DIY Network

Mod Modern A quartet of projects to modernize your outlook and decor From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-311

(Continued from page 2)

Look out, Andy Warhol! Anybody can be a modern art master with this easy technique for bringing color to a boring photo.

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Color-Blocked Artwork à la Warhol

Color-Blocked Artwork

Materials:

4 12"x12" stretched, gessoed artist canvases
craft paint in 4 colors (either bright or muted)
foam paintbrushes
découpage medium
4 14"x17" color copies of a black-and-white image
10 yd. decorative trim (narrower than the edge of the canvas)
matte medium
picture-hanger piece
small picture-hanging nails
hot glue
scissors
ruler
waxed paper

Figure A

1. Choose an image and use photo-editing software to make the picture black and white, adjusting the brightness and contrast until the image is completely black and white with no gray (figure A).

2. Print the image, take it to a copy shop and enlarge it to fit the length and width of the canvas (ours was enlarged 140% to fit a 12"x12" canvas). Make 4 copies.

3. Cut the images to the exact dimensions of the canvases (figure B). Apply a liberal, even coat of découpage medium to the canvas (figure C ). Apply découpage to the back (not the front) of the image and carefully apply the image to the canvas (don’t start pressing until the image is properly aligned) (figure D). Smooth out any the air bubbles (you can use a flat-edged object to help flatten bubbles, but be careful not to gouge the paper with the edges) and let dry.

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

4. Paint the image using acrylic paint that has been mixed with matte medium (one part paint to slightly less than one part matte medium) (figure E). Allow to dry. Use more than one coat of paint if the first coat looks streaky (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

5. When the paint is dry, add embellishments to the artwork. Ribbon or trim can be used to enhance the border of the frame (figure G). Attach a picture hanger to the back of the canvas (figure H). Repeat for each canvas.

Figure G

Figure H

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