Learn how to create a faux oil painting look on prints. This technique creates the illusion of an expensive oil painting in no time!
Small landscape prints are all over IG right now. Have you seen them too? They are so nice, but I noticed they are all very small and cost upwards of $15 each – ouch! So, I set out to do something similar on the cheap and I think it’s perfect. Let me show you how to create a faux oil painting using prints and Mod Podge!
**This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission from the sale – at NO cost to you! I only recommend products that I love & want to be sure you can find them all super easy!**
Supplies you’ll need to create your own faux oil painting:
- Picture Frame
- Moody Vintage Set of Two Rustic Landscape Paintings | Lake Wooded Scenery | PRINTABLE Downloadable
- Satin Mod Podge
- Chip Brush
- Dixie Belle Artist Brush Set
When starting this project I simply searched Etsy for vintage landscape art download, and oh my goodness, there are so many options. The themes are endless and now my mind is racing just thinking of the other projects I can do just like this. I’m picturing baby, kids room, bath, lake house!!
After purchasing and downloading the prints, I printed them using our color laser printer. If you do not have a printer at home, you can go to your office supply or print shop and have them printed for a small fee.
As you can see, I used a frame I had on-hand for this project. You could also purchase frames that fit you décor or even create a larger one. Thrift stores and second hand stores are another great place to find old frames that would be prefect for this type of project. I wanted mine for my kitchen, so smaller was best for under my cabinets.
Now it’s time to make some magic with Mod Podge!
Using a chip brush, cover the print with crosshatch strokes of Mod Podge. Once the piece is covered with the initial layer, add a few more using existing Mod Podge, but make the x’s smaller by using a smaller Dixie Belle Brush. You’ll want to offload quite a bit, almost like you are dry brushing. Focus on creating thin light coats.
Notice when using the smaller brush, we just went back over what was already on the print to create additional texture. This is what creates the illusion of an oil painting. Let dry, or do like I did and hit it with the heat gun!
Can you see the texture the satin/matte Mod Podge makes once it’s dry. So good!!
Once the Mod Podge is dry, cut your prints down to size.
Here a close-up of the frame with the glass in. You can still see all of that beautiful texture we created.
And here’s what everything looked like once I was finished! This is such an affordable way to create something that looks expensive.
Let’s talk really quick about vignette décor. I like to have some staples on hand like candles, books, architectural pieces, etc. for my vignettes. I’ve linked a few of my must-have favorites below.
Vignette Décor Favorites:
- Candle Wick Trimmer
- Boxwood Orb – Don’t forget to have something like this little orb greenery on hand. It’s great for your vignettes too!
This piece is so versatile and definitely doesn’t have to just be used in the kitchen. These small framed pieces look good on a side table and would look nice on a tray too. Incorporating them can be as simple as creating a vignette on the tray or setting one with the items you already have on your coffee table.
Want more fun and easy DIY home decor ideas?? Find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest! Also – be sure to share your finished projects with me by tagging @rusticorchardhome on Facebook and @rustic_orchard_home on Instagram!
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