…pronounced foe-nay (as in Claude Monet); not fox-net (as in the fox is caught in a net).
A couple months ago I found this vintage art at a local resale shop. I paid $5. At the time I bought the piece, I really didn’t have a plan of how I wanted to use it.
As I mentioned last week, I have plans to redo one of my guest rooms. With pennies pinched, I needed to create some inexpensive wall art. Last night I was in the mood to paint so I grabbed my thrift store find from the basement and got to work!
As you can see, the painting was a bit drab. My goal was to brighten the whole thing up. I envisioned a yellow gold frame with a fresh new take on the current artwork using the colors (turquoise, light blue, white and green) I plan on using in my new space.
First, I removed the art from the frame to make painting everything a bit easier. I began by peeling off the paper baking. I then bent up the staples holding in the art. I kept the staples in the frame so I could use them to secure the painting to the frame when I was finished.
Once the art was out of the frame I used two colors of bright yellow craft paint to cover the frame.
After that was finished I used a gold metallic paint on top of the yellow.
I did this step after the sun when down, so I don’t have any pictures. Sorry about that. After I applied the gold I went over everything with a white wash … then a little more yellow, a little more gold, a little more white, etc. I just continued to add layers until I was pleased with the look.
After the frame was finished I moved onto the artwork. I used the original painting as a guide and added brighter colors to the whole piece.
It took many attempts to figure out what was going to look best. Honestly, at one point I almost gave up and threw the whole thing in the trash. I ultimately ending up liking the look of adding dots of color. The finished look reminds me of paintings done by Claude Monet.
This was the painting shortly after I started adding color.
You can see the turquoise and blue in the sky/water and the green I added to the trees. For paint, I just used the cheap acrylic craft paint you can buy at Wal-mart or your local craft store.
After about three hours of working on the piece (and unfortunately not taking any more pictures, as I was both focused and frustrated) here’s what I came up with.
Pretty fabulous, right!?
I’m loving the new look! It went from drab and dusty to fab and fun!
It’s cheerful and bold and I just love it! I think the colors will be a perfect addition to my room redo.
The desk below the art (found at a local antique shop) and the glass vase (found at TJ Maxx for $20) will also be additions to the space.
I’m also really pleased with the yellow gold frame. It couldn’t have came out more perfect! The bright yellow base added a much need pop of color underneath the whitewashed gold.
I also decided to paint the little house purple, inspired by this post I read earlier in the day.
You’ll also noticed the horse and cart were completely eliminated from the pond. Much better.
Until I actually start my room redo, my new piece of artwork will sit on my vintage corbel shelf in my hall.
A lovely reminder that spring and summer are quickly approaching!
So what do you think of my Monet-inspired-upcycled-artwork?
Really super fun and a great idea – I’ll have to try that some time too! Thanks for the inspiration. Take care, Laura
That’s just genius! I’ve got a couple of those in the basement and just may have to steal this idea!
I love how you brightend up the formerly-drab picture! It now looks like–and is–an original work of art! The frame looks great too.
I love it! What a great idea to customize a print!
Oh my gosh! I’ve never seen this done before; painting over an existiing piece of art… Great job and truly unique. ~Lisa
So fabulous!
Brilliant !
I love it Michael, you did a fabulous job!
Love it!!! it is just wonderful!! 🙂 Again another great share.. Thanks!
Oh my! I have a painting I hate and was going to cover it with chalkboard paint! Maybe I’ll try my hand at “faunet-ing” instead. There’s always the chalkboard paint if it doesn’t work! It looks great!!
Lorraine
Amazing and yes…what was that cart and those people doing in the middle of that pond anyway? Just don’t take it to Antiques Roadshow and have them tell you that it was a famous painting that WOULD have been worth a million or more if you hadn’t painted over it! LOL! You are gutsy! I like that and I would never have thought of doing that or if I had I would have been too afraid that it WAS a famous painting. I love the colors though and the purple house…it turned out so pretty and refreshing. Great color scheme! You rock and that’s coming from a grandmother! LOL!
Simply WOW! I never would have pictured the “ending” from the beginning. You definitely have a very creative eye.
Oh I love it!! What a fabulous idea. You did a beautiful job!
It’s great! I have completely painted over a painting but never tried to add in new color to brighten it up. Amazingly great job!
I’m an artist and I never would have thought to do that! Great job. You took something that was very tired looking and gave it new life. It was a print, right? On cardboard? The kind my grandma had on her wall back in the 70’s?
