"M" is for Mantel Artwork

Paint: diy mantel artwork

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I thought it would be appropriate to share this mantel artwork today on Thanksgiving as we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing. I made this piece for the priests’ dining room at the church rectory and hung it above the mantel.

This dining room at the church rectory is getting a makeover, it’s been a slow and steady progress but I’m determined to finish before Christmas. (As a side note this room gets ZERO natural light which makes picture taking slightly difficult.)

Before there was a huge empty space above the mantel and I wanted to add something organic (like a wreath) but decided that was too fussy for a group of priests so I settled on painting a wreath-like shape with a fitting verse from a well known hymn.

How to build and paint mantel artwork:

Step 1: Determine desired size and cut 1/2″ plywood. I connected 3 pieces together to get the width needed using 1×2 and 1x3s as mending plates, glued and screwed. (The vertical 1×3 pieces are to hang the artwork with screws and wire.)

Step 2: Paint the background then sketch out wreath shape and begin layering.

Step 3: Add lettering and continue to layer wreath shape.

Step 4: Apply Minwax early american stain to 1x2s. Cut one end at a 45 degree miter then measure to fit and cut other end. Apply glue to edge of artwork and using a scrap piece of 1/2″ plywood on top of the artwork hold 1×2 in place and secure with 1 1/4″ finish nails. Keep the edge of the 1×2 flush with the plywood scrap to create an even frame.