Friday 30 January 2015

Canvas Tote bag

Having old paintings - oil and acrylics on canvas, and not getting around to selling them, I've decided to change them.   One of the paintings has been 'filed' for some time and so I cut it off the canvas frame and sewed it onto a market tote bag.  Well, if you're going to change something you might as well really go for it I say.

 This is the bag, measures about 16" x 15"


The painting was a piece of sheer fun.  It didn't need to be anything in particular, just a large coffee cup.  Once it was sewn onto the tote bag, I freshened it up with some more acrylic paint here and there.  As you'll see some paint ended up randomly on the tote at the bottom, but it was a happy accident, I think that works too.








.....fun to experiment with the idea which made use of
a canvas painting I no longer wanted.

It has given me more ideas.  Perhaps a series of Lurcher paintings on tote bags?

what do you think.




27 comments:

Faye said...

What an absolutely marvelous idea, Ann! I love your new market bag. It's gorgeous and I will bet it gets lots of comments from fellow shoppers.

CJ Kennedy said...

Great idea to add some life to a blah tote bag. Bet canine lovers would love totes with the irrepressible William

robin cox walsh said...

YES! William on totes! I think you have a built in audience for them already! (me! me! me! me! LOL)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Faye. I saw a similar idea a while ago, but the difference was that where ever they were made, they had used the actual canvas painting for the bag itself. I wasn't so keen on that idea, but thought if I sewed an old canvas onto a tote bag that would sort of work. The idea of using the tote bag came from the fact I suddenly realised they are Canvas (well more or less I guess) and that was a moment of ummm Canvas (painting) : Canvas Bag = surely the Canvas is a canvas no matter what form it takes. Another thing for me is that I don't have a sewing machine and even if I did I couldn't use one, never have been able to. Answer: sew it by hand. tada! I'm working on an idea to use a sewing awl (think they are called that) and see how it looks instead of the criss cross stitches I used here, it might also be easier to add the canvas to the bag. Time will tell on that one, the jury is out for now, lol. It's a case of watch this space!

ann @ studiohyde said...

I think they may like William on the totes. I'm working on the idea :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Lol. ...working on the idea. I need to buy some more tote bags and ones of various sizes. I may try William paintings on small totes to begin with and see how they look. Watch this space!

Christine said...

just wonderful one of a kind 'Ann' piece!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Christine....I'm thinking of how to go about others. A fb friend suggested painting on a canvas and selling them (minus the bag) giving people the opportunity to add (sew) them onto their own bags of choice. That might be a good option, not that I was thinking particularly of selling them, but even if I did a Giveaway every so often, it would mean I could send them abroad without too much cost in postage.

Kate Robertson said...

Fabulous tote bag. Julie Balzer had done the same thing with old paintings. Its a great way to carry your art around with you. Thanks for linking.

Bronson Hill Arts said...

Delightful idea, Ann, and wonderful execution! Personally, I would buy one of your canvas bags, shipping and all, if you decide to sell them.

-Barb

Cris, Oregon Artist said...

Clever you! Now I see what you wanted the canvas bag for. :) cute!!!!

Pat said...

I love it! You've made a bland boring bag a thing of beauty.
I wonder if you could paint directly onto the bag, or if the canvas is a different weave to the one needed for painting?
But then, it wouldn't use up your stash of ready painted canvases!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Kate. I hadn't seen Julie Balzer's idea, but I do know that a lot of folks have done similar. I just had to negotiate How to go about it as I don't have a sewing machine, plus deciding what size bag I needed. One thing I pondered on was whether I should cover the whole of the bag, but in the end thought one side was sufficient....Glad you like this :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks so much Barb. If I start shipping them I'll let you know :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Cris. It did take me some time to work out how to go about this :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Pat. I tried painting directly on a similar bag but, although it was canvas, the paint soaked in too much and the design didn't stand out enough. It was very difficult creating edges to outlines too. As you say, that also didn't answer using my old canvases, so in the end I went for this. Other people have done similar. I've seen ones where folks have used canvas paintings to cover the Whole of the bag, but I thought that was a little OTT and I settled for adding the canvas just one side.

Jane said...

Great idea An, it looks awesome !

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Jane :-)

Joan Tavolott said...

This looks like a great way to use canvas images and make something useful!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Yes, and when the bag wears out, you can put the painting onto a new bag too! :-)

Anonymous said...

Love it. Great idea.

Anonymous said...

Great choice like we all love that touch of class of sitting and enjoying that yummy taste. Good advert .

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Carolann :-)

Down by the sea said...

A great idea I like to see a lurcher one too! Sarah x

ann @ studiohyde said...

There's going to be very soon :-)

John (JWJarts) said...

What a great idea Ann .... and I can't wait to see the "William Bag". ;-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks John. The William bag is in the making :-)