If you are looking for a unique focal point for your dining room wall, I have a wall art project that you can try.  To create this focal point, you do not need any artistic skill, but it will look like you are a highly skilled artist when the project is complete.  The goal in the project is to create a three dimensional floral bouquet painting for your wall, and have those painted flowers look as if they are coming out of a three dimensional vase that will be part of the arrangement.  

To create this project you will need stencils of your favorite flowers, a couple of wall vases, acrylic paints, stencil brushes, and regular paintbrushes.  For this project, I recommend you purchase a set of Florenze Iron Wall Vases.  This beautifully orange vase in made of metal and designed to be mounted on the wall.  It stands are 21” in height and is perfect for this project.  

The first thing you need to do is temporarily mount the vases on the wall to make sure are exactly where you want them.  Mark the top of the vase with a pencil line so that you know how wide the top of the vase is and so you have a reference for your “flowers”.

Next, choose the stencils that you want to use in your arrangement and following the instructions for using the stencil, add your flowers to the wall.  If you have never painted with stencils before, practice creating your flowers first on wood or canvas until you get the affect you want.  Then it will be time to tackle the wall.

Finally, mount the wall vases on the dining room wall and it will look as if the flowers are coming out of the vase.  If you wish, you can purchase a bouquet of real flowers to match the ones on the wall when you are entertaining, and add them to your existing bouquet. 

• November 2007