Oh, y’all.
Where do I begin? It seems like it’s been ages since I planned this project. I kept putting it off and putting it off. Something happened to me last week, and I realized that I over-think everything!
Even my DIY projects.
So, I just decided to start getting stuff done without involving my brain. Ok. I did use my brain, but I’m shutting off the over-thinking part of it for good.
Hence, this, my favorite DIY Wall Art project ever since I ever started making art for the walls.
How to make your own DIY Pixel Wall Art
First choose your image.
I chose this fun and colorful heart image because I knew I wanted lots and lots of color!
Next, Create your pixellated image.
Here’s a good tutorial for how to create a triangular pixellated image in photoshop:
After I pixellated my image, I just cropped it to fit my canvas. I used Photoshop to create an exact size canvas and then sectioned it off so I could navigate painting.
Grid out your Canvas
Then I got to painting. Well, not quite. I had to grid out my canvas so I could know where to paint!
This was a huge 36″ x 48″ one I got on sale at the local craft store. I think I paid about $13 after all was said and done!
Then I measured it all out. My grid was 3″ by 1.5″.
Then I drew my lines with a long piece of scrap wood.
Start painting
I used loads of DecoArt Americana Mult-Surface Satin paint, but I still had to mix and mix and mix the paint to get the different variations in shades. That’s what really makes this work.
Here’s where I started. Just up in the corner, painting one triangle at a time.
I painted…
And painted…
And painted…
It took me about 3 solid days of painting to finish. The boys were home because Old Man Winter dumped on us, so I think it probably took me longer than it would have if they’d been in school.
There were lots and lots of snack breaks. Snacks for them… not me. Cross my pixellated heart!
Some Extra Tips
- Don’t worry about being super precise, just paint.
- Mix the colors as best you can, but don’t get bogged down in trying to make them match the photograph exactly.
- Don’t worry about washing your brush in between every single triangle. I found that if I were painting the same color in a different shade, it was easier to just grab some white or whatever and mix it right there on my paper plate.
- Do take breaks… whether you have hungry munchkins or not!
I framed her using a very simple box frame. It’s the simplest, easiest way to frame a DIY Canvas Wall Art.
If you have board and batten, this post will show you how to hang art over it. It’s easier than you think!
I’m seriously goo-goo-gah-gah over this, my BOLD ones!
It really makes my office feel so much more put together.
If you’d like to see more of my office updates, like my Gold Sharpie Wall, that restored Vintage light and my DIY Color Cord Light Pendant and Bulletin Board, Shazam Art and Tissue Paper Tassels, just visit my Office Gallery.
Office Gallery
What do you think about my Pixel Art?