Friends, it’s that time of month again! It’s time for the Monthly DIY challenge!  Yay! In case you’re new, here’s the scoop: On the 2nd Wednesday of every month, me and my bloggy friends get together and create something based on a common material or theme that everyone uses. The end results are so unique and fantastic! So far we’ve done Michaels crates, pumpkins, wood slices, clear ornaments, organizational solutions,  plumbing pieces,  the dollar store,  trash to treasure, and wood scraps. This month’s material is paint – any sort of paint used in any sort of way! We all came up with super creative uses, so be sure to stick around to the end of the post to see everyone else’s AMAZING projects!
I just love paint. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved playing and creating with paints, be it watercolor, acrylic or oils. It was a way for me to escape, a way to express myself, and a way to make pretty things that I could share with friends and family. I loved art and painting so much that I went to the University of Washington and majored in Art! Sadly getting into painting classes at UW was near impossible due to the way they scheduled things, so painting went by the wayside and I focused on other arts like graphic design, photography, ceramics, and more. After I graduated and got married I tried to find time to paint again, but we had lived in small spaces where it was  hassle to drag out all my paints and the truth of the matter was, I just wasn’t feeling inspired.
Fast-forward a couple years and now we are living in our first house and I have a whole entire room for all my art supplies! A place to set up my easel, room to throw some paint around – what a dream! But the problem still remained of not being inspired. I couldn’t think of anything to paint and I was worried that I had forgotten how. I was nervous to touch paint to canvas in fear of messing it up or making something ugly. Where I had once been so bold I was now uninspired and worried about making mistakes. It was no good!
Until one day I came across this ah-mazing piece of artwork from Britt Bass Turner featured on Style Me Pretty as part of a kitchen renovation. I fell in love with the colors, the shapes, the flow. I felt inspired again, I felt excited about the potential of painting again. It’s like the fog had lifted.
But I was still afraid of messing things up, of making something ugly. So, to build my confidence again and to remember what it was like to paint, I decided to base my piece on Britt’s and make a piece inspired by her beautiful artwork. So I pulled out my paints and my brushes and set to work, layering on acrylic paint in bright happy hues. I studied Britt’s piece and it was like taking an art lesson with her – it was like I was remembering how to use color and how to create a flow. I got a little bolder and added my own swipes and stripes to the mix, not caring any longer about messing it up and just going where my brush took me. And I even threw in some glitter (in typical Dwell Beautiful style!) to make it truly my own.
When I was finished I just let out a huge sigh of relief. It was finished! And it wasn’t ugly! Now that I’ve taken the time to practice and get the feel for painting again I’m so excited to start dreaming up my own creations and putting paint to canvas with my own designs. It was so freeing to create something beautiful and I can’t wait to do it again!
I’m working on adding more color to my decor and this acrylic abstract painting is just the ticket!
If you love this style of artwork, please consider purchasing a piece from Brit Bass Turner! You can find her website and all her artwork HERE. Her work is phenomenal, and as an independent artist she deserves your support! I just painted a piece inspired by her work since I was refamiliarizing myself with painting, but I definitely plan on purchasing a piece of hers once I can save up the cash!
Now that you’ve seen my abstract painting, head on over to all my friends’ posts and check out there amazing projects! Click on a picture below to be magically transported to their sites. You seriously don’t want to miss out!
What’s your favorite way to use paint?
I love it! So fantastic.
Aw, thank you so much Sage!
It’s absolutely GORGEOUS Erica!!! LOVE the bright colours!!! You are so crazy talented!
D’aww, don’t make me blush, Kristi! 🙂 I had a lot of fun with this project!
This makes me want to paint again!! My original major was studio art and I ended up changing it… painting was always my favorite but I haven’t done it in FOREVER! I absolutely love this piece, Erica! The colors and composition are fantastic… happy and cheerful but sophisticated at the same time. I sort of want to steal it for my house. 😉 Keep painting, girl!
That’s so cool Christina!! I wish I could’ve gotten into the painting classes at my college, but spaces were limited and if you didn’t get in a class freshman year then you couldn’t take any other painting class ever since the freshman one was a pre-req for all the others. So lame! But you should definitely get back into painting – it felt so freeing to put brush to canvas again!
Looooooove it. I’ve been wanting to do a similar style painting for my Easy Art series, but so far I’ve gone more geometric. I might just have to try this one out!
Aw, thanks so much, Amy! I’ve been totally loving your Easy Art Series! All your pieces are so fun and I love the geometric shapes and all the cacti!! 🙂
This is gorgeous! I absolutely love it. Also, that is so cool how you have the photos flipping through and showing the process (sorry, I have no idea how to describe that.). Anyway, all around amazing job!
Thanks so much, Bre! And it’s called a ‘gif’ haha (which I know because I spend too much time on the internet…) 🙂 You can make one by uploading pictures to http://gifmaker.me/! 🙂
You are such a great artist, love your creativity!
Aw thank you so much Leigh Anne! I had a lot of fun with this project!
I SO admire your painting skills girl. If I tried to do something like this it would look like a 2 year old painted it ha. This is perfectly abstract and beautiful! And the colors are amazing.
Haha, aw thanks so much! It was really fun to paint. And I bet you could do it if you tried! 😉
Wow, it’s absolutely beautiful! The colors, the layers, it’s all so perfect.
Thank you Katie! I’m pretty in love with it 🙂
Wow! Too cute. It looks great where you have it hanging on your board and batten wall. Good for you for indulging in what you love to do. I think it’s fabulous 🙂
I’m definitely glad to be back into painting! It’s such a cathartic activity and I can’t wait to make more! Hanging anything on board and batten is always a challenge haha but I made it work!
This is so pretty, Erica! I love how bright and cheery it is. You’re so creative!
Aw, thanks Amy! I had a lot of fun with this one 🙂
Ooooh I LOVE this, the colors are so vibrant and it looks awesome in your living room!
Thanks Katie! I just love the color combo too – who knew adding all those colors together would actually work? 🙂
How beautiful, Erica! Love the colors and it looks beautiful in your home! You’re soo talented, girl! Have a great day! xo
Aww, thank you SO much Kendra! I’m flattered 🙂 Have a fab weekend friend!
This is gorgeous, Erica! You are so crazy talented and an amazing artist! Looks perfect in your living room!
Thank you so much, Tara! You’re too kind 🙂 I had a lot of fun painting it!
I am loving this! The colors fit so well with the rest of the room. I think it is helpful to have the time lapse of the layer you used for this painting. I love to paint, when I have the time but I always second guess if what I want to paint is good enough. This just proves that a little paint, some fun, great colors can go a long way!
Aw, thank you so much, Emily! I had a lot of fun with this project – it just felt good to get a brush back in my hand. I’m a big second guesser when it comes to my artwork, but I’m going to try to be more loosey goosey from now and just go for it! 🙂
It does look really good, I used to a paint a bit but just don’t have the time to go back to it nowadays. And when I do have the time I’m worried it will turn out badly and waste the small bit of time I do have! The post has inspired me to (maybe) give it another go though – thanks!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Danny! You should definitely give painting another go. I’m always nervous to start because I don’t want to mess up either, but once I get going, it really just feels so good for the soul! I believe in you 🙂
Wow, nice, and this painting really gave me a case of deja vu! Check out Kelly Johnston (original paintings available on her site, prints on Minted.com):
http://www.kellyjohnstonart.com/#/abstract-paintings/
What beautiful work from Kelly Johnston! Thanks for linking me her site – I particularly love “Arise” which I think I’ve seen on Minted before. I’ll definitely have to buy some of her work!