Jennifer Rizzo

A DIY,home decor,crafting and decorating lifestyle blog

  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop Jennifer Rizzo Design Company Online
    • Shop Craft and Art Supplies
    • Creatively Christmas book information
  • Workshops
  • Our home
  • Projects/DIY’s/Lifestyle
    • Printables
    • Craft/home decor projects
    • Room makeovers,before and afters,home projects
    • Furniture makeovers before and afters
    • Art lessons and painting DIY projects
    • DIY wall art
    • Popular recipes
    • Interior design and decorating ideas
    • Entertaining
    • Running a small business,shows and shop keeping
  • Holiday housewalks
    • 2020 Holiday Housewalk
    • Holiday Housewalk 2019
    • Holiday Housewalk 2018
    • Holiday Housewalk 2017
    • Holiday housewalk 2016
    • Holiday housewalk 2015
    • Holiday Housewalk 2014
    • Holiday housewalk 2013
    • Holiday housewalk 2012
    • Holiday housewalk 2011
  • Contact
    • press, speaking engagements,book signings
  • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate and Sponsor Disclosure

DIY Abstract Painting

January 15, 2019 By Jennifer

The one rule that I love most about abstract painting, especially when I teach/lead a workshop on it, is that there really aren’t a lot of rules. For me,it isn’t about having to draw the perfect line, or make it look exactly like a tree… It’s about painting what you feel, and what you see, and if you like it or not.  The scariest part of abstract painting is having to get over is putting that first stroke of paint on the canvas. My DIY abstract painting tutorial today is more about giving you the direction, and guideline, and how to use an abstract painting technique that involves layering paint. We are also going to have fun using an unconventional painting tool too, so pull out your drywall putty knife, and get ready to paint!

How to paint DIY abstract art Jennifer Rizzo

I’m using a wood framed board canvas, but this technique could apply to a regular canvas as well.

For this project, you’ll need:

A large flat brush, a 3″ drywall putty knife, paper towel, canvas, palette or plastic plate

Supplies to paint DIY Abstract Art Jennifer Rizzo

DecoArt Premium Acrylic paint in Titanium White,Warm Grey, Carbon Black, Burnt Umber and Cadmium Yellow Hue,  Extreme Sheen in 24K Gold, and Creme Wax in Deep Brown ( if you are going to stain the frame.)

This project would also be a good way to use this kind of paint.

If you want to add a frame in an inexpensive way to your canvas, you can see how to do that here.

Start by painting a layer of Titanium White on your canvas. This will ensure a smooth glide for your future paint layers. This is a good idea to do even if you buy a pre-gessoed canvas.

Add abstract strokes of acrylic paint as a base layer.

Paint short brush strokes of black, burnt umber, gray and yellow, covering the canvas. This is probably going to look pretty bad. It’s ok, it’s just a base layer. We are going to cover most of it up, I promise, so don’t panic.

Under layer colors for an abstract painting Jennifer Rizzo

After your base layer is up, use a large brush to make  downward strokes towards the middle. Turn the canvas over when you want to do the bottom edge. You want your strokes to be slightly patchy, so the colors underneath peek through  a little.

Paint white over the base layer

Once you have the coverage you like with the white paint, next use the warm gray, and your large brush to paint a line straight across the middle of the painting. Use short downward strokes, moving across the canvas horizontally.

Paint gray across the middle of the painting Jennifer Rizzo

Mix some black paint in with the Warm Gray paint, and brush on some sections of a darker gray over the lighter gray. When I painted on my gray line, I made one side  wider than the other. That was just a design choice. You can keep it the same size if you want all of the way across.

Here’s where you get to play with your drywall putty knife.

Apply paint for an abstract painting with a putty knife

Pick up some white paint on the edge, and with a downward motion, apply it to the canvas, stopping at the gray line.

