Monthly DIY Challenge: Acrylic Abstract Painting

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 slicesclear ornamentsorganizational 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!

abstract acrylic painting

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.

acrylic abstract painting

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!

acrylic abstract painting

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.

acrylic abstract painting

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.

acrylic abstract painting

acrylic abstract painting

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!

acrylic abstract painting

acrylic abstract painting

acrylic abstract painting

I’m working on adding more color to my decor and this acrylic abstract painting is just the ticket!

acrylic abstract painting

acrylic abstract painting

acrylic abstract painting

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?

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