DIY Coastal Art Canvases

I’m a beach girl at heart.  But until retirement or I win the lottery, my art studio overlooking the ocean remains a dream.  In the meantime, I spend my days being creative in Ohio, and indulging my love of the ocean in my home decor.  With 3 canvases and a little acrylic paint, you can make custom decor that showcases your beach finds.  Since there is no wrong way to make them, these coastal art canvases make a great DIY decor project.

To make Coastal Art Canvases, you will need:

3 6×6″ canvases
Acrylic paint (3−5 coordinating blues)
Paint palette or palette paper
Flat paintbrush (3÷4″ — 1″)
Satin finish sealer
¹⁄₂″ wide twill tape or ribbon
starfish, sand dollar, shells, or other coastal-themed decorations
strong liquid glue

Start painting the canvas backgrounds using the lightest of your blue paint colors and a 1″ brush, thinning the paint with water if necessary to completely cover each canvas. Switch to the next darker color, and brush paint lightly onto canvases, allowing lighter color to show through. Continue painting in layers using remaining colors, then finish with a light brushing of a lighter blue for a more natural look.

I used horizontal strokes for my project, but there really is no wrong way to paint these backgrounds.  Use vertical strokes, abstract textures, thick layers, or even your fingers to get the look you want.  Once the paint is dry, add a layer of satin finish sealer to prevent flaking.

Wrap the edge of each canvas with your ribbon or twine, gluing in place as you go.  This will give your canvas a finished look and some added texture.  Next, glue your starfish, sand dollars, or other decorations to the front of your canvases to finish your new coastal art. Let dry completely, and hang vertically or horizontally, depending on your space.

Have a colorful, creative week!
Carla