I love this so much! I can’t believe the transformation. It makes me want to run to the trift store RIGHT NOW! I love all the colors you chose. Beautiful!!!
Excellent idea & it turned out so well. Im sure John Constable would be impressed too though not if you had painted over his original ‘The Haywain’!!
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/john-constable-the-hay-wain
your posts make me smile! you are such a pleasure to follow. I am from Tennessee and I see a booking for this room coming soon. From ME!
Awesome! Were you dotting with a brush or a sponge? It is so much more fun now.
You are a creative genius!!! I LOVE this idea. Can’t wait to try it!!!!!!
You never cease to amaze with your creative insight & talent! Well done~ Lovin it~
Amazeballs! I kind of want to run to the thrift store and grab a piece to paint!
WOW! I would have never thought of that! I love it 🙂
Love, love, love this!!!
Michael, what a fun & inspiring project! You changed it up to make it work for you. So looking forward to seeing what you are up to in blogland. Welcome to the Blogher network, I think you will enjoy them. Have a great weekend!
That is a fantastic idea Michael! I have been accumulating tons of pictures and frames from all of the auctions I have been attending…now I know what I can do with the pieces I am not keeping for myself! Just the inspiration I needed on a gray winters day:)
I almost didn’t read the post because I didn’t like the horse-drawn-cart print. What a fabulous idea to eliminate it completely and create an updated “faux-net”. Love the purple house. Thanks for sharing your process!
Michael….A-MAZ-ING!! I never would have thought to anything like that in a million years! So glad I found your blog.
The technique you used reminds me of a Seurat painting too! I just love this idea and your execution of it Michael. The colors are so uplifting; what an artist’s eye you have. ~Lili
You seriously are amazing. I never would have the patience to do that! Or the artistic eye. You did an amazing job, I’m seriously impressed.
Your finished painting looks awesome! It’s so bright and cheerful 🙂
I think it’s fabulous! It’s like a cross between Monet and Seurat!
Very cool.
I remember studying this painting in a college Art Appreciation class and just had to search for it online. The original painting was by John Constable in 1821. Check it out here:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/john-constable-the-hay-wain
I love what you did with it!
Um…WOW!! I am seeing thrift store art in a whole new light! That ia awesome!
Huh, I would never have thought of doing that but you make it look so easy! Though I’m sure it is not. Great job and love the frame color too.
Totally love it!! The colors are beautiful, fresh and wonderfully vibrant. Very you!
Erin
Fantastic!! Love it..What a great idea!!
That’s really an amazing alteration of the art piece. Very much impressed. Looking forward to see your future restorations.
I never thought about doing anything like this. What a lovely way to make a gloomy painting more colorful!
Your post is just what I needed to see! I bought my art kit hoping to do this to a few paintings I own, but with no skill what so ever I am terrified of distroying what I have. SO your little dots? I am going to try it!
Wow! I don’t normally comment, but this is truly beautiful, I had to tell you that. And something i would never have dared doing! but the result is gorgeous! I’m amazed! Congratulations!
Saw this on your Pinterest board and had to pop over to congratulate you on a job well done. It’s definitely Monet-ish and is a really interesting way to upcycle drab old art. I’ll have to keep this inspiration in mind the next time I see an old painting that has some charm, but needs a pick-me-up.
Very creative idea. I would not have thought to do this. Makes me want to go out and buy a few pictures and paint. Totally going to try it one day.
Your finished work looks very nice – I do like how you used the original painting as inspiration. However, I hope that it was indeed a print and not the original. There are many paintings of my great grandmother’s that are lost to my family through selfish relatives, and I would hate to see her work discarded so instead of returned to us or displayed properly. Please keep this in mind when encouraging your many readers. Thank you.
I love it! I am a Monet fan; it took me a long time to figure out why; the pictures I like have a quality of serenity to them; it fascinated me that you put the word “calm” in front of your painting. I like Monet’s sunshine, too and your lemon/gold/ whitewashed frame does that , too. I could decorate a room around those colors in a heartbeat!
Sad to see one of John Constable’s paintings be called “drab and dusty”. I’m just happy this wasn’t the original and it’s still safely hanging in the National Gallery of Art in London lol Whatever floats your boat I guess
I’m certain the original work is stunning, gorgeous, and a sight to behold. This was an inexpensive replica that was found at a thrift store. So naturally it was showing age and covered in dust. (Making it drab and dusty.) I would clearly never do this to an original piece of anyone’s artwork – famous or not. You don’t have to like this project, but please don’t make assumptions.
xo Michael