If you’ve ever looked at a door hanger with beautiful, intricately painted designs and thought, “There’s no way I could do that,” then today is the day you build the confidence to change your mind!

In this post, I’m going to show you three easy painting techniques that will have your friends asking, “Wait… you painted that?!” Even if you’re a beginner, these little tricks can make a big difference in your finished piece.

Let’s dive in!

Easy Painting Technique #1: Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is one of my favorite ways to add texture and dimension, especially if I’m going for a rustic look. It gives your background a soft, weathered look, like wood grain or fabric — which works perfectly for fall designs, too!

How it works:

• Use an older, well-worn chip brush (the more worn, the better)
• Dip the very tip into a small amount of paint — less is more here
• Test your brush strokes on a scrap surface first, then lightly streak the paint onto the background of your door hanger (push down a little harder if you want bolder accents!)
• You can even scrape along the edges for extra character!
  

That tiny bit of paint from the dry brush creates a cozy, textured feel with minimal effort.

Easy Painting Technique #2: Ombre Backgrounds

An ombre background looks impressive, but it’s surprisingly easy once you know how to do it. In one of our Painter’s Clubhouse tutorials, we created a gorgeous fall leaf background by blending yellow, orange, and brown to create the perfect ombre!

How it works:

• Start your ombre while your paint is still wet
• Overlap your colors gently, blurring the lines between each one
• Use long, back-and-forth strokes to soften the transitions
• Keep your brush slightly damp to help the colors move
• Don’t be afraid to add little streaks of other colors for depth — sometimes “messing it up” a little makes it look even better!
  

By layering and blending like this, you can achieve that smooth, professional look without any complicated tools or techniques.

Easy Painting Technique #3: Splatter Paint

If you want to add movement and personality to your background, splatter paint is the way to go. It can get a little messy, but it’s so much fun!

How it works:

• Lay down paper to protect your surface area from paint (and move any objects relatively close to you so that you don’t accidentally get paint on them!)
• Water down your paint so it’s thin and drippy
• Using a fan brush, tap the brush gently with your finger to create droplets
• The more watered down the paint, the easier it will splatter
• Bigger taps make bigger drops, and smaller taps create finer specks
  

It’s a simple way to give your piece extra flair without overthinking it, and it’s a great way to let your creativity shine!

Ready to Learn More Painting Techniques Like These?

The techniques I showed you today are all from previous tutorials inside the Painter’s Clubhouse. 

What’s the Painter’s Clubhouse, you ask? It’s our monthly painting membership where women just like you learn new skills, build confidence, and create beautiful door hangers! With step-by-step instruction, you can learn to paint too, even if you’re a complete beginner. 

There are also tons more tutorials like these inside the Clubhouse — it’s just one of the many perks of becoming a PC sister!

When you join, you’ll also get:

• Step-by-step painting lessons every month
• Access to a full tutorial library (even our past projects)
• Monthly projects with live instruction and access to the replay videos
• A supportive community of encouraging women

Whether you’re painting for fun, for stress relief, or to start a little side business, the Painter’s Clubhouse is here to help you grow your skills and confidence.

The doors are open right now, and we’d love to have you. Click here to join the Painter’s Clubhouse and start creating with us today!