Circle Tree Modern Art

Hi HowDoesShe gals!!

We have SUCH a fun treat to show you today. Welcome Amanda from Crafts by Amanda who is going to teach us how to make these GORGEOUS art canvases! I can only imagine all of the fun color-combinations that would work. And just in time to make them for a Christmas gift! I love the handmade gifts best, don’t you? Teach us, Amanda!! 🙂

Hi everyone, and thank you to the ladies at How Does She for letting me guest post here today! My name is Amanda Formaro. I have two blogs that I pour my heart into (when I’m not working my full time job). My craft blog, Crafts by Amanda, and my food blog, Amanda’s Cookin’. I work as a regular craft contributor to Craftown.com and Disney’s Kaboose.com, and am also the Home & Garden editor over at CraftGossip.

A couple of months ago I was a contestant in a fun competition called Crafting with the Stars. In round 1 we had to come up with a brand name inspired knock off. My partner, Amy of Mod Podge Rocks, and I chose from many different ideas, one of them being this adorable “big sur pillow cover” from West Elm. While we didn’t choose it for Crafting with the Stars I knew I wanted to use it for something.

We recently painted my daughter’s room using two different shades of purple with white trim. When I showed her the pillow case she loved the design. My idea was to use white canvas and paint the trees using purple and black. She has several black accents throughout the room, so I knew the color scheme would work well.

I found a great deal at Michael’s on the canvas and used the little sample buckets of paint that we had purchased before painting her walls. I also used some gray to add a third color element. This was very easy to make and my daughter loves the results!

Note: At first I thought about creating a pattern, cutting it on freezer paper with my Silhouette machine, then stenciling it on. However, it was pretty easy to just lightly draw it on with a pencil and freehand it.

For this project you will need:

2 pieces of 16″x20″ wood framed canvas
Acrylic paint: dark purple, purple, gray and black
Pencil
Paintbrushes

First I sketched out the design on paper. I did measure the paper and figure out where each of the trees should be. That made it a lot easier to then draw the designs directly onto the canvas. See my helper, isn’t he cute? 🙂

Next I used a pencil to lightly draw the design onto each piece of canvas.

First I thinned some black acrylic paint and used a liner brush to paint on the branches and trunks.

Then I loaded a paintbrush with paint and, in one motion, added each of the circle leaves. You may notice I work from right to left. I’m a lefty so I start at the right so I don’t accidentally drag my arm or hand through wet paint.

I added a second coat on each of the leaves and that was it, they were done! All that was left to do was hang them on the wall. 🙂

My daughter loves the way they came out and the white canvas really pops against the dark wall.

Bobbi asked me to share 3 of my favorite projects with all of you, so I hope you’ll stop by and see me! I loved the distressed and aged look of the Eat Sign, the light bulb angel ornament I made many years ago and wrap carefully each year so she can make yet another appearance on my tree, and my Halloween luminaries show my love for all things color!

Distressed Eat Sign

Light Bulb Angel

Halloween Painted Jar Luminaries

Thanks so much for having me at How Does She!

Thank you, Amanda!! I’ve got two canvases sitting in my craft room just BEGGING for a Modern Art treatment! We’re so glad you shared it with us!

If you would like to be a guest on HowDoesShe, we would love to hear from you! Email me at [email protected] to share your ideas! Happy crafting!