DIY Wall Art: Paint Over an Old Canvas
Updated: Sep. 02, 2021Upcycle an old, unattractive canvas into a modern piece of wall art featuring a bold chevron pattern and metallic gold accents.
Tools & Materials
- Secondhand canvas
- White paint/primer
- Colorful paint colors (3 colors)
- Gilding paint
- Painter’s tape
- Straightedge
- Roller
- Small paintbrushes
Cover the old artwork
Paint over the original artwork with a few coats of white paint/primer. Allow the white paint to dry completely.
Mark the centers
Use a pencil to mark the center of the canvas and the center of each side of the canvas with small dots.
Straightedge template
Add tape to your straightedge and use a pencil to mark the starting points for each chevron stripe. Vary the widths of the stripes for added visual interest.
Transfer the pattern
Place the straightedge along the center of half of the canvas. Use a pencil to transfer the starting points for each chevron stripe along the center of the canvas.
Next, place the straightedge along one side of the canvas and move it down 3 in. from the center. Place a light dot along the edge of the canvas at each mark on the straightedge. This will indicate where each chevron stripe ends. Repeat the steps above until the start and end points for all chevron stripes are marked lightly on the canvas.
Tape off the stripes, paint and repeat
Mask off the stripes by stretching a piece of painter’s tape from each start mark to each end mark.
Paint the chevron stripes and allow the paint to dry before removing the tape. Repeat this step until all stripes are painted. If needed, touch up any colors that may have bled. Then your DIY wall art is ready to hang in any room.
