How to make a DIY textured art canvas

I really wanted to a new piece of art for my walls at home. Something dramatic, three dimensional and unique. And then I came across an amazing textured art piece that was the one! It was stunningly beautiful. But it was £’s and way out of my budget. Now I’m not saying I can create something as good but I thought I could get close and for much, much cheaper. So here’s my guide on how to make a DIY textured art canvas. BTW it’s a really fun activity to do with the kids too.

what you will need to create your own DIY textured art canvas

A canvas in the size of your liking – I bought mine from Hobbycraft

White Powder Filler – The sort you add water too (don’t be tempted to buy ready made)

An old bowl and mixing spoon

A filling knife or spreader of some sort

An adhesive spreader

fine grit sandpaper

paint & paintbrush

gilding wax (optional)

how to make a DIY textured art canvas in easy to follow steps

step 1 – make up your filler

First up you need to mix your filler. The reason we’ve gone with powdered filler as opposed to ready mixed is that you have more control over the consistency so it’s easier to work with. Add the filler to your bowl and then add a little water. Keep mixing and adding water until it reaches the consistency of gently whipped cream. You want it to hold it’s shape but at the same time to be soft and easily malleable.

step 2 – apply the filler to your canvas

This bit is so much fun but prepare to get messy! With your canvas laying on a flat well protected surface scoop out a handful of filler with your hand and start to spread it across the canvas. Keep adding more filler and spreading until the whole canvas is covered evenly with filler right up to the edges. Don’t worry if it goes over the edges either. We will come to that bit in a minute.

step 3 – creating your background texture

Now go wash your hands. The filler comes off easily just with water. Wasn’t that bit strangely satisfying? It took me back to my childhood days of making mud pies! Now it’s time to create some background texture. Play around with your filling knife or spreader. I went for lines all in the same direction but you’ve got a good half an hour to play around with the filler so keep fiddling until you find a look you like.

step 3 – creating your foreground pattern

Honestly this is such a fun project for anyone to try. Each stage is as gratifying as the last as your DIY textured wall art comes to life. Using your adhesive spreader (you can have more than one btw in different widths etc) create your foreground shapes. I wanted to keep mine quite simple with 2 arches. But you can get as complicated as you want. Just have fun and express yourself. Carefully hold the spreader at a slight angle and move it across your artwork to create the shapes you want. You do have to make each shape in one movement though. But as I said before, don’t worry if it goes wrong, you’ve got time to play around. And if you don’t like it what you’ve created go back to the last step and repeat it before creating your foreground pattern again. Once your happy leave the canvas to dry for 24 hours. Once fully dry use your sandpaper to neaten the edges buy sanding away excess filler.

step 4 – adding colour

Now at this point if you like the minimal look you might want to skip adding any colour because it does look wonderful as it is. Striking, elegant and yet simple. But if like me you’re a bit extra this is where you can add colour. I’m using acrylic paint but you could also use left over emulsion, tester pots or chalk paint. Anything you have hanging around really with the bonus being that it’s even more likely to go with your home if you’re using paints you already have. All you do is gently paint it. You can do the whole thing or pick out the design you’ve created. I’ve also gilded mine using this method.

step 5 – choose a place to hang it

All you have to do now is find a place to hang your lovingly created and I’m sure, absolutely stunning piece of new artwork! The only bits I had to buy were the canvas and the polyfilla. All in it cost be less that £20 to produce and it gave me two fun filled days of enjoyment. And there you have it. What do you think? Do you fancy having a go?