DIY Network

Art Around the World Get in touch with your inner artist with these fun projects. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-410

(Continued from page 2)

Capture the look and feel of Africa with a unique painting process that combines strips of paper with vibrant blotches of paint.

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Modern Grass Painting

Modern Grass Painting

Materials:

20"x20" square prestretched canvas
self-adhesive shelf liner
scissors or craft knife
metal yardstick
self-healing cutting mat
Folk Art Acrylic craft paint: 2 oz. each olive green and white
gel medium
100% cotton rag
picture hanger

1. Roll out the shelf liner and tape down. Using a yardstick, mark points on the contact paper that are 17", 14", 11" and 9" tall (figure A). Next, using a craft knife and a metal yardstick, cut the paper at marked points. Line up the yardstick at the center of one of the paper’s boxes and cut down to the base at a slight angle (figure B). Doing this on both sides will leave a long, thin triangle shape. You will need 6 strips that are 17" long, 20 strips that are 14" long, 15 strips that are 11" long and 10 strips that are 9" long. The strips should resemble large blades of grass (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

2. Attach the strips to the canvas. Beginning with the longest strips, keep layering until the canvas is covered. Wrap the widest part of the strips around the bottom of the canvas; pointed ends should be facing the top of the canvas (figure D) (figure E).

3. Pour a small amount of olive green paint on a plastic plate. Add an equal amount of gel medium to the paint and mix thoroughly (figure F).

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

4. Wet a rag and wring it out. Forming it into a ball, dip it into paint, blot off the excess and begin painting at the base of the canvas. Paint the darker color 1/3 of the way up from the base of the canvas. Add a drop or two of white paint to the olive paint and blend to create a lighter shade of green. Continue painting the canvas with the lighter shade, blending the two colors together about 2/3 of the way up the canvas (figure G). Add more white paint to create a very light green shade and continue painting to the top the canvas, blending as you paint (figure H). Let the canvas dry.

5. Carefully remove the shelf liner paper (figure I).

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

6. Attach a picture hanger and hang.

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