Clay, Color & Shine: Make This Western Sunset Wall Art from Scratch

Have you ever wondered how to transform simple materials like wood, paint, and clay into something truly gallery-worthy? In this project, Donna from Mason Creations etc. walks you through how to build a rustic sunset, western-themed art piece using air dry clay embellishments, blended Pentart paints, and satin-finished varnish for a professional shine.

This project is perfect for beginner to intermediate crafters who want to explore mixed media decoupage techniques. You'll start by watching the full video tutorial below, and then follow along step-by-step to make your own layered wall art masterpiece.

🎥 Watch the video tutorial below for full visuals.

Step 1: Prep and Paint Your Wooden Canvases

Start with two wooden trays or canvases. Sand both with medium-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Prime the smaller tray with Dixie Belle Cotton, a crisp white chalk paint, and let it dry. The larger tray is stained with a walnut-colored gel stain.

Once dry, blend your sunset sky using Pentart dark sand, yellow, summer peach, purple, and dark blue. Use a sponge for each color, and overlap to create a soft ombre gradient. Slightly dampening the sponges helps the colors blend. Don't forget to paint the sides and allow the boards to dry thoroughly.

Step 2: Add Stars and Seal

Create a starry sky by flicking watered-down white paint with a toothbrush over the upper board. Once it dries, apply Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish in Satin across the entire surface. Let dry an hour between coats. Lightly sand between layers to build a smooth, self-leveling finish. Apply with the Polyvine Varnish Brush to avoid brush marks.

Step 3: Mold and Shape Your Embellishments

Use Das air dry clay and press it into detailed silicone molds from our new Accent Mold Series, like the horse, boots, and succulents. After pressing and trimming excess clay, freeze the molds for 20 minutes to ensure clean removal without breakage.

Once removed, allow the pieces to thaw for a few minutes, then glue them onto the smaller tray using tacky glue while still damp. This lets you mold them around edges as needed. Wipe away any glue overflow with a damp brush.

Step 4: Paint and Highlight the Clay Details

Paint your clay pieces using Pentart and Dixie Belle paints. Use colors like Hazelnut, Mallow, Vintage Pink, Leaf Green, and French Gray to add dimension to the horse and succulents. Custom mix colors for realistic shading. Let everything dry fully before moving to the next step.

Apply another coat of Polyvine varnish over the entire piece to prepare for antiquing.

Step 5: Antique and Detail

Use an antiquing medium thinned with water and brush across the clay designs. Immediately wipe off the surface with a dry cloth, letting the antique stay in the crevices for a rich, aged look. This adds instant depth and texture.

Next, use soot-colored antiquing wax to add shadows and contrast along edges and under embellishments. A dry brush or your fingertip works best for applying this sparingly.

Step 6: Add Metallic Accents

Lightly brush foil transfer gel over key areas—like the peach and yellow sky or horse mane. Once tacky, press gold foil sheets onto the sticky spots, then lift to reveal beautiful metallic highlights. Add dimension with Firebird copper wax rub over the succulents and other focal points for a glowing finish.

Step 7: Finish and Frame

Tie a piece of rustic twine in the groove between the two canvases for a charming western touch. To protect your work, seal the final layer with another coat of Polyvine satin varnish. Let dry fully—and enjoy your art!

Donna from Mason Creations etc. has once again shared a stunning technique that blends painting and molding into a truly unique wall art piece. We’re grateful for her creativity and clear guidance. This project shows just how far your supplies—and imagination—can go.

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Happy crafting!