Make Prints into Oil {looking} Artwork

I was working on the design of our living room makeover. Trying to figure out is I'm working in our old art into our new design and it's been driving me crazy. 

We have a huge framed oil paint looking piece of art over the couch. I purchased it at Ross years ago for 100 bucks and started researching the piece. Turns out it's an "enhanced print" that retails framed for $275 to $650! Wowza! 

When I was looking up this artwork I thought it was an oil painting. I quickly learned it was not, as this particular oil painting was worth $16,000! What I had was called an "enhanced print".
I researched what that term meant and it's basically a print that has been brushed with a medium. 

This process makes it look WAY more expensive- like it would be worth 1000's rather than 100's! (maybe a bit of an exaggeration?)

  I decided to experiment and try to make my own enhanced print.

I started with a print I wouldn't mind messing up. Someone gave me this one, so kinda perfect for my little experiment.





Here's my what I started with:
a print, a brush, a bottle of medium, a bottle of texture and something to mix it together
- all of which I already had.





 I took the print out of the frame and mixed some medium with the texture which thickened the medium up considerably.

After the first coat it looked like this and truthfully I was thinking I ruined the print. Ahhh!


But thankfully it did dry clear. Like this. (I'm sure all you artists are cringing! Sorry!)
  
I decided it needed two coats to really build up the texture and look like brush strokes.



You want to make sure the strokes go in many different direction.

Also, make sure it is thinker and thinner in places.

 
Here's the end product next to the inspiration piece for comparison.

I think it's pretty darn close to the original. It has the same shine and varying texture.

I call it a success and I'm ready to try it on something bigger and maybe more expensive! Isn't this the perfect solution to a frame with no glass? I am thrilled with the possibilities!

Check it out Yo! I got me another feature!

Thanks for checking out my project!

- Becca -

I party everywhere!

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