DIY graphic poster

"Art is the most intence mode of individualism the world has known"

-Oscar Wilde-

As part of my recent series of posts exploring how displaying art in your home I am today sharing this tutorial on how to make a graphic poster!

Your choices of art expresses your feelings and tastes more than anything else you'll choose to decorate your home with...it speaks directly to you and anyone visiting your home about who you are: 

From the colors you choose to the shapes and motif in a picture.

And displaying BIG pieces of art shows a confidence ,not only in your style and interior tastes, but also in your own person: It is a statement!!

This year has seen the rise of the poster art:

It is a convenient way to add some of that individualism to your walls: Easy to hang and quick to replace...Perfect for those of you that like to change up your interiors frequently to express your own personal taste evolution.

And making your own art , is a further extension of expressing that confidence....

So today I will show you how you can make your very own poster art, in an easy and affordable way....but still have it look "a million dollars".

Following my own advice on making BIG art, I've gone abstract, but this time in a graphic way.

Inspired by the work of  Kristina Krogh , this Poster art is all about colors and textures....and I have chosen what I liked, but of course you should choose to use what appeals to you! 

This tutorial is meant more as an inspiration, sowing a seed of an idea, to encourage you to express yourself and make something big, bold and personal to fill your walls with.

Here's what I did:

I got some A1 coloured paper, I chose a dark blue, for my poster base.

Then I used some marble contact paper , some brushed Brass/gold effect contact paper .

I also used some cork paper and water colour patterned paper I got on my last visit to Norway from Sostrene Grene, But you can get similar Cork paper from here , and 

for similar watercolour print paper ,visit Design Love Fest to download their free digital watercolour wallpaper, save to your computer and print....Or I will show you how to easily make your own further down the post...

You will also need a ruler, a pencil , scissors and some spray adhesive.

First I drew up a simple (and crude ) plan of how I wanted my poster to look, making note of the measurements of each element!

Then I measured and cut out the shapes for each element:

Then I very faintly marked out with a pencil on my poster base where the different elements was going to go...The best way to do this is to find the center and work your way outwards....

I loosely placed the elements down and reviewed the layout: 

I made some additional faint pencil marks at this point to ensure that the elements would go on straight and symmetrical when I came to gluing them down.

Then I sprayed the back of the elements with spray adhesive and stuck them down in place. (The brass and marble paper were self adhesive, making it a doddle to stick down)

AND that's it!!

I also made this second poster, in the same way, using copper contact paper instead of brass, just to show you how using (ever so slightly) different shapes and colors will vary the expression in your art:

But this time I made my own watercolour pattern:

You will probably remember doing this as a child:

Folding a piece of paper, painting only one side of the fold then closing together to create a symmetrical "butterfly splogde" picture... Use some proper watercolour paper and use lots of water with your paint to get the effect!

Let it fully dry (Iron if too crumpled)

Assemble as before according to your plan.

I love this effect and think it adds a truly personal and artistic look to the poster...

Stay tuned next week for my tutorial on how to DIY the wooden poster hanger!

As I've mentioned before (like, about a million times;) as my daughter would say...) the great thing about making your own art for your home is that it can be truly customized to your tastes....both in shapes, motif ,size and colors....

So what do you think?

Are you ready to get artistic and make some art for your walls?

How do you feel about posters as opposed to canvas?

Please vote for me for best DIY blog

BIG ART

DIY ideas to try...

Image via Flax and twine

Over the last couple of weeks I've been exploring the benefits of displaying art in your interiors, from the modern gallery wall, through to layering and leaning art and finally the power of big and bold art! There is no doubt that displaying art in your home is the perfect way to inject some personality into your interiors!
The perfect piece of art should be something you love, something that speaks to you, makes you feel something and that represents your tastes... There is a difference between the sort of art that you'd go to a gallery to see, the sort of thought provoking and intriguing art that can make you feel uneasy and curious....and the art you display in your home:  Art in your home should be part of your interior in some kind of harmonious way. It should relate to your surroundings as well as to you, both in size, colors and motif...and in the way you display it! But of course a little intrigue is always good...
But let's face it: Art can be expensive....especially large scale art! ...and as much as I'd like to curate a collection of beautiful art that I love for my home, unfortunately the moths in my wallet is not considered legit payment in any part of the world, as far as I know... So when I decided I wanted a big piece of art for my living room, I DIY'd my own:

Although I've studied art, and am probably quite an artistic person, I don't consider my self a painterly artist....and I truly believe that anyone can create a piece of art they will love!

