What to paint on an oval canvas?

Art Discussion and Questions
1

I just got an oval 8x10 canvas and I don’t know what to paint on it. My mom said it could be used for portraits or scenery but I would like to have more ideas on it.

Does any one have an idea on what I could paint on this oval canvas?

Thanks!

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2

Oval feels romantic and old fashioned to me, so something romantic or Victorian. Florals, portraits of people or pets, maybe a house or interior.

On the other hand, it might be nice to create contrast by painting something modern.

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3

That’s a really cool idea, I might try that. I haven’t done flowers before, hmm? :thinking:

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4

For some reason japanese them jumped into my head:

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(Not my art. Picked from a Google search)

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5

It’s good that you are thinking of proportion and what would be suitable for the shape of your canvas.

I agree with @steiconi that florals would be lovely.

Modern paintings on ovals are also nice…here is an example by Piet Modrian

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6

That’s a really neat idea! Thanks for sharing with me!

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7

Ooh, a classic shadow silhouette!

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8

These are round, but you get the idea…

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9

Along the lines of the silhouette, maybe first fill the entire canvas with whatever abstract colorful painting you feel like doing, and THEN paint the silhouette on top – either turning the background or the silhouette itself a solid color and leaving the rest colorful.
(One cheat for silhouettes is to cut a picture of the size you need out of a magazine, or print it off the computer, and stick it to the canvas temporarily with some loops of tape. Then paint over the cut-out shape to cover the whole canvas, and remove the cutout when dry to reveal the solid/empty area it was masking. You can also do this after covering the canvas with a first layer of paint, so that first layer is what shows up when you remove the cutout. Here is a simplified tutorial; I know yours would look a lot nicer than this: https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/make-and-decorate/crafts/how-to-make-silhouette-canvas-artwork-for-a-child-s-bedroom)

Also, I’m thinking about vines around the edges for an oval shape?

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10

I was think of doing something like that. I think that it would turn out pretty good.

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11

I like that technique!

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12

I love this Balzer video using masterboards & masks, it’s brilliant & such gorgeous results.

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13

I’d say a monster, but that’s the only thing I paint, so I’m not a good person to ask! :slight_smile:

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