DIY | Abstract Wall Art

All my Christmas decorations are packed away and my house looks so empty! January is actually my favorite time to change things up around here and refresh my space! I was looking at large abstract seascape pictures online but they were so expensive! I knew I could create one of my own for a fraction of the cost. I first studied a few of the prints I had seen online to figure out how I could make something similar.

I wanted a large art piece so I bought a 24×36″ canvas at Walmart for around $10. I wanted to create a textured appearance on my painting. I already had joint compound on hand so I thought it would work perfectly. I simply used plastic putty knifes and spread it lightly across my entire canvas. I let my canvas dry overnight before moving on to the painting.

Painting My Canvas

I wanted my abstract to have a coastal/seascape vibe. I live near the seacoast here in New Hampshire and it’s natural for me to incorporate some of that feel into my home. I chose a simple palette of tan, light gray, and a few shades of blue from light to dark.

I used a sponge brush for this painting. First I applied the light gray and tan shades across the bottom. I dipped my sponge brush in the paint and just swept it across the canvas. I used the darker blue in the center of my painting to mimic the ocean.

This is where I used the paint colors. As I changed paint shades I blended the colors together as I moved up the canvas. For the top section of the canvas, I repeated the light gray and light blue paints to mimic the sky. When you try this, remember this is an abstract so there’s not an exact way of doing this just have fun!

**TIP: I found that wetting my sponge brush lightly with water helped to blend the different colors seamlessly.**

Once I was finished applying the paint colors I drizzled white paint in various spots across my canvas and then blended it with a clean sponge brush. This will add some depth and highlights to the canvas. It gives the illusion of waves and clouds.

Framing My Canvas

I wanted to add a frame to my canvas. I bought these precut craft boards at Lowe’s. I stained them with a Kona shade of wood stain. I like the deep wood color next to the lighter shades of the painting.

I did a very simple frame. I lined up the stained boards to the ends and back edge of the canvas and attached them using my nail gun. You could also use a hammer and 1″ brads if you don’t have a nail gun. Once that was done it was time to hang my new painting!

I really love how my painting came out! It looks so nice over my couch.

I hope you’re inspired to try your hand at abstract painting too! It’s fun to have a one-of-a-kind piece of art in your home.