I have 3 tips for anyone feeling less than confident, but want to have a go: Keep it simple, abstract and go BIG! ...And use colors YOU love! (Actually that was 4....but who's counting??)
So today I am sharing some tutorials on how to DIY some art for your home from the www. that I love!
They are all simple, easy to adapt to your own tastes and to make....but will look fantastic and add that artistic flair to your home!
You can see how I made the big abstract artwork for my living room, pictured above over at Room Design...it's really easy, I promise!

Image from Bliss at home

Or how about this Black and white abstract painting? Kristin from Bliss at home even got her two sons involved with making this, it's that easy....but striking no?

Image from cuckoo 4 design

I love the textures with the gold leaf in this abstract artwork that Julia from Cuckoo 4 design made. The artwork in her tutorial is not that big, but the technique and look lends itself very well to creating a huge statement piece!

Image from making lemonade

Carrie from Making Lemonade simply framed some gorgeous marbled paper to make this art for her walls. You can purchase it here. Marbling is very trendy and stunningly decorative in an abstract way, and why not try to DIY your own?
There are lots of tutorials online on marbeling , using different techniques...I would like to try marbeling some fabric to stretch onto a canvas, or using spray paints, like the fabulously artistic, Alisa Burke did here.
Watch this space;)

Image from Dans le townhouse

It just doesn't get simpler than this....but Tanya from Dans le townhouse has created a very striking piece of art, that can easily be made as huge as you'd like! 

If you are a pattern lover, how about making a wall hanging, using a favorite fabric, or drawing out a pattern on some canvas like I did when I made my tribal wall rug, above.

Image from Alisa Burke

Lastly I just wanted to give another mention to all round creative genius, Alisa Burke.

 Her blog is one of my go-to's when I need some inspiration, and you may find her tips and tricks for painting large useful...it has some great advice on both techniques and material....and some budget busting tricks as well!

Also check out her pinterest page for loads of inspiring and arty tutorials.

So what do you reckon? 

Are you ready to get the paint brushes out and get creative?

Do you feel inspired to inject some truly personal and BIG art in to your interiors?

More than just being a budget friendly option if you'd like to add some BIG art in your home, making it yourself has loads of added benefits:

You can make it to the exact size you want/need, in the exact colors you love, creating a truly custom piece that will fit perfectly in your interior!

And of course, art doesn't get more personal that this:

It doesn't matter if you are following a tutorial on the net, or even hacking a great, but un-affordable piece of art you've seen (Disclaimer: I don't endorse ripping off artists work for commercial gain, but taking inspiration from and making similar art for your own enjoyment is ok ;))....the  expression in your efforts will always be slightly different to your inspiration, and your choice of colors and technique (Or lack of ;)) will add a personal touch to the artwork...

And what a statement to make in your home!!

A big piece of DIY art will definitely wow your guests and be a true conversation starter...

....and who knows: You might just find your new passion: I find it incredibly soothing to play around with paint and colors, and revel in the process!

If you need some more inspiration, please check out my pinterest board ART for loads of inspiring artful pins.

And I will be back this weekend with a tutorial on how to make your very own BIG graphic poster!

The art of displaying art III

The power of one:

Go big and bold!

Image via home life

A great piece of art can always bring an interior together in a way that no other element of your decor can...it brings personality and confidence as well as beauty!
And for maximum impact, make it big!
It doesn't matter if your home is small or large: Displaying a single, huge piece of well chosen art gives the impression of an intentional, well designed space!
Grand and bold art doesn't just belong in mansions, in fact, when positioned well it can make a small space seem larger and make a large space seem cozy!

Image from bolig magasinet

So, this is round 3 of my series of posts exploring how to display art in our homes! Previously I've talked about a fresh new take on the traditional gallery wall HERE, and in my last post I investigated the benefits of casually displaying your art by leaning and layering it up against the wall...

And in this post I am investigating the power of displaying One piece of huge art in your home....

Image via Pinterest

Big artwork creates a big statement!

It is the ultimate personal home accessory....it will make your interior come off as both confident and individual!

Whether it is an abstract or figurative painting, a graphic poster or a haunting photograph, it infuses your home with flair and adds interest and a focal point to any room...Benefits from owning an oversized piece of art are that it can define a room, start conversations and simply wow people due to shear size! Choose a piece of art you are confident about, that speaks to you, or has special meaning.

Image found on Elle decor

 Oversized art commands attention from visitors when placed in the right manner.  

 Be smart and confident when choosing wall art, and its location in your home and a dramatically sized piece of art can be the element that will bring your interiors together...

Image from S F girl by bay

Embrace the drama of a oversized art and place it somewhere in your home that will make it the focus of attention....it is a great way to fill a big empty wall space...

Image via Honestly WTF

Play with the proportions of the art relating to your furniture and the architectural elements of your home. As mentioned in my previous post, considering the negative space and layering your interiors will help create a balanced look.

