Experiments in Canvas...or What-Have-You

I'm always looking for new ways to bring my creative ideas to life, and have been thinking about different "canvases" I can use for my artwork. Typically, I stick with the traditional canvas of 16"x20" or smaller...however, there is a whole world of cool things out there that I could try painting on. In response to requests from others and my own ideas, I have painted designs and images on chairs, old milk jugs, an antique saw (sandblasted first to give it a paintable surface), and recently, slate rock direct from an old house that was torn down. What I really like about these various surfaces is that each one presents a different challenge for me. For example, the slate was difficult to deal with, mostly because it is not completely flat, as a canvas is, and the paint didn't take so well to it at first (acrylic and varnish). Perseverence pays off though. My finished product was made even more unique and interesting because I started off with a blank slate (pun intended). :-D

AND, as you all know, spring is here, and that can only mean one thing: TAG SALES! The beautiful thing about tag sales is that antique-looking items are selling for cheap, and here is where your creativity can come into play. As you wander through a tag sale, it is probable that you will spot at least a couple items that can serve as fantastic "canvases." As I mentioned before, an old saw can set the stage for a lovely countryside folk art painting. There are endless possibilities. If you're like me and working with a strict budget, tag sales (and even independent antique shops) are the way to go.

You are only limited by the extent of your own imagination...and what's available to you, of course. I encourage all artists out there to challenge themselves as well and try something that might seem totally odd or too difficult...you never know where it will land you, and the finished product is so often worth it!