Laurel's Design Newsletter ~ March 2009
Many clients have definitive ideas on what colors and what
designs they want for a custom canvas rug. I have created unique designs from a Persian living room rug, another from a magazine
photo, and several have been made custom from my existing designs with color changes to match the clients’ home.
Conceptual Beginnings
An Interior Design company in Costa Rica contacted me with an idea
for a canvas rug for one of their projects. They sent photographs of pillow shams, one of a herringbone design and another
of a turtle. The client asked for samples of artwork ideas using browns and beiges. I played around with the turtle shell
design, using different shades of browns, and made a stamp for the herring bone, using a tan on beige.
After reviewing
the samples sent via e-mail, the client wanted to try combining the two designs, with the turtle shell in a rich chocolate
brown along the border and the tan/beige herringbone stamp in the center.
Because this canvas rug is to be a larger
one, 5’ x 8’, we decided on an 8” border for the turtle shell design; upon combining the two designs, I
added a ½” border in a dark coffee brown to help separate the two and make the turtle border stand out.
Getting a Visual
This Interior Design company is close to home and we decided a personal visit
would help with the final decision. A 5’ x 8’ blank canvas rug was in stock and would help the client “picture”
the final design in proportion to the size of the rug. The 8” border of turtle shell worked well, the color of the canvas
border was changed from brown to black and the final decision was made, so the final design is a go!
Step-by-Step
There are so many steps
involved with canvas preparation before starting the actual painting and stamping but each are important to produce a long
lasting, quality canvas rug.
The final step is to allow the canvas rug to “cure” for 7 days ensuring
that the polyurethane is completely dry before presenting to a client who can then install it on the floor immediately.
People often ask, “How long does it take to make a canvas rug?” For custom designs, conceptual ideas take
as much time working with ideas presented and suggested colors as to the numerous steps in actually making a canvas rug.
The goal is to come up with the perfect hand painted canvas design that will make a unique statement and one the client loves.
Workshop, Anyone?
Having spent twenty-five years teaching women to paint on textiles,
from clothing to canvas bags and now the canvas rugs…here’s a question to my readers: Would you interested in
taking a 2 day workshop to learn how to paint a canvas rug? If so, please contact me in an e-mail and let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Laurel Anderson
