Learn how to make this easy DIY wall art painting with texture in just a few simple steps!
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Hey there my friends! I’ve been in a major creative slump lately. Fortunately, that slump ended today when I created a super easy DIY wall art painting for my living room.
I actually had a different plan for wall art over my couch but then this idea came to me when I was browsing the Pottery Barn website. They had this photo of a beautiful painting, and I immediately thought making a DIY version.
I wanted to create something pretty similar, with different colors and a TON of texture. And so began my DIY wall art painting project.
I grabbed my huge framed painting that was hanging in my office. It was basically a blank painting waiting to be finished!
But, it actually didn’t start out like this!
Here is a look back at this painting in its original state.
Below is the original ‘before’ photo! It was a painting of trees that we had bought at Kirklands about 10 years ago. It is a really large painting, but I didn’t really love it anymore.
That’s when I attempted my first makeover for this artwork. I spray painted the frame copper.
And then I painted the whole thing dark gray.
Once it dried, I hung it in my office where it stayed for probably a year or so.
I never loved it after my first DIY makeover, and I always felt like it wasn’t quite finished.
I knew it would be the perfect painting to use for my DIY wall art project for my living room!
Step 1: Gather your materials
For this DIY wall art project, you’ll need:
- an old painting that you want to paint over
- spackel
- paint (I used Zinsser white paint for the frame and three colors for the painting: dark brown – not sure the exact color, red – Behr fireside, and beige – Behr ashen tan)
- paint brush (I used a diagonal paint brush to paint the frame, a circular brush for the spackel and main paint work and a tiny brush for the edges)
- FYI – I didn’t end up using that spray paint in the photo above – I brought it just incase
Step 2: Create texture with spackel
Now that this textured DIY wall art is done, I can tell you that this step makes the whole painting look amazing! It would look decent without the texture, but I think the texture MAKES the painting!
I wasn’t really sure exactly how I wanted to do the texture at first, so I started by doing a swoop type motion with the spackel and paint brush.
As I did a little more, I realized I liked more of a straight line motion with the spackel, so I went back through and did that.
It was REALLY easy! So, don’t be intimidated by this project if you’re new to DIY projects. You CAN do this!
Here’s how it looked close up. You can really see how the texture looks on the painting.
Once this is done, you’ll need to let it dry.
Step 3: Paint the frame white
Fortunately, you can do this step while the spackel is drying.
I actually used a paint I had never used before to paint the frame.
The white paint I used is called Allpaint and it’s made by Zinsser. I used a satin finish.
I used a diagonal paint brush to paint the frame.
I did end up having to do two coats of paint for the trim. If your painting also requires two coats of white trim paint, just make sure to let it dry completely between coats!
Here’s how it looked when I was done the trim.
Step 4: Let it dry.
Don’t skimp on this step! Let everything dry. The spackle needs to dry completely before painting begins for the main part of the painting. And, it’s good to have the white trim completely dry as well, so you don’t smear it.
Step 5: Paint your painting!
Now comes the fun part! It’s time to paint. Pick out several colors that fit your color scheme.
I used dark brown, red, and beige. I’m not sure of the exact brown color but the red I used is called fireside by Behr paint and the beige I used is called ashen tan by Behr paint. I actually had them leftover from other projects, so that’s why I used those specific colors.
I started with the bottom and painted the darkest areas first. Since I was using the same brush for the whole painting, I actually did the splatter method where I simply dumped out some paint on the painting and started blotting.
Continue mixing in more colors and blotting away. You can easily adjust your colors as you go and add more of another color to get the color you want! Blotting my brush worked the best for me to make the ombre look.
I used mostly brown and beige with just a little bit of red. I wanted to create a mauve look in the middle areas so that’s why I added a hint of red.
Then came the edge work. I used a teeny tiny brush go around the edges of the painting.
I continued blotting and adding paint until I got it just how I wanted it. After I was done, I realized it looked like mountains!
Step 6: Do touch ups
After the painting dried, I saw a few spot that needed touch ups so I went back in and fixed those areas.
I suggest doing this as well so you can get a beautiful end result!
Here’s how the texture looks up close:
I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!
