It all began with one piece of paper. Somewhat triangular in nature, the blocks of color divided the paper into three sections. It would seem to offer a bit of a challenge. Where would the photo go? I wanted the photo to cross at least one of the lines. I needed a way to anchor it in place. The blocked triangles made me want to look off the page. Something I didn’t want for this particular layout.

My first inclination was to add a block off to upper left of the paper. I wanted to house the photo on this block. However, the solid form didn’t feel right with the canvas. I put the paper away for awhile, not sure of how I would use it. Days later, I returned with an idea. Inspired by plaid patterns, I began cutting a piece of plaid paper apart. Plaid feels warm. It implies bundling up under a blanket or layers on a cool day. It was perfect for a photo of my husband and son curled up on our sofa with the family dog.

I cut the block into three triangles then placed them as though they were a sort of tab. As a whole, the three triangles formed to point back into the page. They still felt a bit like they were floating. I painted acrylic silk glaze to link the triangles together. The glaze has a slightly translucent quality which allows some of the canvas to show through. Yet it’s solid enough to make the three shapes into one solid piece. I used the canvas to clean my brush a bit, adding wisps of paint down towards the title.

After the paint dried, it was easy to layer items around the photo. The canvas seems to point left, while the triangle acts as a tab pointing right. The photo sits nestled upon the folded layers.

It’s easy to create this design yourself. You don’t have to have the same exact piece of patterned paper. Start your canvas with 2 or 3 solid colors of coordinating cardstock. Cut them at angles and place them to appear as though they are large triangles going off the page.

Solid colors will work fine for the smaller triangles. Consider using patterned paper. Use one pattern so that the shapes becomes one cohesive piece when you add the paint. I chose a plaid design with a mix of masculine and feminine colors. I placed the three triangles so that the pattern shifts. My goal was for the stripes to draw the eye to the photo. I added some of the colors from the embellishments to the title. This forms a visual triangle that encompasses the photo.