Weekend Painting: Custom Artwork

Published on by Our Humble Abode

After spray painting a new magnet board for Vincent, I started creating a painting for our main bathroom.  I looked in our garage and found a 13 inch by 31 inch scrap of 1/2 inch thick MDF.  I really wanted something that was 12 by 36, but it was close enough.  After a quick cleaning, I applied a coat of primer to all sides. 

This is going in our bathroom, and I don’t want the MDF to swell in the humidity.  Priming and painting all sides will seal the MDF, preventing any swelling.

I was inspired by the shadow of leaves the afternoon sun casts on the walls in our house, so I went out to take a picture of our tree. 

After my primer and white paint dried, I began drawing leaves onto my ‘canvas’, using my photo as a guide.  I lightly drew some of the leaves with pencil.  Some areas where the leaves are more clustered together were difficult to recreate, so I took artistic freedom and drew some leaves as I liked.  After 10 minutes or so, I had half of my template complete.

I mixed up a custom ‘greige’ color using a small amount of black, tons of white and some yellow.  Then I started carefully filling everything in.

It was a little time-consuming, taking about one and a half hours, but I actually doing things like this.  Call me crazy, but I’d rather spend an hour or so creating free art than buying something.  Now we have a custom, one of a kind piece of art in our bathroom.

I like the long, rectangular shape and size.  It definitely makes more of a statement than the smaller items that were there before. 

How many of you make your own art?  Whether it’s a painting, drawing or something else.  Do share!  I would love inspiration!!

31 thoughts on “Weekend Painting: Custom Artwork”

  2. I love this! You are super talented. I may try this out, but I’m afraid my freehand of the leaves would be a little shaky! The color is perfect. I just did a post on my (new!) blog today about a DIY picture frame that I made to spruce up the wall of my little sister’s new dorm room! Let me know what you think! It definitely involves craft skills with less talent (cutting, gluing, etc!) but I think it’s a step in the right direction 🙂

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  3. Wow, that is beautiful! I want one!!! I try to make my own artwork (whenever possible), but it doesn’t look anything like this. WOW again, I love it.

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  4. Thanks! I don’t know if I’ll add more leaves to make it look more like a shadow, but I love it for now!

    Lorie,

    I’d love to make one for you! I do create custom art, so if you’re interested, send me an e mail to ourhumbleabowed@gmail.com

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  8. Amanda, you are amazing! How do you even think of these things!? You have inspired me. Once we move into our new base housing, I am gonna try my hand at some artwork.

    Keep all your ideas coming girl!!!

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  10. This is very pretty – I agree, it’s nicer to make your own art, or buy someone elses homemade art if you are not very artistic * unfortunately I fall into this category*

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  11. I am thoroughly impressed!! I am not good at freehanding… do you have any recommendations? Like a template? Thanks! LOVE your blog by the way 🙂

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    1. Thanks, everyone!

      EM, one recommendation I can give is to choose natural items to recreate. Leaves are so simple because they really can’t not look like a leaf. Everything in nature is perfectly imperfect, so you can’t go wrong. And, just focus on one small part at a time. You’ll notice my painting isn’t an exact match of the inspiration photo, but it gets the point across.

      Thanks!!
      Amanda

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  13. You did such a good job on that painting! I wish I was artistic like that! And the placement in the bathroom is absolutely perfect.

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    1. Hi Aimee,

      Thanks so much!! I would love to see your version when it’s done!

      Thanks for stopping by!
      Amanda

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    1. Hi Michelle,

      We’re glad you found us! Please do come back again 🙂 Thanks for your sweet compliment, too!

      Amanda

      Reply

  16. I love it, great job! So crisp and professional!

    There is nothing better than making your own art, I make mine by framing my own drawings/paints and by using used wine corks, coins from my travels, antique keys and lots more with the help of cheap dollar store frames/shadow boxes and high end fabrics and wallpapers collected throughout my interior design jobs. You can check out my art on my blog Inspire Bohemia if you’d like:
    My Shadow Box coin art:
    http://inspirebohemia.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-taste-of-my-artwork.html
    My Shadow Box wine cork art (I call them “Shadow Corks” hehe):
    http://inspirebohemia.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-of-my-arts-and-crafts.html

    Thanks for sharing, I am your newest follower! 🙂

    ~Catherine
    Inspire Bohemia
    InspireBohemia.blogspot.com

    Reply

  21. Totally loving this art!!! It’s just amazing and so chic! I’d love to have you as a friend at Frou Frou Decor! I’d also like to invite you to link your wonderful creations up at my weekly party, Fabulous Friday Finds, every Friday! Hope to see you there!
    Hugs,
    ~Terrell @ Frou Frou Decor~

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    1. Hi Terrell,

      Thanks so much! I just became a follower of your blog! It’s great! I’ll be sure to link up on Friday.

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

  25. I’m artistic and creative and ask my self “Why can’t I come up with an idea like this?” This is so cute. I have plenty of art that I want to put up on my walls and some ideas but I just have to get on that. I have way too many projects going on at the same time. This is very cute. 🙂

    Reply

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