Make Mona Lisa Smile with DIY Style

A Goodwill-found Mona Lisa print gets a new look—or two—using some imagination and colorful paint pens.  This well-known masterpiece gets refreshed and reimagined to not only make her smile, but also all who see her new appearance.  

This is a simple and super fun DIY project that will have you looking at this old painting and others with new eyes.

Here’s how:

1.       Shop ‘til you drop at Goodwill

Actually, shopping ‘til you drop–at a Goodwill nonprofit retail store—— will actually pick you up!  You will see aisle after aisle of interesting and unusual items, all for low prices, certain to raise your spirits.  During a recent adventure there, I ran into a neighbor who was getting great deals on the items in his overflowing shopping cart.  Seeing him happy made me happy!  Later, I bumped into Mona Lisa, who was waiting for me amongst the other wall decorations.

If you’re looking to give the walls of your home, apartment, condo, or dorm room a fun look, Goodwill always has a wide array of framed prints, original art, mirrors, and more on hand. Not exactly what you want? Consider painting the frames or adding personal touches to reflect your style and taste. When I saw the Mona Lisa print, I knew she could easily be transformed with paint pens (my new favorite DIY tool!), so she joyfully came home with me.

2.       Make copies to expand your creativity & your DIY options

You might have the perfect image or idea of how to upcycle and dress up this sweet little lady.  As you consider options, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one.  You could follow my lead and remove Mona from her frame, then take her to a print shop to get copies made. 

I enlisted the great customer service at Global Print Masters, a small business near my home.  For a nominal cost, they made a handful of copies in no time at all.  Thanks to their caring, helpful team!

3.       What style will you give your gal?

How might you give Mona Lisa a new look?  I wanted to give her to model some other famous folks, so Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Monroe, the Queen of Hearts, and the Statue of Liberty topped my list.  Couldn’t you easily imagine her as Diana Ross, Cat Woman, Wonder Woman, Marie Antoinette, or even the Bride of Frankenstein?  

You might consider transforming Miss Mona so she resembles someone in your world, like your mother, sister, wife, and/or best friend.  Since you made copies of her, you have many ways to make her smile!  Who else might be on your list?

4.       Use your paint pens to give personality

Paint pens are an easy, mess-free way to give your painting so flair and fashion.  They go on smoothly and might require a layer or two to make the colors pop. As you think about enhancing Mona’s already timeless appeal, here are ideas and things to consider:

Frida Kahlo

·       Draw in her famous unibrow

·       Add bright flowers in her hair

·       Give her colorful clothes

·       Add leaves, butterflies and blooms to the background

Marilyn Monroe

·       Brush on her blond curls

·       Touch on her makeup, eyelashes, lips, cheeks

·       Dress her up in a feather boa, diamonds, of course

·       Light up the sky with search lights & the Hollywood sign

Statue of Liberty

·       Accessorize her head with points of light

·       Position a torch in her hand

·       Drape green folds as her robes

·       Build the NYC skyline behind her

Queen of Hearts

·       Embellish her clothing with royal flair

·       Style her hair with stripes and waves

·       Frame her like a playing card

·       Give her a Q and a heart, right side up and upside down

5.       Reframe, Display, Accessorize

Place your eye-catching, newly transformed Mona Lisa back in her frame and display her on a wall that deserves her unique style. Consider adding an attractive lamp, a tall vase, or a small shelf, all often available at Goodwill, too, at budget-friendly prices. 

The “real “Mona Lisa calls Paris’s Louvre Museum home.  She is one of its most popular attractions and is considered the most famous painting in the world.  Your creatively styled, unique Mona Lisa will become one of the most popular sights in your place, too!

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Tim Kime

Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach

Tim Kime is an artist, life coach, and connector. He is the President of Kime Leadership Associates, offering executive coaching, meeting facilitating, and motivational speaking. He is also the Chief Creative Force of Transformation Junkies which upcycles furniture and other household items into functional works of art. He combined his two passions—unleashing the potential in people and transforming items with the launch of the Art of Possibilities Workshops. These workshops are part upcycling, part dreaming, and part goal setting.