How to Design Three Panel, Light Up Dandelion Wall Art

Last Updated: September 9, 2020 Approved

For a funky, offbeat way to dress up your walls or any room create a three-panel, light up piece of artwork that will make you look like an accomplished artist.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Gathering Your Supplies

1
Purchase three stretched and pre-made canvases. The canvas size is up to you depending on the room you plan to display your artwork and how big you want it to end up being.
2
Buy acrylic paint and paintbrushes. You will need enough black or dark blue paint to completely cover all three canvases, yellow, red, orange, white and green paint.
3
Pick up a string of white twinkle lights (the 100 light mini strand works very well) and a screwdriver. Essentially you will be poking holes through the canvas using the screwdriver so if you have a different tool you like to work with, use that instead.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Paint Your Canvas

1
Cover all three canvasses with black or dark blue paint. Make sure you have enough room for painting and have protected the surfaces around the painting area.
- Allow the paint to completely dry before adding your design. Also, depending on how deep of color or type of paint you chose, you may want to paint two coats.
2
Create your large dandelion on one of the canvasses.
- Draw a large round circle two-thirds from the top of the canvass and color it what you desire white or yellow works well.
- Add a stem to your dandelion using green paint or whatever choice of color you like. The stem should run from the middle, base of your circle to the bottom of the canvas.
- Use red and orange to accent and add texture to your dandelion. Or you can just create more of an abstract look using just the yellow.
3
Create dandelion white fuzz and seeds.
4
Paint the appearance is that the dandelion is being blown in the wind and fuzz and seeds are flying off the top and into the second and third canvasses.
- Design fuzz and seeds by dipping a small paintbrush in yellow paint and then using the tips to make small splotches.
- Create a trail or line of fuzz and seeds flying off the dandelion and splattering throughout the other two canvasses.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Add Lighting and Hang

1
Stab small holes around the dandelion and in the middle of the flying fuzz and seeds. You want this picture to light up and glow so think about ways the sun might hit the dandelion to make it really sparkle.
- Use a small pair of scissors to remove any hanging canvass in the event you have hanging pieces.
2
Lay the string of lights behind the canvasses and match up lights with holes. Use duct tape to secure the strand to the canvas.
- Secure the light plug toward the bottom of the painting with duct tape. Make sure it’s positioned closest to the nearest outlet.
3
Hang canvasses. Since you are hanging three consecutive canvasses you’ll want to make sure they are all level and spaced evenly. Use a level and a ruler to mark hanging positions.
- Nail picture hangers to the wall and hang the canvasses. Make adjustments as necessary as sometimes you may see gaps or the paintings may not appear to be level.
- Add a white extension cord if necessary to plug in your light strand. Consider obtaining a cord cover from the local hardware store to hide the hanging extension cord.
4
Light at night!
5
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I prevent light passing through the canvas?

Community Answer

Using a thicker canvas would help, or you could stick a piece of cardboard or some other opaque material behind the canvas.
Question

Can this be done with battery pack lights so there isn't an ugly extension cord hanging down the wall? Also, any advice on hiding the cord in the spaces between each canvas?

Community Answer

You could use a battery pack string of lights if you plan on keeping it on 24/7. Otherwise it would be a pain to turn on and off. You could also just use a wide canvas and paint this on the one canvas to eliminate cords between.
Question

Do I actually push the bulb through the hole, or is it just the light shining through?

Xqueenrae

Community Answer

Push it through.
Question

Is there a mini light string that runs automatically from dawn to dusk?

Community Answer

Not sure, but you certainly could use a timer for an LED light string to achieve those results.

Warnings

Read directions on the white set before using. In some cases, lights should not be left on for a lengthy amount of time and can present a fire hazard.

Thanks!
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0