I’ve always loved Decorative Art for all its different styles, mediums and surfaces to choose from ~ Art for more than just hanging on the wall.

There were many, many, many surfaces to choose from ‘back in the day’. There ‘was‘ a whole industry based solely around the surfaces we purchased to paint on for our Decorative Art (sadly we are down to only a few, see my favorites here).

Today 35+ years later I find myself creating on 140lb Coldpress Watercolor Board (aka art board) & Paper (find Watercolor Board Here) ~ although it is still used for framing, it is also versatile for other creative ideas to.

An Art Board can simply be cut to size for many uses (or size your pattern to fit) ~ even the small scrappies can be a creative source for making minis (image shown below)!

Although I am pretty sure I am not using the board for its intended use ~ I love the look and feel of Acrylics and Colored Pencil onto the Art Boards. (Find Zoom Gatherings Here).

Here are a few ideas for using Art Boards within your home and for gift giving

as a book marker, cut to size.

As a mini painting, using part of any design ~ so fun to tuck into little corners of your home or into a birthday card!

Or slip into an unexpecting pocket or the ribbon of a gift for a friend.

Create a display or gallery wall (metal gallery ledge purchased here).

Or add to a vintage bread board or baby bundt box using upholstery tacks, a Classic Amy Joanne favorite!

or simply just tuck your painting into any corner, ledge, display or vignette

Art boards are a super fun surface with many uses.

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I’ve also been playing around with Varnish.

My ol’ favorite is just about gone and sadly is not made any longer.

While searching Youtube, Pinterest and Instagram I came across an acrylic Artist who varnished with Decoupage ~ moving her brush in small back and forth swishing movements to create the illusion with the decoupage to have the acrylic painting appear like it was painted in oils. hemmmmm, interesting.

hemmmmmm, well why not try it.

I Started with an art board created in acrylics and colored pencil that had already been ‘varnished’ with Grumbacher Final Fixative and then I added a layer of DecoArt Decoupage in Matte (product here)…with my knees knocking.

It was milky when the layer was applied ~ but once it was dry the look and feel of the project was so pleasing, it felt like velvet.

I then varnished my remaining finished pieces.

As a disclaimer ~ I do not know the long-term effects or if it will work the same if I haven’t already varnished with final fixative ~ or if it will work on any surface. Experimenting and Time will tell.

But I will say, I am smitten with the finish so far.

Any Art Board or DecoArt Decoupage ‘varnish‘ fans out there?

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The Art Ledge in the Studio is filling up with newly finished and varnished creations ~ new signature labels and packaging has been ordered and we will be having an Original Art Sale soon (with Blog Post), keep your eye on Classic Amy Joanne for details.

Catch our ‘Daily Dose‘ for Inspiration (here) and read our Artful Newsletter (here) for July.