossom petals by the hundred in no time.
Holiday Reindeers
It’s never too early to start on holiday projects. Pull out your red and green paints and start creating a DIY reindeer wall art. It’s a canvas art piece that can be brought out for the special season.
DIY Abstract Art
Abstract art is a great way to tie together the décor of your home, but what if you can’t find canvas art with the right colours for your home? It allows you to create your own. Abstract art is one of those art styles that are open to interpretation and creation. One key rule of abstract art is to make sure your representation is abstract.
Glitter Word Art
Use glitter to bring out the message in your words. These would look great in the kitchen, encouraging us to cook and share great meals. Or a piece for your children’s room, with words of C.S. Lewis: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Metallic Accents
Two-toned art is a beautiful touch to any living room, sitting area, or hallway. Take a canvas with a solid colour, consider one of the primary colours like red or blue and brush gold metallic paint on one half of it for a stylish look. You can use silver metallic paint on a yellow canvas to achieve a similar feel without risking a colour clash.
Abstract + Quote
Fuse abstract art with your favourite quote with this simple way of creating new DIY canvas art. Instead of brushing the paint across the canvas, a method you could use it to flick the paint across the canvas. This will give it a spotty, splashy look. (Think Jackson Pollock and his world-famous abstract pieces.) Once your paint has dried (give it 24 hours) and paint your quote on top in a contrasting paint colour. Depending on the side of your canvas, you could paint wise words from Winston Churchill like “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” or Audrey Hepburn with “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I'm possible!’”
Explorer DIY
This is the perfect canvas art for any hiker, explorer, or avid camper. Complete with a quote from the storyteller J.R.R. Tolkien: “Not all those who wander are lost.”
Kids DIY
Make a weekend of it and create some cool canvas art with your kids. Spots, circles, or zigzags, either pattern works. Just make sure you have lots of colours to play with! To make the canvas art look even cooler, and encourage your kids, frame the pieces as though they’re like a gallery piece.
Ombre
Pick a colour and get lighter and lighter to achieve the ombre look. It’s one of the easier DIY projects and can be achieved with any swash of colour you like.
Paint Swatch
For another way of showing ombre, use colour swatches. You can organise paint swatches however it suits you, whether it's in a group of primary colours, a rainbow, or other.
Rulers
Source: The Country Chic Cottage
If you have some old rules around the house, don’t throw them away. Repurpose them for a new canvas art. this piece is rustic and sits perfectly in industrial-styled homes.
Mason Jar
Source: The Country Chic Cottage
Mason jars are a staple of any cottage home and kitchen anywhere around the world. Design your next canvas art with inspiration from the classic mason jar.
