I love doing messy canvas. This Halloween picture messy canvas is a twist on the usual messy canvas. I used graphics instead of words. This makes the project a lot easier to weed and to stick.
But what is a Messy Canvas? A messy canvas is done the same way as a Subway sign in that you apply vinyl to canvas. See that project here. But instead of applying it to white canvas, the canvas is painted multiple colors before applying the vinyl.
Then the vinyl is used as a stencil, paint is applied over the canvas and the vinyl, then the vinyl is removed leaving the multicolored canvas below. The effect is very dramatic. They are difficult to design but I have already done that part for you.
What You will need:
- a canvas ( I used a flat 8X10 one I got at the Dollar Store)
- Removable vinyl at least that big
- Pick
- Light source
- Acyrlic craft paint
- Foam brush
- Stencil brush
- Download File
Picking Colors for your Halloween Picture Messy Canvas
The colors you pick decide the tone of the messy canvas. Since this is Halloween I chose green, orange black and purple. Instead of fonts, I used different Halloween pictures or graphics. It creates a spooky effect and a wonderful wall hanging. The color of vinyl doesn’t matter because it is removed eventually anyway.
Prepping the canvas
With a foam brush paint the canvas several different colors. Put small swatches of color all over the canvas randomly. There is no pattern and you don’t even have to clean your brush in between colors. Just make sure the whole canvas is covered. Let the canvas dry overnight.
Be careful that there are no ridges of paint. If you take a dry brush and brush over the canvas after you are done painting it this will smooth out any ridges. When dry it should look like this one.
Applying the vinyl
It is better to use removable vinyl for your Halloween picture messy canvas at this point since you will be taking it off later but permanent vinyl works too. It is just a tiny bit harder to get off if you let it sit for more than a week. Design and cut the vinyl as you did in the subway sign. If you need to review the tutorials for that project it is here. After you apply the vinyl, iron it with a regular iron, using a piece of paper between the iron and the vinyl. This seals the edges and makes it so that the edges are cleaner.