Lovely DIY Wrapping Paper From A Painting Exercise!
With gift giving season approaching quickly, now is a great time to make some DIY wrapping paper, and even better, to practice your painting skills in the process! I have at long last set aside some time to follow my dreams of painting, and while the jury is still out regarding whether this is something that I’ll truly want to devote my time to, I now have some great looking wrapping paper that is so fun to look at! Painting loosely, which is the direction I’d like to take, since that is the style that speaks to me (fortunately) isn’t nearly as easy as it looks, and so practicing on large sheets of butcher paper is the perfect way to loosen up with no pressure. And this year our Chanukkah gifts are going to look amazing, yippee!
And speaking of yippee, my old virtual friend Amanda Evanston (who used to run the blog Aunt Peaches) has graciously gifted me her online painting classes to review, and let me tell you, the first class that I’m working on now “The Secret Garden” is truly amazing. I can’t promise you overnight success unless you are an artistic genius, but I can promise you at the very least that you’ll see painting in a whole new light. If that means delving in deeper, like me, or deciding to support artists, like Amanda, already creating amazing work, either way the results are well worth the investment. And yes, you can do the class with kids, in fact the techniques are perfect for all ages. No, Amanda won’t teach you exactly how to copy gorgeous paintings like hers, that you’ll have to work for, so I’m running off to do just that!
I took this quote of of Amanda’s site and I just love it:
“A painting teacher once told me, “To introduce someone to the artists that lives inside them is a great honor.” – This is a privilege I take very seriously, and I spent years developing a teaching method that is inclusive of students of all ages and skill levels. I would love to have you as a student.
So thanks Amanda, I’m really hoping to get to know my own inner artist, and time will tell! Now, lets paint some wrapping paper, ready?
You’ll Need:
- butcher paper or large sheets of newsprint or any lightweight paper
- acrylic paint, he cheaper the better, in the USA you can get acrylic craft paint bottles for around $1
- large brushes, I used a large water color brush, say size 12, and recommend something with a rounded edge
How To:
- Refer to Amanda’s tutorial on painting loose roses in Part 2 of The Secret Garden
- Paint the center and then the surrounding “petals” without trying too hard…….it may take some time, but you can do it!
- Get started, you’ve got this!
2 Comments
Shayndel
I love your Paintings! It will also be such fun Hanukkah gift wrap!
Sara Rivka
Thanks Shayndel, yes cant wait to use it for Hanukkah……it does sort of look like something spinning as well. Now just gotta figure out some fun gift toppers!