Looking to pack your bags or just needing a wave of creative inspiration? We hear you! Inspired by the rounded architecture, clear blue seas and coastal feel, we’re looking at the Mediterranean style for a breath of fresh air and creative spark. From food, ceramics inspired by Rome to scenic Santorini art, let’s explore the Mediterranean.
Image: lilyandrosestudio
Stuck for ideas? This watercolour Santorini idea is a great place to start. Add details like flowers, shrubs and bushes to your buildings or add a Mediterranean style border like this to give your watercolours a picture pretty postcard feel. A sunrise or sunset can also give your coastal scenes a warm touch to them. Experiment with the skies too and see how they change the mood and direction of your artworks.
Image: fran_aniorte
Whether you’ve created a plate, cup, or bowl yourself, or you’re looking to add a creative touch to your home or dinnerware, try dipping into ceramic paints. Add a slice of Santorini by dipping into rich, dark blues with swirls and abstract lines or add floral motifs and star shaped designs with light blues and yellows. You can always sketch your designs first before picking up the paints and getting to it. Our Mont Marte ceramic paints will be up for the challenge, they can be used on porcelain, china and glass, so you can add some Mediterranean magic to your home, (just keep in mind these paints aren't food safe, so stick to decorative use).
Image: kali.artist.i
Have you tried gouache before? We love gouache because of its velvety matte finish, it’s quick drying time and it works well with water. If you find the Mediterranean style to be limiting in colours, focussing on the unique, bright colours of nearby flowers is a great way to add colour, plus it complements the shape of the rounded buildings too. If you’ve tried watercolours, it’s worth giving gouache a go as well.
Image: elisabeth.valentine.art
If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your coastal paintings, or just looking to add a nice focal point to your watercolours, try adding your beloved fur baby in your scenes. It adds interest to a staircase and it’s a good way to practice with shadows if you’re working with structures. Sadly, we can’t always take our beloved pets with us on holidays but with an idea like this, they can always be added to our holiday artworks.
Image: cassandranevin
We all know the Mediterranean has an abundance of yummy food. Take a slice of inspiration from Italian, Greek and Egyptian food -- or at least try some while you create your next artwork. A design like these lemons was inspired by Rome and it’ll look great on homewares like vases and bottles. Or try your hand at painting on a serving tray, dish, or bowl, next time you’re itching to reach for the paint brushes.
Image: themoonlotusart
Mediterranean art typically involves coastal seascapes and buildings by the sea, which if you’ve visited Greece, you’ll know the houses are white, mainly to keep the heat down. You can use this white space to your advantage with a watercolour artwork and use the white of the page as the white of your buildings. If you’re focusing on a particular area, masking fluid can also help to keep your areas white so you can focus on adding in the blue of the water or sky.
Image: naked_summers
Whether you try ceramics or you simply find inspiration from them, we reckon trying an abstract angle is always fun, especially if you’re stuck in a creative rut. Add swirls for waves, sun motifs, abstract faces or even take on Mediterranean delicacies like olives, fish or grapes in an abstract way.
Image: fairyfloss_design
If pottery or clay isn’t your cup of tea, you can still get inspired by Mediterranean style vases and pottery by painting them instead. Painting a watercolour is also a great way to enjoy these handmade works without getting your hands dirty. Stick to one colour palette like this idea or add in the small details on pots to add extra elements to your art.
Image: coconut_watercolour
Why not try your hand at creating a Mediterranean style tile design with watercolours. Whether you have a design in mind or just have fun splashing about, see what you come up with by dipping into dark blues and golden sand colours. Or keep it light and summery with pastel blues and creams.
Image: cathycornish_
The Mediterranean style can also look fabulous in a Lino print or etching too. Try creating Greece or Rome’s architectural features like stairs, arches and domes or add in vases, flowers and sun set scenery. If prints aren’t for you, but you love a matte finish, try this idea with gouache paints for a velvet look.
Looking for more ways to travel across the globe? Check out these cityscapes from around the world and transport yourself through art, or check out more of our projects here.
We hope that you feel inspired to create a Mediterranean style artwork for yourself #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook, we’d love to see what you create.
