How to paint a wood canvas and alter metal by kathy adams

Paint a Wood Canvas and Alter Metal by Kathy Adams

9
STEPS
TOOLS

I will use Art Anthology Sorbets, Velvets, Colorations Sprays and the new Minx Shimmering Inks to color the wood canvases and alter the gorgeous Appliques that Melissa Frances designed.

I will use Art Anthology Sorbets, Velvets, Colorations Sprays and the new Minx Shimmering Inks to color the wood canvases and alter the gorgeous Appliques that Melissa Frances designed.

Paint the back of the wood canvases with gesso and let them dry.

Paint the back of the wood canvases with gesso and let them dry.

There are a few steps that I take that don't show up in the end. This is one of them. I'm showing you anyway because it's about the process.  Paint a coat of Buttercream Sorbet on each canvas.

There are a few steps that I take that don't show up in the end. This is one of them. I'm showing you anyway because it's about the process. Paint a coat of Buttercream Sorbet on each canvas.

While the canvases are drying, let's age the music paper. Cut 3 sheets to fit the inside of the canvases.  Spritz with water.

While the canvases are drying, let's age the music paper. Cut 3 sheets to fit the inside of the canvases. Spritz with water.

Spritz with Cinnamon Toast Colorations Spray.  Adding water first gives it a more watercolor look as oppose to speckles of color.

Spritz with Cinnamon Toast Colorations Spray. Adding water first gives it a more watercolor look as oppose to speckles of color.

Roll a paper towel over them to soak up the excess water and spray.

Roll a paper towel over them to soak up the excess water and spray.

Splatter French Toast Colorations Spray using a fan brush lightly and let the paper dry.

Splatter French Toast Colorations Spray using a fan brush lightly and let the paper dry.

Glue the paper to the canvases using matte medium.  You will see later that I should have applied the paper last, since it gets very dirty during the painting process.

Glue the paper to the canvases using matte medium. You will see later that I should have applied the paper last, since it gets very dirty during the painting process.

Each canvas has a different color. For the first canvas I chose purples in various medium; Sorbet, Velvet, Colorations and Minx.

Each canvas has a different color. For the first canvas I chose purples in various medium; Sorbet, Velvet, Colorations and Minx.

The second, I used oranges in various mediums.

The second, I used oranges in various mediums.

And the third, I chose my favorite color, turquoise.  I'll show you the Applique technique last.

And the third, I chose my favorite color, turquoise. I'll show you the Applique technique last.

Use Orchid Sorbet to paint the first canvas.  Don't forget the sides!

Use Orchid Sorbet to paint the first canvas. Don't forget the sides!

While the purple is still wet, paint on Majestic Minx Shimmering Ink.

While the purple is still wet, paint on Majestic Minx Shimmering Ink.

This is how the purple one came out.  Not done yet!

This is how the purple one came out. Not done yet!

The next canvas is painted with Tango Velvet.

The next canvas is painted with Tango Velvet.

And a coat of Radiance Minx Shimmering Ink on top.

And a coat of Radiance Minx Shimmering Ink on top.

I wondered what would happen if I spritzed water on while the color was still wet?

I wondered what would happen if I spritzed water on while the color was still wet?

I let the water sit there for a minute or so, then dabbed it with a towel. The water removed some of the paint and ink.

I let the water sit there for a minute or so, then dabbed it with a towel. The water removed some of the paint and ink.

Minx has a solvent in it that makes it dry slower, so I dried it with my heat tool to speed up the process.  The water lifted some of the color and makes the surface look a bit worn.

Minx has a solvent in it that makes it dry slower, so I dried it with my heat tool to speed up the process. The water lifted some of the color and makes the surface look a bit worn.

I repeated the same process with the turquoise one, first adding Fiji Velvet then Panache Minx.  I also repeated the water technique on this and the purple one.

I repeated the same process with the turquoise one, first adding Fiji Velvet then Panache Minx. I also repeated the water technique on this and the purple one.

I love the way the water reacts with the wet paint and lifts some of it, giving a distressed look.

I love the way the water reacts with the wet paint and lifts some of it, giving a distressed look.

After all the paint is dry, sand the edges of each canvas.

After all the paint is dry, sand the edges of each canvas.

After sanding and wiping the dust off, I decided I wanted a more distressed look so I painted French Toast Colorations Spray onto each canvas.

After sanding and wiping the dust off, I decided I wanted a more distressed look so I painted French Toast Colorations Spray onto each canvas.

 Then I wiped the excess spray off.

Then I wiped the excess spray off.

Here is what the purple canvas looks like so far.

Here is what the purple canvas looks like so far.

Add French Toast Colorations spray to the orange and the blue, wiping the excess away.

Add French Toast Colorations spray to the orange and the blue, wiping the excess away.

Set aside the canvases to dry completely.

Set aside the canvases to dry completely.

I want the Melissa Frances Appliques to look like worn pieces of iron or metal that I'd found at an antique store. So I painted gesso and Cotton Velvet randomly on each piece to start.

I want the Melissa Frances Appliques to look like worn pieces of iron or metal that I'd found at an antique store. So I painted gesso and Cotton Velvet randomly on each piece to start.

Dry them using a heat tool till they are really hot, but be careful not to burn yourself! I wanted the gesso and Cotton to be "baked" on.  I wanted to see if I could get the paint to crackle a bit.

Dry them using a heat tool till they are really hot, but be careful not to burn yourself! I wanted the gesso and Cotton to be "baked" on. I wanted to see if I could get the paint to crackle a bit.

