DIY Large Art Using Artificial Leaves and Luan Plywood

We decided to change some things around in our family room, moving a wall clock we had above our TV (which was too small for such a large wall) to above the fireplace.  Good decision but that left us with a big blank wall.  So, we went shopping for wall art but everything large enough to fill the space was way above our budget.  What to do?  Looks like it's DIY time!  The decor in our family room is tropical as you can see by this photo of the artwork over my sofa.  

You might recognize this photo if you follow my blog.  The side pieces were made out of aluminum pans.  

My Inspiration:

I found these giant, yes they were huge, silk leaves at Hobby Lobby.  They measured 19" x 46" from tip to stem bottom and the best part is, they were 1/2 price, $4.50 ea.  

(See they are gigantuous.  That is a 10" dinner plate beside the leaf.)  

I painted the leaves first with Folkart Metallic Copper

followed by a coat of Folkart Metallic Bronze.   Then I applied a 'glaze' using thinned down (with water) Apple Barrel Black to give an aged look.  I also spattered dots of the black glaze using a toothbrush.  They looked amazingly just like they were made of metal.  We already had a piece of luan plywood from another project, which my hubby cut into 2 pieces measuring 23" x 43".  I used the back of the luan as my canvas which I will never do again.  It is like painting on sandpaper even when it was prepped first with gesso (artist primer).   I will be honest and tell you that I was not pleased with the way they turned out.  The luan was so porous that the paint colors were very washed out but with lots of prayer (I'm not kidding) it came to me to apply a final coat of Minwax Polyacrylic Protective Finish (satin) that I tinted with Apple Barrel Nutmeg Brown. 

It took three coats but it made all the difference.  I was ready to turn the luan to the other side and start all over but thankfully my prayer was answered and the Minwax topcoat added a sheen as well as making the colors more vivid.  We glued the leaves to the luan using Loctite Power Grab just because we had it on hand.  It dries clear too.  So here is the finished artwork.  We purchased a curtain rod from T.J. Max for $6.99 and a pack of shower curtain hooks for $3.99 and thanks to my hubby's precision cuts and precise measuring, they hung perfectly straight.  We also glued washers over the holes where the hooks are (on both sides) and they were painted bronze.  

(BTW our walls are beige, though they look green in this photo.)  This project came in at under $20.00.  Nice compared to the $120 - $300 art I found online and in the stores.  Blessings until next time.