Take your fall decor to the next level and learn how to make Halloween art! The best part? You can recreate this gallery wall for your own home for around $25. Keep reading to learn all my tips and tricks for this easy Halloween craft.
When it comes to holiday decor, I often forget about the power of art. I typically leave my art up year round without any changes and just focus decorating other elements in the room.
But that all changes this year! Because swapping out your day-to-day art for something more seasonal is a great way to make an impact. And since this is the first year I’ve ever been early for Halloween, why not go big?!
You don’t need to spend a lot of money, or go buy new art to do this project either. Here’s how you can make your own Halloween wall art on a budget:
Watch the full video tutorial for this DIY Halloween Art over on my YouTube channel!
What You’ll Need
- Printer (I use the Canon PIXMA TS5320)
- Photo paper
- Matboard
- Paper trimmer or scissors
- Mod Podge + brushes
- Washi tape
- Frames
- Art (keep reading for how I source art for free)
If you don’t have a printer, you can always go to Staples or your local library. Instead of ordering ahead, I recommend working with someone in person to make sure the sizing and coloring is correct for your art.
I tested photo paper and cardstock before printing everything. Even though I used the same printer, the photo paper printed more details in a richer color. It’s what I recommend if you’re printing at home.
*TIP* Instead of buying new, thrift your frames instead! I was able to source all of the frames for this DIY for $1-$2 a piece. Plus the vintage details are a great addition to any gallery wall when you reuse them later.
Where to Source Free Art
Let me introduce you to one of my favorite resources of all time: Open Access.
After a certain number of years, art becomes part of the public-domain and is available for unrestricted use under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You can download, share, and remix images from several major museums as a result!
I sourced all the photos from this project from The Met’s collection. You can also access art from The Art Institute of Chicago, The National Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian and more.
Take time to browse the collections and find pieces that will match your Halloween decor theme!
How to Recreate My Halloween Art
If you’d rather save browsing time and recreate this gallery wall exactly, here is the art I used:
- Francesco d’Este by Rogier van der Weyden (1460)
- Jacob Willemsz van Veen, The Artist’s Father by Maarten van Heemskerck (1532)
- Portrait of a Man with Gloves by Corneille de Lyon (1535)
- Portrait of a Man by Dieric Bouts (1470)
- Filippo Archinto by Titian (1550s)
- Portrait of a Man with a Hebrew Tablet by Antonio Campi (1575)
How to Make Halloween Wall Decor
Start by selecting and downloading the artwork you like. I focused on art from roughly the same era, so the pieces would look cohesive together. Double check the resolution when downloading. You want the image to be large enough that you can crop just the eye without it printing pixelated.
Next you’ll need to resize the image to fit your frame. All of my frames were 8″ x 10″. I used mat boards that were 8″ x 10″ outer with a 5″ x 7″ inner, so I resized my eyes to be 5″ x 7″.
To take your print to the next level, add two layers of Mod Podge. The first is a general coat with a wide brush. Once that dries, go in with a smaller brush and emulate brushstrokes. This will give your print texture and a painterly feel.
Let dry overnight and then trim to size.
Secure your mat board in place and add back to your frame. I removed the glass from my frames so that the texture of the Mod Podge would be visible.
Display your work and enjoy! And that’s all there is to making your own Halloween wall art!
If you’re looking for more easy Halloween crafts, be sure to check out how I made this Terracotta Pumpkin and this DIY Ghost Sweater!
