This oil painting hack is for when you want ⋆˙⟡ fine art vibes ⋆˙⟡ in your home — but on a budget.
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The Viral “Oil Painting” Hack
The Mod Podge print hack has been floating around the internet for years at this point, and I finally got around to trying it! The process is simple: print out your artwork, paint all over it with Mod Podge, let it dry, and boom: an oil painting dupe. What I quickly learned though is that as easy as it is, it’s equally as easy to screw up… The viral Instagram reels on the process often omit key tips that will either make or break this DIY. So these are my 3 tips to make sure this art hack turns out looking like a legit oil painting!
But First, A Note On AI and Downloading Artwork…
Etsy used to be my favourite place to buy my digital downloads. Prints are affordable, re-sizeable, available instantly, etc. But with Etsy being completely overrun and saturated with AI slop over the past year, I feel like nothing is safe. No one states if their downloadable “art” is AI or not, and I refuse to purchase anything that is machine generated off stolen art from real artists. I really care about where my money goes and what I’m supporting through it, and that is something I actively avoid.
So now, I only purchase digital downloads off Etsy if I’ve been given explicit answers in my DMs from sellers that they do not sell AI images, or if a painter that I know and admire sells their personal works as digital downloads. Otherwise, my favourite places to download art is off museum websites. Most art galleries and museums have an “open access” section on their website where you can download old paintings, legally, for free. This way, you know you’re getting something human made. Wikimedia Commons also has a decent collection of public domain artworks.
Comment down below your favourite websites for downloading artwork! I’d love to learn of more!
Tip #1. The Paper + Printer You Use Matters
If you don’t have a fancy laser printer at home, definitely get your art printed at a local print shop. The ink from standard home printers sits on the paper in such a way that, when you apply the Mod Podge, it lifts the colour out of the paper and tints the glue! It’ll make your print look blurry and smudged. Laser printers at professional print shops won’t react this way. The ink stays put.
The paper you choose matters just as much. Standard printer paper will ripple under the glue, but heavy cardstock totally resists rippling. I always ask for 100-lb matte cardstock.
Tip #2. The Mod Podge You Use Matters
Mod Podge comes in matte, satin, and gloss finishes. My preference is definitely the matte Mod Podge. The gloss finish in particular is so shiny that it’s hard to actually see your artwork from certain angles. (Like the glare that happens off glass in picture frames.) I find that the matte option still has a sheen that reflects light like a legit oil painting, but not so much that you can’t see the print under it anymore.
Tip #3. The Technique You Use Matters
A lot of people just slop a ton of glue on their print, stamp their brush every which way, and call it a day. This didn’t work for me. I couldn’t see the print under the glue when it was wet, so my brushstrokes didn’t match what was actually happening in the painting. Looked weird and unnatural.
Instead, I recommend analyzing the brush strokes in the painting and intentionally mimicking them. I’ve even gone as far as using a couple different sized brushes to make it look more believable. Work from one side to the other until you completely cover the print. Also, don’t be afraid to go back in for a second layer to emphasize certain details or make certain brushstrokes more pronounced!
Would you try this oil painting hack? Let me know in the comments!
