I should probably be more clear because this picture is dripping with inspiration. Everything from those candles, to the peacock pillow to Alisa Burke herself is pretty to-die-for. But what made me pin this picture was that artwork on the wall. She did it herself with the famous E.E. Cumming's poem and some shoe polish. Yep, shoe polish. I think she calls is "graffiti chic." And she gives a full run down of it on her blog.
Now, I love E.E. Cummings and that poem as much as the next person. But I really wanted to make this project my own. With my own handwriting and my own favorite poem: Robert Frost's The Path Not Taken. And here's mine:
I actually did this painting twice. The first time I used just my favorite line, "two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." And I hung it and I liked it, but with such a large canvas (3'x8'!!)--I realized I could easily fit the whole poem and it would be so much more powerful. Turns out--it is. I achieved her same drippy effect by dipping my brush in a little water before dunking it in the paint and painting on an upright canvas. Chris made the frame for me out of some cheap wood we found at Home Depot totaling less than $2 and we stretched the canvas (I got for Mother's day) before I went to town painting.
Since I am a total sucker for typography and this poem--seriously it is my fav--of course I love it. It is a wonderful feeling to be inspired by something and make it your own.
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I absolutely love this! definitely going to make one for myself.
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Would you be willing to sell this piece?
It's unfortunately already sold, Catherine. Thanks for your interest.
Someone pinned this and I am so glad. This is my all-time favorite poem as well. I think I just might have to try this!!
Hi there - I was just wondering if you knew of any other programs or websites besides Adobe Illustrator to put in your canvas dimensions to make sure everything will fit onto the canvas? I tried downloading the free trial for Adobe Illustrator, but Adobe no longer supports my computer system. I would really love to make sure the words fit as well, so wanted to check with you to see if you knew of any other place I could do this? If not, no big deal - thank you!
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It's very easy to find out any matter on net as compared to books, as I found
this piece of writing at this web site.
What in the what?! This is so awesome. I'm years behind, but this popped up on your sidebar, and it was too lovely not to comment.
And then of course I saw you sold it, too. Eeek!
So good. SO good. Pinned it for future inspiration.
Oh Thanks! The wheels are already turning for the next Pinterest Challenge. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
ChrislovesJulia - This is amazing! I've pinned it, too and can't wait to get started on my version. @Aymie, thanks for asking questions. Everything you asked was what I needed to know. Hope your project went well. :-)
This is great! Love the poem choice too.
This is just incredible. I'm pinning your version, because I like it even better than the original!
What a great piece of whole wall art! Excellent work.
That looks absolutely amazing! I love the way it looks on the wall.
very impressive! and so inspirational!
THANKS!!! Sorry I need such detailed instruction, I was hoping someone else would ask a few of my questions so I didn't sound SO needy...didn't happen, I guess everyone else figured it out ;)
This is such a cool project! Anytime I try to freehand paint my handwriting it never turns out very cool haha I think adding water makes all the difference! Thanks for the inspiration :)
xo Catharine @ Your Modern Couple
You are so funny and I am happy to help!
1. I used acrylic paint you can get it at a craft store. However I am no stranger to using house paint. Whichever you choose, just water it down a bit so that your brush glides easier. I usually dipped my brush in water real quick, dabbed it on a towel, and then put it in the paint.
2. The brush I used was rounded at the end. Something like this would be perfect and very similar to what I used: http://www.amazon.com/Round-Paint-Brushes-Acrylic-Painting/dp/B000RB54SU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1328066647&sr=8-4
Congrats on stretching your first canvas! How exciting!!!
First of all, thank you SO much for the fastest reply EVER to my first question! Second, I have a couple more questions ;)
1.What type of paint did you use...like wall paint or some type of artist paint.
2.What was the shape of your brush...was it squared off and flat, or more rounded and thick? Just wondering what works best when painting letters.
I stretched my canvas this past weekend (that was a first!) and am hoping to get the supplies needed to finish the project this weekend. I am so excited!!
Thanks again for your help! It is SO much appreciated!
Aymie
I adore how this turned out. I think I'm going to have to attempt this. I already have my fair share of typographic art at home, but this would be perfect for a space above our stairs. We've built frames and stretched canvas before...let's see if I can get my better half to do it again...
Great turnout! I love that poem too (my grandmother's fave as well).
Bernadette @ b3hd.blogspot.com
oh my word i LOVE this! i never would have thought of doing something like that. such a powerful piece of art- and GREAT choice of a poem. you may inspire me to do something like this :) though i will have to mock up some lines so i don't go crooked... because i ALWAYS do with projects like this!
i participated in the challenge. my choice was really easy and cost only a buck! it was fate that i found the pieces i needed at a yard sale on friday afternoon!
