Do-it-yourself (DIY) Islamic wall paint

Are you looking for Islamic wall calligraphy for your home but can’t find quite the right thing? Do you long for a personal touch, or simply like the idea of a do-it-yourself project? It is simpler than you think to add Islamic wall art to your home, and to make your own Islamic calligraphy on a canvas. You don’t even need a lot of supplies:

First things first: you’ll need a stencil. These can readily be bought online, on such sites as Etsy, and will be the basis of your Islamic wall art.  The choices are many, and you can buy a stencil in a large variety of sizes.

Once you have your stencil in hand, you’ll need a canvas that will support the stencil. Buy one a little larger than the stencil so that you’ll have the illusion of a frame around your calligraphy.

Other supplies that you’ll need, and which can be bought readily in the same place that you buy the canvas:

•         Acrylic paint in the colours you wish to use. Pick something that will co-ordinate with the room where you’re planning to hang it.
•         A sea sponge or a dauber
•         Mod Podge to use as a sealant
•         Stencil adhesive – you want your stencil to adhere to the canvas long enough to keep it steady as you use it, but you want to be able to remove the stencil easily after you’ve used it.
•         Masking tape
•         Paint brush

Here’s what you do:

1.       Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the canvas. This acts as a sealant, preventing your paint from dripping, or “bleeding” as it is usually called.
2.       Decide where to place your stencil of Islamic wall art. Ideally, leave a border around the calligraphy; it will set off the calligraphy, acting as an impromptu frame. Apply a thin coat of stencil adhesive to the back of your stencil to prevent it from slipping. If you want to be extra-cautious, use some masking tape as well as the adhesive. Now you’ll be absolutely sure to avoid a slipping stencil and artistic disaster!
3.       Put acrylic paint on your sponge or dauber. Use a paper towel to soak up some of the paint so that it doesn’t drip onto your canvas or your clothes.
4.       When you’re ready, gently apply the paint to your canvas. Hold your brush at a 90 degree angle to the canvas, and gently roll the paint onto the stencil with soft motions.
5.       Now repeat steps 2 and 3, slowly building up the colour and depth of the paint. Did I mention that your calligraphy doesn’t need to be all in one colour? You can use a multitude, or just two or three, depending on your tastes and the shade of the room it will hang in.
6.       Once you’re finished painting, gently remove the stencil from your Islamic wall art.
7.       Wait for your paint to dry. Acrylic paint dries quickly, but give it an hour or two to dry fully so that when you apply sealant, it doesn’t mark up the paint.
8.       Apply another thin layer of Mod Podge to the completed art. This will seal it, and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.