An Easy DIY Abstract in Muted Colors - Tutorial with Step by Step Photos

By now, you know I love painting.  I find it relaxing and it's a fabulous creative outlet for me, even if I am occasionally unhappy with the results.  Plus, with our small budget, right now I can't afford the giant paintings that make me happy, so creating my own art is a way to help make colourful canvases accessible.  To help you create your own piece of DIY "art," I have created quite a few DIY art tutorials, which you can see in my DIY Project Gallery. 

A lot of readers write in or comment, telling me they would love to try their hand at creating a painting for their space, but are worried about making a mistake or hating the result.  I always say: "just try it!"  Acrylic paint is wonderfully forgiving and painting over another painting can add depth and dimension.  I'm no stranger to a "round two" when it comes to DIY paintings.  So relax, enjoy the process and, if you really don't like, paint over it!  In this post you can see how I made over a painting I didn't like.

Remember the triangle painting I shamelessly copied?  It no longer looks the same!  Catch the step by step photos I took while I turned this disappointing art into a pretty abstract I like much better:

Don't be afraid to flip your finished painting upside down or sideways once it's done:

A pretty painting is doable, I promise.

Geometric Painting Knock-off

I took a stab at making a geometric painting (inspiration below).  I painted a canvas a shade of grey I mixed, using acrylic paint.  It is a bit darker than the inspiration, because I didn't want it to blend in with the basement walls (where I think it's destined to hang).  Then I drew the pattern I wanted with a pencil and ruler.

Using a short, hard bristled brush I traced my lines in white paint (I needed to go over them twice for an opaque look).  Then I filled in the triangles.

The result:

Meh.

This is the original Etsy inspiration (which must have sold because everyone's links are an Etsy dead-end.  Anyone know the seller?)  I didn't realize until writing this post how overboard I went on the coloured triangles. 

Via Pinterest

Kristin F. Davis did a tutorial for Pantone.  Even though she started with same piece as inspiration, hers and mine look totally different from each others' and the original.

Kristin F Davis Designs

Honestly, I think I like mine the least.  Sad face.  But copying the work of someone else is not as easy as one might think.  Further, just making a decent abstract is tough.  It can slide into cheesy, my-kid-could-paint-that territory super quickly. 

 

But I gave it a whirl.  Unless I have the urge to paint over it (I'm seriously tempted), it will be making an appearance in the decorated basement.  Maybe a better method might have been to use some type of white marker (do those exist?) and make the white lines with a marker and ruler.  I'm also not convinced about my composition, it looks wobbly and unbalanced.

P.S. I linked this project here: My Girlish Whims, Junk in their Trunk, Creations by Kara, Fabulously Flawed,
Addicted to Decorating, DIY Showoff Project Parade, Polly Want a Crafter? Craft Party

Read more »