In our secret lives — our night life and our weekend life — we enjoy getting creative in ways that don’t necessarily involve leather.

Regina likes to cook. (You may have already tried one of her incredible recipes.)

I like to paint.

I’ve been painting for almost ten years — a hobby that I picked up after I experienced the painful loss of losing prenatal twins. Art has healed my heart, and now artwork fills my home. I’ve collected art from my world travels and created a collage on my living room wall that tells a story of my journey. I also hang up my paintings and my daughter’s colorful creations.

Art has healed my heart, and now #artwork fills my home. Click To Tweet

When I was younger, we didn’t have a TV, but my ex-Amish Aunt did. Sometimes I got to watch shows at her house if my dad wasn’t paying attention. One afternoon I watched Bob Ross painting “happy little trees” on a canvas. I was hooked for life at that moment, but I wouldn’t pick up my own paint brush until I was 22 years old.

Most of the time, my process for creating artwork is intuitive and not one that I can explain or replicate. It’s a little like cooking your favorite meal. You know just how much seasoning to add without a recipe. However, when I first learned how to paint, I learned from online painting tutorials on Netflix and Youtube. I practiced everything I learned and then I explored new ideas.

Eventually, I started college to learn even more and invested in several painting workshops.

If you’ve never painted before, it might feel intimidating. There’s something about creating art that is intimate and magical. Painting on your own is healing therapy. Painting with your friends or the one you love can be a beautiful way to bond with them. That’s why “Sip and Paint” classes are growing in popularity across the country! (Check out Dabble Studio in Nashville.)

Creating your own #artwork is intimate. Painting is your own healing therapy. Click To Tweet

Today I’m going to show you how to create simple artwork for your home, and maybe it’ll inspire you to explore your ideas and paint more!

ART SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

PAINT

• Red Paint
• Orange Paint
• Yellow Paint
• Black Paint
• White Gesso /or/ Paint

TOOLS

• 24″ by 24″ canvas
• Wide brush
• A graphite pencil (or a Craftsmart paint pen)
• A glass plate
• A spoon
• A plastic ziplock bag
• Pair of scissors
• Clear gloss spray
• Drop cloth
• Glass of wine (optional)
• “Only Time” music playlist (optional)

Frequently asked question: “What brand of paint should I use?”

In this tutorial, I’m using the acrylic paints I already had in my studio which include a couple of different brands of paint, including Golden Paints, Winsor & Newton, and Michael’s generic beginner’s brand of Artist Loft paint. The main differences between these paints are the pigment and thickness they contain.

For this project, you could use an inexpensive brand of paint, such as Folk Art craft paint. Folk Art craft paint is a heavy bodied craft paint and would be a great substitute for this project.

1. Begin with a clean, gessoed canvas on a drop cloth.

• White Gesso /or/ Paint
• 24″ by 24″ canvas
• Wide brush
• Drop cloth

Most canvases have already been prepared with gesso, which will be specified somewhere on the label. I usually prep with an additional layer of gesso, but that isn’t necessary for today’s project.

2. Write on your canvas.

• A graphite pencil

I’m using a graphite pencil to write on my canvas because I love the textured look of it.

If you don’t like this look and prefer something cleaner and smudge proof, you could use a Craftsmart paint pen.

Caution: Don’t use a black sharpie because the ink can turn blue over time and ruin the original look of your work.

3. Seal the first layer.

• Clear gloss spray

I used a graphite pencil to write “LOVE” across my canvas, but it smudges easily. I don’t mind a little smudging, but I have a little secret trick I use to prevent it from smudging too much.

Any variety of brands of clear gloss spray paint will work for this step. Make sure you spray lightly in even, sweeping motions, changing your direction a few times.

4. Paint a light layer of white.

• White Gesso /or/ Paint
• Wide brush
• “Only Time” music playlist (optional)

Using your gesso or white paint, you’re now ready to apply a light layer of paint over your words. Don’t overthink this step.

Tip: I like to put paint in spots or swirls all over the canvas and then spread it out.

This layer looks best with an organic feeling to it. Let yourself relax before you begin. Tap into feelings of inner peace and move to the music. As you move the paint around on the canvas, allow it to settle more thickly in some areas. Don’t overwork it.

Hint: Step away before you think it’s “ready.”

Let the paint dry.

Tip: To increase the drying time, you may lay your canvas in the sun or blow it with a hair dryer.

5. Draw simple poppies on the canvas with black paint.

• Black paint
• A plastic ziplock bag
• Pair of Scissors

This is a fun step that might make you think about cake decorating if you’ve ever piped lines on a cake from a plastic bag as I have.

Squirt 2-3 tablespoons of black paint into your plastic Ziploc bag.

Snip off the very tip of the bag with scissors.

Now you’re ready to draw your poppy flowers with textured outlines by squeezing paint from the tip of the bag!

Tip: Practice drawing on your drop cloth or a piece of paper first.

When I drew these poppies, I started with lumpy looking, abstract ovals. Then I drew a wavy stem from the bottom of the flower.

Simple.

5b. Permission granted to stop.

If you love the look of your artwork at any stage of this process, feel free to stop.

I absolutely loved this artwork without color added to it. It made me feel peaceful and looked beautiful on my wall. I also loved it after the first two layers had been completed and could have stopped then. I encourage you to explore your feelings through this process and permit yourself to create in a way that feels true to yourself.

6. Fill your poppy flowers with color!

• Red Paint
• Orange Paint
• Yellow Paint
• A glass plate
• A spoon
• Glass of wine (optional)

I chose two shades of red, a vibrant orange, and yellow paint for this project.

Using multiple shades of colors and constructing textures with layers creates interest in artwork. One of my art teachers taught me that artwork should capture someone’s attention from twenty feet away as well as twenty inches away.

#Artwork should capture someone’s attention from twenty feet away as well as twenty inches away. Click To Tweet

PAINTING WITH A TWIST

It’s time to grab that plate and spoon! Yes, you’re finally going to find out how you’ll use your spoon today. Because acrylic paint cleans up so easily, you’ll be able to wash these tools and use them again for their usual purpose.

First, you’ll squeeze about a tablespoon of each color on your plate.

Next, you may use the back of your spoon to get paint from your plate and begin to fill in each of your poppies. Alternate between the colors you have to create eye catching depth in each flower.

7. Make yourself a cup of tea and bask in the glory of being an artist.

Once you’ve filled in your poppies, it’s time to let your artwork dry overnight.

Tomorrow you’ll enjoy the thick texture of the painted poppies, and hang your work where you can enjoy it every day.

Artwork Tutorial on Live Video

A couple of weeks ago, I gave this painting tutorial on our Facebook page, on Facebook live.

You paint, I paint, we all paint!

Several ladies have already painted their own versions of this painting and shared their photos with us.

We loved their work so much that we asked them if they would mind if we include them in this blog post.

Poppy painting by Judith Yoder

Poppy painting by Faith Yoder

Poppy painting by Anna Yoder Rorick

Poppy painting by Dorcas Yoder

We hope this inspires you to create!

When you complete your painting, you already know we’d love to see it. Feel free to share it with us on our Facebook page or email it to me: meg@urbansouthern.com

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