Quick and Easy Abstract Wall Art With Removable Frame

Stacy Davis
by Stacy Davis
6 Materials
1 Hour
Easy
This week’s Hometalk challenge was the West Elm Challenge so I popped over to their website and began browsing. While I was there I checked out the abstract art section. I am intrigued by abstract art. It looks to me like I can do it but I usually end up going “Nope!” Much harder than it appears. This time I decided to be inspired by one of the West Elm pieces and try to break down the layers to its creation. I’m not trying to copy but to create my own wall art using their style. When I finished my piece, I wanted to make an easy frame that was removable. I am not sure my piece is finished so I wanted to be able to easily remove the frame to create more layers on the canvas.
Some items that I had on hand were gesso, texture paste and a stretched art canvas. Texture paste works really well to add dimension to your art. If you want to check out the inspiration, it is called Breathe on West Elm’s website, under Abstract Art.
I added beige paint to my gesso to cover the canvas. This was the first of many layers.
I did not mix it in completely because I wanted a streaky look.
I felt like the most important and annoying step is drying each layer before beginning the next. A heat tool works great here. icon
I had all the colors that I wanted use already. That never happens!
At this point, I loved it but decided to add a lot more blue. All over and random.
In the end, it didn’t look much like the West Elm piece but that is ok! When I look at my piece, I see a butterfly. When I look at the West Elm piece, I see the wings of an angel.
After hanging it, I decided I wanted to frame it.
I had some select craft pine boards from Lowes to use. I just marked off the lengths, decided which ones to make overlapping, and cut the lengths using my miter box.
I used a power miter box but you can use a manual one for thin boards like these. I am teaching my millennial son how to use this saw. My three biggest rules are 1. Eye protection 2. Keep your hands at least 6 inches from blade 3. Never reach for the board until the blade stops spinning. (It will drive you crazy when you are in a hurry but I have seen some gnarly pictures of diyers getting cut and I am sure a few of them reached to grab the board and misjudged and I know there is a plastic guard but sometimes it gets stuck)
When my pieces were cut, I saw that one had that sticker on it. Bain of my existence. If I would have paid attention, that would have been on a piece of scrap. I scraped off what I could and used dish soap on what remained and vigorously rubbed it off. If you are planning to stain the piece never use oil or Goo be gone. Your stain will refuse to stick to that area.
This is the clamp system I use when I make picture frames.
I propped up my art so the canvas would be in the middle of the frame.
Position a corner clamp at each corner and begin to wind the strap and reposition the corner pieces as the strap gets smaller. When you get close but not tight, apply the glue to the boards at each corner. Then wind it tight. Wipe up any glue seepage and continue to check on the glue throughout the drying process.
I put something heavy at each corner to keep the two corner boards level.
And done! And I saved like $370 by making my own, you know if I had that much money to spend on art. icon  It is just held in place by pressure at this point because I think I might want to keep working on it.
Here is a sneak peek at a fun art product that I was playing around with on paper. You’ve probably seen it all over Instagram. People use it to make beautiful artwork and coasters. Here is a hint... the name of the product might make some people think we are talking about getting a tattoo while drunk. icon  
The frame that I created for the abstract art didn’t have mitered corners but you could do that if you wanted to. Here is a picture of a few frames that I created using mitered corners and various moldings from Lowe’s and Home Depot with the Bessey clamp strap.
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  • Ali Gee Ali Gee on Aug 22, 2018

    How can we see the "name of the product might make some people think we are talking about getting a tattoo while drunk" Project?? Ive scrolled thru your projects but can seem to find it & im intrigued! Thank you in advance...

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  • Em Em on Jul 09, 2018

    Love the picture; love the greeting card! How creative are YOU?

  • Micki Micki on Oct 29, 2021

    Beautiful art work! You are so talented.

    Thank you for sharing the “how to” with all of us.

    By the way, have you turned your picture upside down? If not, give it a try. You will see a beautiful angel with pretty bright colored wings! It was a real surprise!

    • Stacy Davis Stacy Davis on Oct 29, 2021

      I love that!!! Thank you for all your kind words! You are an angel to me!


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