make your own modernist art

Release your inner Matisse with these easy-to-create canvas artworks.

You will need: A ready-made canvas, ruler, pencil and paper, Resene testpots in Resene Liberty, Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Bubble N Squeak, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Double Pravda, Resene Alabaster, low-tack masking tape, testpot brush, small roller and foam sleeves.

Top tip: Use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.

Paint your own modern art
The wall is painted in Resene Sea Fog. The chair is in Resene Rivergum, the desk is in Resene Artemis and the vase is in Resene Quarter Baltic Sea.

Step one
Work out your colour scheme, allowing for six colours. We used Resene Liberty, Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Bubble N Squeak, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Double Pravda and Resene Alabaster.

Step two
With a pencil and ruler, draw the lines of the artwork onto the canvas, using the template below.

Step three
Mask each block of colour one-by-one and use a small foam roller to paint the colour smoothly. Allow the paint to dry between each colour so you can reposition the masking tape on top of your freshly painted section.

Step four
Draw the jug shape onto a piece of paper and cut it out. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; that’s all part of the look. Trace the outline of the jug onto the canvas.

Step five
Paint the jug shape onto the canvas using a testpot brush, then paint the opening at the top of the jug using Resene Triple Sea Fog.

Step six
We added fine lines to show the corner and where the walls meet the floor, but these are optional.

Step six continued
If you want to add them too, use low-tack masking tape to make it easier to paint the lines nice and straight.

Download this template at Habitat by Resene.

Resene Liberty

Resene Half Dusted Blue

Resene Bubble N Squeak

Resene Triple Sea Fog

Resene Double Pravda

Resene Alabaster

Resene Sea Fog

Artist: Greer Clayton
Images: Bryce Carleton

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autumn/winter 2019, issue 30

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