Tutorial Tuesday ..Birth of a Canvas Floorcloth Pt.2

Welcome back to my canvas floorcloth tutorial. I am glad I have not scared you away..we are just getting to the fun part... creating our design. I had a few different patterns in mind and ultimately decided on the classic Mariners Compass design( www.canvasworksfloorcloths.com ) So sit back and enjoy the process. Remember you can click on any of the photos for a closer look at design and markings.

In the last post I painted the double border on my canvas. Next I am going to locate the center of the cloth and paint a large circle(approx 10 1/2 inches) in a butterscotch color and border it with a thin line of the red used earlier. It is important that each section that is painted is allowed to dry thoroughly. I am not the most patient artist, so this does not come easy to me, but it makes a difference.

To create the compass pattern I used a yard stick and a pencil to mark off all my lines. I started by first finding the center of the circle and marking a large X(about14 inches). Then I measured and marked a second X over the first..extending all the points past the circle(30 inches & 14inches). Next I made a pencil mark at the halfway spot between the center X's. I then started connecting all the points and dots. I always keep a photo handy of the design I am working on and use it as a visual reference. That way I am sure to place my lines in all the correct places. I also keep an artist erasure handy for all my mistakes...believe me you will need it.

Above is the final design in pencil after connecting all my marks, I free handed the little in- between points.

For my harlequin diamond design in the background I wanted four centered diamonds across. My cream center rectangle measured 30 inches across, so I marked the 15 inch center and again at 7 1/2 inches on each side of the 15. Who says you will never use that high school math ;-) I did this at each short end of my cloth. Next I used my yard stick to connect the four corners, making a large X. I then started marking my diagonal lines by connecting the previous 7 1/2 in. and 15 in. marks down to the opposite sides. I measure as I go to keep the width of the lines even all the way across. Try not to pencil through your center star pattern. Draw with pencil to the edge and pick up line again on the other side of star. I sure hope this is making sense..if not, look at the photos and they should demonstrate pretty well what I am doing. The final lines are some small compass points I added in between the larger..you can see them in the photo below..click on it to get a closer look

Ok...now that was fun in an architectural kind of way, but now the real fun starts. We get to paint all our points and diamonds...my favorite part! At this point I am going to do my best Ryan Seacrest imitation and say we will get to the fun painting.............After the break ;-) So I hope to see you here next Tuesday, when you will see everything start to come together. I think you are going to LOVE the finished floorcloth. Until then ..be kind and stay creative.