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The Giant Paintbrush Led to a Giant Concrete Canvas

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!Ever see an art supply and have no idea how you are going to use it but you know you just have to own it?  Sometimes it’s a good thing to follow impulses.  That impulse is what led me outdoors to play…

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!

I had to find a giant canvas to go with these giant 2″ paint brushes but there isn’t room indoors to work on this kind of scale.  The concrete wall outside my studio was the perfect size but I needed something temporary, so I found giant 32oz. bottles of washable tempera paints for my play.

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!

You might see bits of stencils under it.  That’s because I used temporary spray paints last year that held up extremely well to the elements since it is a vertical surface.  Check out the blog post on it here.

Along the way…I noticed a few silly creatures making an appearance in the paint…like the duck-topus, a 7 legged octopus with the head of duck.

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!

Painting on rough concrete is a different experience.  All that texture makes the brushes and paint behave differently than in an art journal.  Not a shocker since outdoor cement isn’t as smooth as paper.

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!

The splattering and flinging of paint on this scale is a blast but I did have to be careful not to decorate the side of the house lol.  Now, I am even more excited for the next reasonably warm day to head out and add more color to the wall!

P.S.  When it says it is washable…the label is right.  The first thunderstorm after I painted this completely washed it all away.  Thanks Mother Nature for getting it all cleaned up and ready to paint again!

What happens when Carolyn gets a giant paintbrush? She finds a way to paint big outdoors...with temporary paint!
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  • Corrine February 12, 2016, 6:53 am

    Great giant canvas. I think there is a street artist in your soul. Soon you will be painting on walls somewhere out there and we shall read about you in the papers. xox

  • Beck February 12, 2016, 9:20 am

    How fun! But…. Not today, expected high. 12 degrees. Frozen paint doesn’t transfer to any surface well!

  • Retta February 13, 2016, 8:25 pm

    I’m reading your post…thinking what a great idea…too bad I have no concrete wall at my house to paint. *lightbulb* I do however, have a macadam blacktop driveway!!!!! LOL

  • lillian February 14, 2016, 5:43 pm

    Love this! Three years ago, our garage door needed replacing or repainting as a temporary measure, so I painted a mural on it. The response from
    neighbors, especially the kids, was interesting.

  • Jt February 14, 2016, 6:34 pm

    I know it wasn’t your intention, but you washed a lot of chemically-colored paint down the storm drain into your creeks. A lot.

    • Heidi March 6, 2024, 8:54 pm

      Crayola Washable Paint is non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals, ensuring a safe art experience for your little ones.
      Which means NO CHEMICALS!!

  • Carol February 14, 2016, 8:05 pm

    Hi Carolyn those big brushes and your inspiration makes me want to go out and paint the town red…literally!❤️