Image from Nuevo estilo

If you a have particularly large wall space to fill (lucky you), big art is sometimes not big enough! If your artwork looks a bit too small for the space, a trick is to hang it a few inches off center, so that the negative space next to it becomes "part of the image"...

Image from Elle decor Espana

Displaying over-sized or big art in unusual places will add to the personal flair the art will bring to your interiors.. And an asymmetrical arrangement is just the thing to add a little more life to the room.

Image from Nordic Design

Consider the relation ship between the artwork and the furnishings in a room when hanging it, making it part of the interior.Try hanging a piece quite low in the space, next to a big piece of furniture: the low placement will make sense by giving the art a relationship with the furnishings in the room. Experiment by leaning big art from the floor and live with it for a while!

Image from Beazly home

Also layering your furniture and decor in slightly front of your art will make the art appear more integral to the interior...


Image from jelanie shop

Also consider placing big art in places where it can be seen from other rooms, through doorways.
This will create a focal point that will draw the eyes to the furthest spot of your space, making it seem larger...

Image via Femina

...and adding an intrigue to your space, inviting visitors to explore the space.

Image via La belle vie

...And of course leaning huge artwork will add a more casual feeling...so you may find that the piece you tried out in the spot next to the sofa by leaning it casually against the wall, doesn't need hanging at all....

Image from Femina

As mentioned in my previous post about leaning and layering art, this is a casual approach to displaying art that has the benefits of coming across as very relaxed but also by bringing the art closer to the people in the space making it seem like the art is not just part of the interiors but also the homeowners lives!

Image from Love Warriors

And of course, with a huge , heavy piece of art, leaning it against the wall, either from a sideboard or mantel, or simply from the floor, will save you the job of working out how to hang it!

Image from Nostalgiecat

Investing in a huge piece of art you love can be worthwhile, but there is no denying that not all of us can afford to.

But art can be so many different things, and there are loads of alternatives that work really well!

You can make your own, and there are lots of ways to do this,like my DIY tribal wall rug, pictured above. And I will explore more ways of making big artwork in my next few posts...

You don't need a degree in art to do this: By making art big, it doesn't have to be too detailed or perfect, it is more about the colors and expression, especially if you go abstract!

Image from Urban Outfitters

Other budget friendly options are posters, big maps or using textiles to add a huge artful statement to your walls: Try hanging rugs, like I explored in this post.....

Image from Domino

Or cover a wall with  a colorful piece of fabric you love, or a colorful painted, un-stretched canvas for maximum impact on a budget! Using textiles or wall hangings will also have the added benefit of adding some texture to your walls...

Image from Mr Perswall

Another creative way to add some artistic flair to your walls on a large scale, is to use some artistic wallpaper...
Obviously this is a big investment, and a more permanent one at that....

Image from Mr Perswall

It is probably the biggest commitment to displaying art you love in your home you could choose, making it a very confident statement!

This is a fairly new-ish trend, but it is fast becoming a more readily available option and  there are an increasing array of designs to choose from: you can even get your own photos and designs made into wall paper...(Sites like wallpapered offer this service)

Image from wallpapered

I love the simplicity of displaying just one , huge piece of art adds to your home....an I love that it makes such a big statement and its ability to pull the interiors together!
I think displaying oversized art in our homes is a rising trend that is here to stay, because people are getting more and more confident in their interiors and want to inject some personality to their living spaces!

What do you think?
Is big beautiful?
Are you ready to commit to making this kind of statement in your home using art?

The art of displaying art II

Layering and leaning art

Image via home edit

Whatever your tastes, displaying art in your home is a great way to express your personality in your interiors! Big art, small art, it doesn’t matter, as long as it makes an interesting impact and puts a smile on your face. In my last post I explored the way the traditional gallery wall is evolving into a fresh and modern way to display art....a little less structured and a little more unexpected than before... Building on from this I want to talk about an even more relaxed way to display your favorite pieces today: Leaning and layering Art!

Pablo Picasso in his studio, Image found on  Pinterest

This casual way to display art in your home is reminiscent of the artist studio, where works-in-progress are strewn across the space and leaned up against the walls... It adds a bohemian feel to your home and the apparent chaotic randomness of the display will make your interior seem less conceived....and more confident!
Living with art is to make it part of the way we interact in our personal space.  Leaning art brings it close: We can study it, pick it up and touch it, live with it in ways we can’t do when it’s nailed to a wall.

Image via pinterest

An eclectic collection of art looks great leaned up against the walls, from the floor or from shelves and furniture...

Image via domestic bliss

And it's a great way to make your art part of the interior in a way that just hanging your art can't.