Layer paint with a putty knife from the hardware store. Jennifer Rizzo

You should get a really patchy , organic kind of pattern, and that’s just what we are going for! It’s that look for incompleteness that makes this painting of this DIY abstract painting!  Flip the canvas upside down to work from the other edge.

Add a gold stripe by stippling on paint Jennifer Rizzo

Once your white is applied, take a brush and stipple some gold on over the middle of the gray, using a light, pouncing motion, moving across the canvas.

Apply gold paint to your abstract art with a putty knife Jennifer Rizzo

Once your stippling is done, use the putty knife again to apply the gold paint in a random way across the line, right in the middle.

Applying gold paint in a DIY abstract painting tutorial Jennifer Rizzo

It almost goes on in a blobby way, and I like that. Once you have your paint on, and you like what you see, let dry. Less is more when adding paint.

Stain your wood with a creme wax

I wanted to give the frame a natural feel, with a little color, so I used Americana Decor Creme Wax. It let the natural wood come through, and gave it a rich finish that paint wouldn’t do.

Using creme wax to finish wood frame abstract art

After applying it with a brush, I used a paper towel to remove the excess and let dry.

Once the painting is dry, just put a sawtooth hanger on the back to hang, and enjoy your artwork! When I staged the picture, I couldn’t decide which lamp to use, so I pulled three different lamps from around my house to see which one I liked best.

DIY abstract painting tutorial from Jennifer Rizzo

I tried a wood lamp first, but I felt it was a little tall, and I couldn’t really see the painting.

Easy DIY abstract painting tutorial

Then, I tried a slightly smaller white lamp, but it still felt tall.

Abstract Painting DIY and plant Jennifer Rizzo

I finally decided on this small black lamp from the kitchen, I felt it showed the painting off the best, and was the right scale.  I hope you enjoy diving into DIY abstract painting! Let me know if you try it, I would love to see your painting!

If you liked this tutorial, you can check out this tutorial on how to paint an agate-inspired painting.

This post is sponsored by DecoArt, opinions are entirely my own.

 

Comments

  1. Missy says

    January 16, 2019 at 5:01 am

    Hmmm, wish I could see this in action; your painting tutorials really lend themselves to video… maybe a YouTube channel that you could link here? (Would that be easier to share / document? 🙂
    Must be time for you to teach another online class – just sayin’…(since you have all that extra time and all lol).

    • Jennifer says

      January 16, 2019 at 1:45 pm

      Thank you Missy. It’s something I should really think about!

  2. Kim says

    January 20, 2019 at 5:55 am

    Girl, this is awesome. I am better at lainting walls, than canvas, but I seriously think I could do this!! I’m going to try it, ifnits horrible, I’m paying you to do one for me

    • Jennifer says

      January 22, 2019 at 11:41 am

      Thank you Kim! I would love to help you out, but I bet you can do it!!!

  3. Suzanne says

    January 22, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    Love this! Would you mind telling me what the pretty font is please? eg You should get a really patchy etc
    Many thanks
    Suzanne

    • Jennifer says

      February 4, 2019 at 9:28 am

      Hi Suzanne,
      It’s one in Picmonkey. It’s called Speedbrush. It’s a great font!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

sign up for our newsletter and receive a free printable


The 2020 Holiday Housewalk

Jennifer Rizzo + Whimsy Decor for the Holiday Housewalk Day 1

Categories

archives

website security    

***Create at your own risk!!****
Any content on this blog was created for inspiration and entertainment purposes only!
Creating with my or any contributors or guest writers suggested tools, methods, or suggested products is under the reader’s/your own risk.

***************************************
Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back. Blog name,company name,All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
*******************************************
I have been compensated for posts featuring products from sponsors such as Michaels Craft Stores and Decoart Brands, but opinions  in working with these are entirely my own, and all sponsored posts are disclosed as such. All other sponsored posts are noted at the end and disclosed. Some posts may contain affiliate links.

Copyright © 2021 Jennifer Rizzo Design Company LLC · Design by Sadie Olive · Log in