If you want to buy a large canvas at an art supply store it will cost you a pretty penny. If luck is on your side you just might find one for free, with something already painted on it.... that you don't mind covering up and making into something pretty. Example, this large canvas (or imitation canvas?) picture of Charlie Chaplin I found back in early summer.
The dimensions are something like 30 inches by 30 inches. At first I didn't know what I would do with it, but that doesn't usually stop me from saving something from the landfill if the possibility of creative re-use is in the air. Soon after acquiring Mr. Chaplin's image I learned that a friend had signed a lease on her very own studio apartment and wanted help decorating it. Perfect! I told her about the giant canvas and an idea to do some sort of abstract painting. She was open to the idea of creative re-use to make a custom piece, so I delivered the canvas, she painted it white to cover up the previous image, and then added shades of turquoise paint to resemble an ocean surface.
Her living area furniture (2 leather sofas inherited from a former roommate), wall paint,
and carpet are all in earthy shades of brown and beige so the bright
blue square contrasts and brings in a nice accent color. The blue painting also brings some interesting texture to an otherwise flat beige wall. The decorating continues, perhaps with more freestyle inputs.
Happy freestyling-- keep an eye out for free art supplies, someone will want them!