Image via Lonny

Of course, we are not all blessed with large curated collections of pieces of art, or big living spaces that lends themselves to that "artist-studio" look...

Image via The pursuit aesthetic

But there are ways to incorporate some of this casual-ness into your interior without the need for easels and paint-splattered floor...or spending copious amounts on expensive artwork.

Image from Apartment therapy

Leaning art casually against the wall from sideboards and credenzas, is a great way to achieve this look...

Image via Design sponge

...And of course, if you are renting and hanging art is not an option.or maybe you suffer from "hole-in-the-wall phobia".....this is an ideal way to add some personality into your home with art without getting the power tools out!

Image via Apartment therapy

Family photo's , posters , postcards , children's drawings or DIY artwork are inexpensive and will all look amazing , framed or unframed, when coupled with a few great pieces in this apparently random manner, and mixing medias and types of art will add an eclectic flair to the display. 

And because you are free to move your art around as you please, it will also be easier to change out your art whenever you feel like it, meaning you can add and take away from the collection over time. This in turn means that you can curate art you love as your tastes and budgets change, without spending ages contemplating where to hang it!

Image via style-files

A big part of getting this look right is getting to grips with layering your artwork:

Much in the same way as when creating a gallery wall, considering the size , shape and colors of your artwork is important to create a successful composition...
 Cluster art in different frames, canvases and colors you want a bohemian look or in similar frames with a limited color palette if you want a more sleek look....Mix sizes and layer different heights.

Image via Nordic Bliss,Styling by Pella Hedeby

In the above image, one of my favorite stylists, Pella Hedeby , has artfully layered posters, photos and framed art on the wall ....all in a monochrome color palette, and accompanied by leaning a framed print xx against the wall on the floor next to the bed, and again in front of it...

This makes the art part of the simple furnishings and the overall expression of the interiors....she has also used books to further layer the decor and emphasize the casual feel of this room...

Image from Home life

By combining leaning artwork against wall hung artwork, you can create an interesting display, adding a touch of mystery, as you're partially obscuring the piece behind...

Image via Coco Kelly

Obscuring a beautiful piece of art may seem wasteful, but it will add a sense of intrigue, and make your guests curious to explore more of your interior...

Creating artfully leaning vignettes as a backdrop to displaying items of interest , collections , curiosity's and home accessories lets the artwork connect to the other objects in your vignette,sitting on the same surface in a more meaningful way.

Image from The Nordic Bliss

Create intriguing spots of interest by layering art and objects together.

Leaning art together on shelves is visually appealing.... especially if the artwork is similarly  sized and styled, it will give the same visual expression as an artfully created gallery wall, with the benefit of enabling you to rearrange the art display on the shelves, interspersed with accessories to fit your mood or the seasons. This will help create a casual, but sophisticated look.

Image via Analog/Dialog

Of course I cannot talk about leaning art in the home without mentioning the IKEA Ribba picture ledge...

Image via At dusk

As much as I am sure that there was people leaning and layering art in their homes before the Ribba picture ledge became available, there is no doubt that their existence has aided the popularity of this way of displaying art in our homes...

Image via The design chaser

It has enabled us all to embrace the interchangeable art display in a way that most people would not have considered before...

Image from Emma's design blog

...making full use of the wall space available to us!
Add a few pieces leaning casually on the floor as well,like above, and you've nailed it!!

Image via SF girl by bay

Leaning art in unexpected places adds to the appealing intrigue of the interior.....And making use of the floor-space along a wall lets you play with the relationship between the art and the furniture...

Image via Pinterest

As well as helping you create some of that essential negative space in relation to your display..

Image from Refinery

Again, playing with the sizes and layering the art in an artfully casual arrangement defines this look.

Image via A merry mishap

And of course it will save you the job of working out how to hang a particularly big and heavy piece of art on the wall... 

Image via Sarah Sarna

In fact, by leaning particularly big pieces of art from the floor against the wall, lets the artwork play peek-aboo in an intriguing way from behind, say a sofa or an armchair, like in the image above...

Image via Vosges Paris

Of course leaning just one huge piece of art on its own , from the floor makes a huge statement....but I will explore the power of One in my next post....so more on that later!

Maybe the leaning and layering artwork display is not for you, but it cannot be denied that there is a certain appeal about this casual way to personalize your home...
I think the trick to pull this off is to strike a balance between the unexpected casualness of it and not making it look like you're just too lazy to hang up your artwork!
There are no rules, but do try to keep in mind the relationship between the layers of art, your home accessories and your furniture and the space it all sits in!

What do you think?
Are you ready to give leaning and layering your artwork a go??

I can tell you that as my collection of art is growing, this seems to me the most practical solution, without retorting to a selling frenzy on e-bay!