Spray liberally with French Toast Colorations Spray.  Make sure it gets in all the crevices.

Spray liberally with French Toast Colorations Spray. Make sure it gets in all the crevices.

Spray a bit of Rustic Colorations Spray on top.

Spray a bit of Rustic Colorations Spray on top.

To make them look more like iron, I sprayed them heavily with Silk Tie Colorations Spray and let them sit overnight.

To make them look more like iron, I sprayed them heavily with Silk Tie Colorations Spray and let them sit overnight.

I was so happy with the results! Some of the areas with Cotton Velvet resisted the spray and stayed white while the gessoed areas grabbed the spray and stained it to perfection!

I was so happy with the results! Some of the areas with Cotton Velvet resisted the spray and stayed white while the gessoed areas grabbed the spray and stained it to perfection!

There is no way to tell this was shiny aluminum before I started.

There is no way to tell this was shiny aluminum before I started.

The sprays bonded to the Velvet and gesso and really gave the metal pieces a great patina.

The sprays bonded to the Velvet and gesso and really gave the metal pieces a great patina.

Now for a bit of sanding.

Now for a bit of sanding.

Sanding will highlight the raised edges and give it a finished look.

Sanding will highlight the raised edges and give it a finished look.

The frames were too distressed and needed some sparkle.  One more layer on each canvas did the trick! I added Baby Blue Eyes Sorbet to the turquoise one.

The frames were too distressed and needed some sparkle. One more layer on each canvas did the trick! I added Baby Blue Eyes Sorbet to the turquoise one.

Pumpkin Spice is added to the orange one.  Velvets and Sorbets are semi-transparent so each layer adds more depth.

Pumpkin Spice is added to the orange one. Velvets and Sorbets are semi-transparent so each layer adds more depth.

Lastly, Imperial Sorbet is added to the purple.  Incidently, notice how dirty the background music paper got!  I did not like that at all!

Lastly, Imperial Sorbet is added to the purple. Incidently, notice how dirty the background music paper got! I did not like that at all!

I gave each canvas another light sanding.

I gave each canvas another light sanding.

Then I decided to add more paper to the background, so I repeated the aging process again.

Then I decided to add more paper to the background, so I repeated the aging process again.

 Sprinkle with black ink lightly and let dry.

Sprinkle with black ink lightly and let dry.

Glue the paper to the background with matte medium.

Glue the paper to the background with matte medium.

To make sure the background was really smooth and no wrinkles, I used a rubber scrapper to smooth the paper out and wiped the excess matt medium from the edges.

To make sure the background was really smooth and no wrinkles, I used a rubber scrapper to smooth the paper out and wiped the excess matt medium from the edges.

Glue the Flea Market Finds Appliques to the center of the canvases.  Notice the nail heads on the corners?  Let me show you how I gave them the same patina.

Glue the Flea Market Finds Appliques to the center of the canvases. Notice the nail heads on the corners? Let me show you how I gave them the same patina.

I love adding nail heads to my canvases. They add that extra something that just makes for a more interesting project.  Poke them into a piece of foam. I always do a few extra.

I love adding nail heads to my canvases. They add that extra something that just makes for a more interesting project. Poke them into a piece of foam. I always do a few extra.

Give them a good thick coat of gesso.

Give them a good thick coat of gesso.

Spray with French Toast Colorations Spray.

Spray with French Toast Colorations Spray.

I added some Rustic Colorations Spray also.

I added some Rustic Colorations Spray also.

This is what they look like so far.  They need something.  They are too brown.

This is what they look like so far. They need something. They are too brown.

So I added Silk Tie Colorations Spray.

So I added Silk Tie Colorations Spray.

And dried them with the heat tool.  Again, I made sure they got really hot.

And dried them with the heat tool. Again, I made sure they got really hot.

Then I sanded them lightly and hammered them into the corners of each canvas. You can find these nail heads at Lowes or Home Depot.  I think they are called upholstery nails.

Then I sanded them lightly and hammered them into the corners of each canvas. You can find these nail heads at Lowes or Home Depot. I think they are called upholstery nails.

These small canvases will make a great little grouping on a wall somewhere in my house.

These small canvases will make a great little grouping on a wall somewhere in my house.

I love how the aged music paper complements the patina of the Appliques.

I love how the aged music paper complements the patina of the Appliques.

Check out my blog post on the Art Anthology blog for links to the products used in this project.

Check out my blog post on the Art Anthology blog for links to the products used in this project.

There you have it!  Please make sure to leave comments.  I'd love to know what you think.  Also, visit the blog for links to the Art Anthology and Melissa Frances  products used.

There you have it! Please make sure to leave comments. I'd love to know what you think. Also, visit the blog for links to the Art Anthology and Melissa Frances products used.

  • Art Anthology Minx Radiance
  • Art Anthology Minx Majestic
  • Art Anthology Minx Panache
  • Art Anthology Cinnamon Toast Colorations Spray
  • Art Anthology French Toast Colorations Spray
  • Art Anthology Rustic Colorations Spray
  • Art Anthology Silk Tie Colorations Spray
  • Art Anthology Baby Blue Eyes Sorbet
  • Art Anthology Pumpkin Spice Sorbet
  • Art Anthology Imperial Sorbet
  • Art Anthology Cotton Velvet
  • Art Anthology Orchid Velvet
  • Art Anthology Fiji Velvet
  • 3 Wood Canvases, 8" x 8"
  • Gesso
  • Melissa Frances Flea Market Finds Appliques