DIY Heart Canvas

I won't lie, this isn't an entirely original piece of artwork.  I was inspired by a canvas I spotted, but when I read about it I discovered it was based on a place in Cornwall.  Having spent a few Summers in Cornwall I am fond of it, but don't feel enough of an attachment to want to hang a canvas dedicated to it on my wall. 

And so the idea struck to create a canvas about a place that really means something to me.  Some of you may know that Ed is originally from Norwich, so I spent a good 18 months travelling there every weekend.  Never before had a place stolen my heart, but I truly do love Norwich.  So I put into this canvas some landmarks (the cathedral, the city wall, the market place, Cow Tower and a lion from the town hall) and a few places that bring back warm memories (the pub Ed's mum worked at, The Range(!) and Norwich castle).

I'm by no means an artist, but I am incredibly proud of the way this simple piece of art turned out, and I love that I can now hang a on-off, sentimental canvas on our wall.  If you wanted to have a go yourself it really is ridiculously easy.  All you need is a blank canvas and a place that holds special memories in mind.  Decorate the edge of the heart like I have, with recognisable landmarks and fill any gaps with cutesy houses and buildings.  I drafted mine on paper first and planned to only have the canvas drawn in pencil, but drawing on a canvas turned out to be trickier than I first thought!  It's so easy to smudge, so you're best keeping the buildings simple, sketching the basic outline and then going over and embellishing it in pen after.  For reference, I used a black Berol handwriting pen that I 'borrowed' from work.

What do you think?  Will you be giving this a go?  I'd love to have a look if you do!