Wall Art-Cityscapes on the cheap!

I am drawn to cityscapes.  Take a look at the amazing work by Minneapolis artist Mike Welton.


Using photos from your trips both far away and close to home is a great way to personalize the art in your home.

Here is my latest project and some other ideas too!
I took this photo from the "never-ending bridge" at the Guthrie Theater one night last summer.  I think it really has the look of Mike Welton's work.....so-

• I used my photo editor to crop and tweak it a bit for color, 
• then sent it to Walgreens Photo center and had a 11 x 14 poster print made for $ 9.99.
• I had a 16 x 20 frame from Goodwill...but it was white...so I painted it to pretty closely match the frame of the Mike Welton print.
• Using my trusty mat cutter- I cut the mat and put the print in the frame.
• Now I just have to wait for John to have time to help get it up on the wall....

The Foshay Tower print is in the stairway on a tall wall.  I think the Guthrie photo will look great above it.







Some things to think about if you decide to do this yourself:

• Go on-line and look at photography websites and see the types of photos the pros take
• When you are out and about on vacation or on stay-cation -take some photos with your walls in mind....you never know!
• Go through your existing pictures....I bet you have some great images that with some "tweaking" would look fabulous if you enlarge them.
• Look for interesting lighting and angles when you take your photos.
• Take your kids on a field trip to a park with a skyline view.  Have them do a pencil sketch of the scene.  Frame it for a "Real" treasure.
• Show your kids a picture of a favorite place and have them do a watercolor for you....instant contemporary art.
• Get your frames at a thrift store or garage sale.  Look for standard sized frames if you don't have a mat cutter or a way to customize your mat. 

 

These are 2 pictures taken by my son in Moscow and Amsterdam.  The enlarged and framed versions now grace the wall of his home.

My daughter sketched this Minneapolis Skyline when she was 9 years old....found it mouldering in a stack of things I am "gonna do something with"...better do what I say huh?

Lastly....A crossover idea for Sweetwater Junior:

One of the art projects I used to do when I taught 2nd grade was to give the kids a large piece of paper, a ruler, and a black sharpie.  Then after showing them photos of skyscrapers. I had them start creating.  Many times I heard from parents that they framed their kids masterpieces. 

 

Use these images for your kids inspiration: 

I would love to hear from you about any fun and inexpensive ways you use your photos or kid's art!

Have a happy Wednesday.