Introduction: Chevron Paintings
Materials Needed:
- canvas (I used 3 11x14 in but you can use any size and any number of canvases)
- masking/painters tape
- t-square
- drafting triangle (30x60x90)
- pencil
- paint
- paint brushes
- 2 soda can tops per canvas
- super glue
Step 1: Taping
I used regular masking tape which is 3/4 of an inch thick.
Start by marking the middle of the canvas with your pencil on both top and bottom and lay a piece of tape down the middle of the canvas wrapping the extra around to the back of the canvas (to make sure I got the exact middle I subtracted 3/4 in from 11 inches and then divided that in half in order to find where the edges of the tape would lie).
Next measure 1/2 in from the edge of the canvas on each side and mark with your pencil on the top and bottom. This is the outer edge of the next strip of tape.
Step 2: Taping (cont)
On the middle strip of tape measure 1/2 in from the top and make a small tick mark. This is where the diagonal piece of tape will start. Make another tick mark every 4 in going down the length of the center tape strip.
Butt the edge of the t-square up with the edge of the canvas to make sure it is straight and butt the edge of the drafting triangle up against the ruler of the t-square. Make sure that the hypotenuse edge of the triangle is touching the tick mark that you made on your tape. Make another tick mark at the same angle as the triangle and another tick mark at the other end of the triangle on the adjacent piece of tape.
Next slide your triangle down the ruler, keeping the t-square in the same place, until it lines up with your next tick mark and repeat the tick marks until you have reached the bottom of the canvas (the last one probably won't reach to the left piece of tape so make a solid line so that you can line up the tape properly).
Line up strips of tape from one tick mark to the corresponding one to make diagonal lines connecting the two vertical strips of tape. Be sure that the tape does not hang over the edge of the vertical strips.
Step 3: Taping (cont)
Next, using your t-square aligned horizontally, make lines straight across the left piece of tape at the top of each intersection (see photo).
Using your triangle (flipped over) against the t-square, make diagonal lines from these horizontal lines going up, reflecting the diagonals that you have just taped. Do this for each of the diagonals until you reach the bottom of the canvas. Lay strips of tape, lining up the top of the tape with the lines you have just drawn again wrapping the excess over the back of the canvas and making sure not to cross the vertical piece of tape.
Step 4: Taping (cont)
Repeat steps 2 and 3 but mirrored on the other side of the middle strip of tape to finish off the taping of your canvas. Once you're done there should be 4 columns of diagonal stripes on your canvas and now you're ready to paint!
Step 5: Painting
In this next step you get to have a little fun and artistic creativity. Choose some fun colors that you want to use and experiment with mixing colors until you get the ones you want. I used sever different colors so that they can go in nearly any room but you could do colors all in the same family if it tied in with the room that you plan to put the paintings. Just have fun with it and do some experimentation.
Once you have decided on the colors you want paint each row of chevrons the same color. You could also do each column the same color. Again, artistic creativity. Make sure when you are painting to fill the entire white space and cover all the edges of the white canvas. However, be sure not to go over the other side of the tape into the other section.
Step 6: Peeling the Tape
Everyone will tell you a different opinion on when to peel the tape. I like to pull it once everything has dried but it doesn't have to be completely dried. Some people will tell to wait several hours but I say as long as it is mostly dry then it is dry enough to pull the tape. Make sure to pull away from the canvas as you pull to get as clean of an edge as you can. As you may notice my paint bled slightly through the tape so it is not a clean edge. This is because I used masking tape in stead of actual masking tape. If you are wanting a very defined edge then painters tape is the way to go. Be careful as you peel the tape, if the paint is not completely dry it will get on your hands and can smear to where you don't want it. Make sure to wipe your hands each time after you touch the tape to make sure you have gotten all of the paint off of your hands. Once the tape is pulled, admire your fine work and figure out where you want to hang your masterpieces.
Step 7: Hanging
For this project I used a flat canvas rather than one with a wooden frame. While these are cheaper and great to work with, they are a pain to hang on the wall. The easiest way that I have found to hang them is very simple using soda can tops and super glue. These canvases have a paper backing to conceal the cardboard. Remove this paper in the upper corners so that it doesn't rip off once you've hung your masterpiece on the wall. Next apply super glue to the bottom part of the back of the soda top. Make sure to cover all of the raised edges. This is what will be touching the back of the canvas. Once you've applied the super glue, place the soda top in the corner of the canvas and press on the bottom of the soda top so that it is firmly held onto the canvas and the top of the soda top is sticking up off of the canvas (see picture). Hold it for at least a minute to be sure it adheres and then do the other corner. Make sure that they are level. Now you're ready to hang your wonderful piece of art on the wall with nails like any other canvas.
