If you claim you can’t draw a stick figure but would still like to get hands-on with your wall art projects, there are plenty of ways to create imagery through simple designs. Transfers can be made by using colored pencil or chalk pastels to make a texture rubbing from an object. Marbling a thick paper with diluted paint can be done in your kitchen sink. Perhaps you can knit a small square of fabric in a variety of harmonious colors, or make a weaving out of simple T-shirt strips.
Wall art can be made with a simple image program and a printer. Your favorite quotes or simple words can be printed in striking colors on a simple background. Even letter forms themselves are a design element; experiment with different fonts, sizes, colors and placement for just one letter to see what compositions you can create. If you have a scanner, you can scan relatively flat objects that have a distinct shape and turn them into striking black-and-white silhouettes.
Simply putting found images and objects in a frame is an incredibly easy way to create wall art if you think broadly enough. Scraps of embroidered fabric, pressed flowers or leaves, coasters, even simple paint chip samples can be tiled in a frame. Flea markets and thrift stores hold incredible opportunity with old magazines full of vintage ads and products. Consider shadowboxes for small objects such as doll clothes, keys or other items that could have family significance.
Some objects can become instant wall art without a frame at all. Decoupage supplies can help you transfer images to objects such as plates. An old window can simply be hung on a wall on its own, or imagery can be transferred onto the panes. Ceiling rosettes, license plates, circuit boards, serving trays – the sky is the limit for objects that possess a subtle texture. These textures can be enhanced by painting the objects a single color.
Many times the placement and composition of your wall art can be more intriguing than the actual imagery. Many small cheap frames can be clustered together for a “salon-style” hanging. Don’t be afraid to put a small image in a much larger mat and frame. Repetition is always incredibly striking; push the envelope with how many of the same image can be placed in a line or on an entire wall from floor to ceiling.