Teen Wall Art Decor, Graffiti Canvas Art

Diy Teens Wall Art Decor Project, decorating projects ideas for teens.

Article by: Madeleine M Langlois

Miy Project: Teen wall art decor "Graffiti Paris Canvas Art"

My teenage son's graffitilike text on paper and book covers gave me the idea of asking him to make an artwork peice for a decor exhibit I took part in. His contribution was the word Paris in graffitilike text done in pastels on a box-style canvas.

I wanted to share with other teens and mom with teens to encourage their teens in their art form, and that it can be acheive on many other surfaces besides walls.

Hands-on time: An hour or more, depending on detail.

Total time:Plus drying time for varnish.

Skill: this miy teen wall art decor project idea is of easy to moderate skill depending on the details.

Materials & Tools:

•Artist canvas (17.8 x 17.8 centimetres) 3D box-style

•Oil pastels in assorted colours (many brands available, try a few samples)

•Pencil

•Drawing paper and graphite paper

•Graffiti design

•Masking tape

•Permapaque artist markers by Sakura

•Grey and white eraser

•Cloth

•Workable fixative by Krylon

MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE AT ARTS AND CRAFTS STORES or on line.

MIY INSTRUCTIONS:Art is a great way to interact with teens and encourage self-expression and creativity.

Using a style they're familiar with is even better. What's essential with this project is that it is done in the same spirit as graffiti -- free-flowing expression captured on canvas.

Art is a great way to interact with teens and encourage self-expression and creativity. Using a style they're familiar with is even better. What's essential with this project is that it is done in the same spirit as graffiti --free-flowing expression captured on canvas.

Preprimed canvas is ideal for graffitilike art. On paper, draw or write words (in our case it was the word Paris) to use as a template. With a pencil, draw the text on the canvas or transfer it onto the canvas using graphite paper. Cut out the word from the sheet of paper. Cut a piece of graphite paper in the same size. Put graphite paper under the cutout word and secure with masking tape. Use a pencil or pen to trace the design onto the canvas.

Colour the word or text in three or four colours of pastels, shading in areas around the edges of the letters. Use scrap pieces of paper to practice shading first, if preferred. Glide pastels smoothly onto the canvas and lift the tips as soon as the lines are finished. You can use a cloth or your fingers to blend the colours. Use a wide marker for the outlines. Add a colour border around the letters.

The background is left white. Use the grey part of eraser to remove pencil, graphite lines or pastel smudges.To protect the artwork from dust and smudges, spray on fixative in a side-to-side motion. It fixes the pastels without leaving a glossy finish. Several coats can be applied. Let dry between each coat.

Variations: Use different sizes of canvases to let your teen create his or her mini art gallery. Larger canvases placed side by side have impact. Smaller canvases are perfect for personalized tags. For younger children, create a montage to add colour to a bare wall. Paint several canvases, each in a different solid colour: yellow, blue, green, etc. Then let children doodle on them, using pastels in assorted bright colours. Thick wax crayons or washable markers can also be used. This is a great activity for a birthday party.If your teen wants to do larger frames with spray paints, be sure they work in a well-ventilated area and wear a protective mask. Spray paint fumes are toxic.

Copyright Miy Decorations © 2006

For more Miy decor projects visit www.maddylane-decor.com