1. Postcard style
Stuck for ideas? This watercolour Santorini idea is a great place to start. Add details like flowers, shrubs and bushes to your buildings or add a Mediterranean style border like this to give your watercolours a picture pretty postcard feel. A sunrise or sunset can also give your coastal scenes a warm touch to them. Experiment with the skies too and see how they change the mood and direction of your artworks.
2. Capture the Mediterranean Sea with ceramics
Image: fran_aniorte
Whether you’ve created a plate, cup, or bowl yourself, or you’re looking to add a creative touch to your home or dinnerware, try dipping into ceramic paints. Add a slice of Santorini by dipping into rich, dark blues with swirls and abstract lines or add floral motifs and star shaped designs with light blues and yellows. You can always sketch your designs first before picking up the paints and getting to it. Our Mont Marte ceramic paints will be up for the challenge, they can be used on porcelain, china and glass, so you can add some Mediterranean magic to your home, (just keep in mind these paints aren't food safe, so stick to decorative use).
3. Greece in gouache
Image: kali.artist.i
Have you tried gouache before? We love gouache because of its velvety matte finish, it’s quick drying time and it works well with water. If you find the Mediterranean style to be limiting in colours, focussing on the unique, bright colours of nearby flowers is a great way to add colour, plus it complements the shape of the rounded buildings too. If you’ve tried watercolours, it’s worth giving gouache a go as well.
4. Try a coastal cat
Image: elisabeth.valentine.art
If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your coastal paintings, or just looking to add a nice focal point to your watercolours, try adding your beloved fur baby in your scenes. It adds interest to a staircase and it’s a good way to practice with shadows if you’re working with structures. Sadly, we can’t always take our beloved pets with us on holidays but with an idea like this, they can always be added to our holiday artworks.
5. Finding inspo in food
Image: cassandranevin
We all know the Mediterranean has an abundance of yummy food. Take a slice of inspiration from Italian, Greek and Egyptian food -- or at least try some while you create your next artwork. A design like these lemons was inspired by Rome and it’ll look great on homewares like vases and bottles. Or try your hand at painting on a serving tray, dish, or bowl, next time you’re itching to reach for the paint brushes.
6. Work in watercolours
Image: themoonlotusart
Mediterranean art typically involves coastal seascapes and buildings by the sea, which if you’ve visited Greece, you’ll know the houses are white, mainly to keep the heat down. You can use this white space to your advantage with a watercolour artwork and use the white of the page as the white of your buildings. If you’re focusing on a particular area, masking fluid can also help to keep your areas white so you can focus on adding in the blue of the water or sky.
7. Try an abstract angle
Whether you try ceramics or you simply find inspiration from them, we reckon trying an abstract angle is always fun, especially if you’re stuck in a creative rut. Add swirls for waves, sun motifs, abstract faces or even take on Mediterranean delicacies like olives, fish or grapes in an abstract way.
8. Painting vases and vessels
Image: fairyfloss_design
If pottery or clay isn’t your cup of tea, you can still get inspired by Mediterranean style vases and pottery by painting them instead. Painting a watercolour is also a great way to enjoy these handmade works without getting your hands dirty. Stick to one colour palette like this idea or add in the small details on pots to add extra elements to your art.
9. Try tiles in watercolour
Image: coconut_watercolour
Why not try your hand at creating a Mediterranean style tile design with watercolours. Whether you have a design in mind or just have fun splashing about, see what you come up with by dipping into dark blues and golden sand colours. Or keep it light and summery with pastel blues and creams.
10. Pretty in prints
Image: cathycornish_
The Mediterranean style can also look fabulous in a Lino print or etching too. Try creating Greece or Rome’s architectural features like stairs, arches and domes or add in vases, flowers and sun set scenery. If prints aren’t for you, but you love a matte finish, try this idea with gouache paints for a velvet look.
Looking for more ways to travel across the globe? Check out these cityscapes from around the world and transport yourself through art, or check out more of our projects here.
We hope that you feel inspired to create a Mediterranean style artwork for yourself #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook, we’d love to see what you create.