~m
http://zippydame.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge.html
Wow! This is beautiful! I absolutely love the poem choice and the way the whole thing turned out! Thanks for sharing!
this is gorgeous. love the poem, and your handwriting. i did something similar, though on a smaller scale and used lyrics. loved the pinterest challenge! http://youresomartha.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/pinterest-challenge/
Oh this is wonderful. I've been paining for years over a large empty wall space in my bathroom just waiting for the right piece. This is it. Thank you! Now I have to find the right poem.
Please check out my post here http://thetreehousediary.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge.html
I adore oversized art and this has to be one of my favorites. It's gorgeous!
This is INCREDIBLE. Plus I love it even more since I love this poem! (it's the name of my blog...The Road Less Traveled) I am inspired to create something like this above my bed!
Welcome aboard Stephanie!
This turned out BEAUTIFULLY! Really nice work.
My gosh! I found you by googling "how to put tabs on your blog" (THANK you for that btw). But what a find you are! :) I love your site. I love your creativity! Therefore, I am your newest follower. Nice to meet you! :)
I love it. Absolutely beautiful.
Ahh how peaceful looking that is! I'm absolutely terrible at free handing!
This is absolutely fantastic! I love it!!!
Rebecca @ Dancing in Stilettos
DancingStilettos.blogspot.com
What a great spin off on your Pin-spiration! The dripping is a great effect!
Stopping by from the YHL Pinterest Challenge Link Up.
-Heather
What a great spin off on your Pin-spiration! The dripping is a great effect!
Stopping by from the YHL Pinterest Challenge Link Up.
-Heather
What a great spin off on your Pin-spiration! The dripping is a great effect!
Stopping by from the YHL Pinterest Challenge Link Up.
-Heather
holy awesomeness! this is seriously amazing. I need a big statement piece for my dining room, and I'm thinking something like this ( maybe with our wedding vows) would be perfect! great work!
What a brilliant idea and I think I may love yours more than the inspiration
Just stunning, good work!!! I actually have the original e.e. cummings poem (from your pinterest) framed at my bedside. I adore reading and writing poetry and thinking framing it is brilliant.
This is amazing! I'm a typography nut, too, and I just love it. You (and Alisa) did an awesome job with this. Just awesome.
I love this more than the inspiration! It's amazing, really!
I LOVE it! It's like an updated version of the subway sign trend.
Oh Erica. I would be flattered. Thanks!
You can't go wrong with Shakespeare.
Very Cool! I actually like yours a lot better! Great job! Can I pin yours on Pinterest? :)
this is incredible - one of my favorite things ever. I feel like it epitomizes my own nerdy/casual style and I should probably have something like this in my house. Maybe with shakespeare's sonnet 29, mostly because the ending is so beautiful. "For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings/ That then I scorn to change my state with kings."
You know I love love love it. It is Perfect!! Can't wait to see what you decide for either side of the painting...
LOVE THIS!!!! I will definitely try a version for myself sometime soon!
This looks AWESOME! Some word art is really hit or miss but if you get all squinty it doesn't even look like words and the drips totally add to the piece. And I love that the girl's (practically) got my name sake.
Loved this Julie! Wow!
I love Frost, so much--this is great. Especially clever how you did the mock up first to ensure it would all fit. I would probably have just winged it and ran out of space! Thanks for sharing the wiser path. ;)
That is AWESOME! We did similar projects :) I WISH I had as awesome handwriting as you it turned out beautiful.... well done.
Pamela @ pbjstories.blospot.com
My Pinterest Challenge: http://pbjstories.blogspot.com/2011/08/lyrics-board-reveal-pinterest-challenge.html
I used a paint brush normally used for acrylics. For the lettering, I just did a water-downed black paint--I did do a wash for the background. Gray and some stark white. I think the key is definitely plan out your words first, and then try not to think about getting the lettering perfect--it is so much better that way. I am excited for you! Would love to see pics!
I'm going to do this for my husband's Vday gift...I have a couple amateur questions if you don't mind answering? What type of paint brush did you use? And did you just do a black/white thinned out paint wash for the background? Thank you SO much for your help! I just LOVE how yours turned out!!
I love that soo much. Am a huge fan of Robert Frost and organic artwork. Well done!
Aymie, I have been searching ALL over the internet for the kind of brush to use and stumbled across this. I am grateful that someone else needed as much instruction as I did!
This is amazing. I just stopped by from Young House Love's Pinterest Challenge and had to comment. I'm running about a million ideas in my head now for my own house. Thank you!