DIY: Large Scale Artwork at Small Scale Prices

One of my favorite recent DIY projects was the large modern art canvas I created for my dining area. The wall its on is the first thing you see when you enter our apartment from the entry foyer, and I wanted a single piece that would create a big impact, but would not cost a fortune.

You can easily re-create your own artwork similar to mine, which is pictured to the left, with canvas, art supplies, and a little cozy time inside during a rainy early Spring weekend.

Also, if painting isn't your thing, you can also get creative with other resources to make art out of other everyday items, even personal photos.

I made another large canvas art print, pictured below above our be in our Cobble Hill apartment, which is now in our entry foyer. I used one of my favorite seascapes, and had it printed onto 2" wide canvas for less than $100.

Many blogs and websites (two great lists of ideas are on Remodelaholic and Apartment Therapy) have amazing ideas on things to do and ways to make large scale art in many different ways including framing handpainted wall paper, shower curtains, and even creating your own abstract art on canvas backing!

Get painting, finding, and DIY'ing - Just one piece of art can bring an entire room to life.

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DIY: My Mod Podge Love Affair

My love of Mod Podge – which sounds a bit more like a custard based dessert than a DIY project - first started with a green armoire I wanted to jazz up years ago. I painted the trim white and then decoupaged it with Graham and Brown wallpaper (in this pattern ).

The result -- I know, it's a terrible picture but I only have the one -- is below. I promise that in-person it looked great and the application made it look like I had actually painted the pattern on the wood.

Mod Podge is very similar in consistency to Elmer's School Glue, and when applied (both under and over wet paper) it retextures the surface so the graphic or design on the paper appears to have been painted on, while also bonding it to the backing. When I finally ended up selling the armoire on Craigslist the year Bill and I moved to Brooklyn, it was bought by a set designer for Blue Bloods -- she told me it was perfect for a young prostitute's room. I’m assuming a well-paid one….?

More recently, I’ve used Mod Podge in two new ways: first, with a wallpaper sample on canvas and second, an oversized Franz Kline poster on thin plywood. The wallpaper, which is a black and white hands print, turned out great. I've actually used it for staging listings numerous times, as in the photo below:

The Kline was more challenging. The paper, which was thick matte art paper, did not like getting wet, so some of the top print layer came off. Also, the size of the plywood, and the fact that it wasn't wrapped made it much harder to get the Mod Podge on the full surface. Because of these factors, one edge where the paper has lifted slightly from the plywood, but overall it still looks great, and was a much more affordable way to display the print than framing a 30x60 piece. (excuse the laundry on our sofa in the picture below!)

The basics of using Mod Podge are fairly simple:

1. Apply Mod Podge on surface of whatever item you’ve chosen for the backing (canvas, armoire door, etc.

2. Wet the paper to be applied (either immerse in water or spray but don't soak).

3. Place paper on the backing (this sounds easy, but the trick is that it has to be perfectly smooth).

4. Cover the paper with Mod Podge (you can use a sponge brush or roller).

5. Re-apply additional layers of Mod Podge every 10-15 minutes until desired effect is reached (you'll know, and there's no such thing as too many layers).

For more info about Mod Podge, or to watch video tutorials, check out this blog – ModPodgeRocks – which has everything you might need to know about Mod Podge (and probably way, way more).

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DIY: Gallery Walls

I'm a sucker for a good gallery wall - they are a great way to make a statement in any room, and display an eclectic array of your favorite wall art in one place. In both our old apartment in Cobble Hill, and our new home in Gramercy, our gallery wall is one of the main focal points of our living room. It took me years to get it just right over the couch in Cobble Hill, and as soon as it was perfect, of course, it was time to move.

Gallery Wall Front View

Gallery Wall from Dining Area

My gallery wall is composed of several black and white pieces that I've collected over the years: the record sleeve of my Thriller Album, a photo of my dad from high school mid pole-vault, the oversized postcard of Picasso's version of Las Meninas which I got on my first non-Turkey trip to Europe, and other precious but fairly worthless pieces... I have these in several black and silver gallery frames. While in Cobble Hill these were to fill the long space above the couch, in Gramercy, I wanted these to fill up an empty wall as a main focal point. So the entire arrangement had to be different, a more compact square/rectangle shape.

Almost every major design blog has tips and tricks for making a successful gallery wall. Below are some practical tips and style ideas from Houzz Magazine to make your gallery wall stand out. You can see more pictures and read their full article here. I wish I could say I follow these tips -- especially the measure twice, cut/drill once advice, but I don't. For me, I selected all of my black and white "artwork" and kept the frame styles in the similar pattern. To decide on the design, I laid out the whole thing on the floor in the living room, and then, it's really a matter of swapping pieces and changing the order until the whole piece looks cohesive and pleasant, and not like a mish-mash.

After

Before

Once I got settled on a layout, I marked off the outer border for the arrangement with painters tape, and hung the artwork within the space, measuring where the hanging parts needed to be relative to the taped off outer edges. I can't say that I never had to nail a second time (or third), but the method worked reasonably well.

For those of you interested in the less haphazard way, the experts recommend:

1. Determine your style.

Love lithographs? Fancy foxes? A gallery wall is your opportunity to style your home to reflect your passions and interests. Galleries can be tied together by theme, frame color, style or image palette. Tip: In a busy room with lots of patterns and textures, the key is to stick to a single hue, perhaps adding small splashes of color into the mix.

2. Keep it personal.

It’s your home, so use art and personal effects to make your gallery wall stand out. We love it when clients combine art they’ve purchased with family photos, sculptures, artifacts and children’s drawings. Tip: Looking for fun ways to expand your gallery or add one more work to your theme? Consider using old calendars, movie posters or inexpensive illustrations.

3. Start with the largest item first.

Balance and symmetry are key to creating a gallery wall that works. Start with the largest piece and use it as the focal point. Work from the center out. We recommend spacing artwork at least 1¼ inches (3 centimeters) apart to make each piece stand out on its own. Try to keep the overall pattern balanced against other furniture or centered in a room. Tip: Before you break out the hammer, lay the art out on the floor and cut newspaper to the size of each piece. Using masking tape, position the paper on the wall as you would the art, then try a few different arrangements until you’re happy with the effect.

4. Choose the right frames.

If you’re working with a collection of artwork across themes, using frames of a similar design or style is one way to tie the collection to your home’s style. Tip: Reclaimed frames and made-to-order frames without glass can be an inexpensive way to make your art stand out.

5. Think shelf life.

Using shelves is another way to create a gallery wall that can easily be updated without the need to rehang. If you don’t have a built-in ledge or shelf, you can buy thin shelving made for art display quite inexpensively, then paint it to suit your design. Tip: Most gallery wall shelving displays are no more than two shelves in height. This creates an open look and allows enough space to accommodate larger works.

6. Hang with precision.

There’s nothing more frustrating than hanging your art only to realize it’s at the wrong height. Most galleries hang works with the center of the piece 59 inches (150 centimeters) from the floor, so it sits at average eye level. Use a level and pencil to mark the holes before you drill. Double check each measurement to ensure you have the right height and balance.

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