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How to Make a Ghost Painting (Easy Thrifted Art Trend)
Have you seen the latest ghost painting trend taking over social media? This fun DIY project is such a great way to give old paintings a completely new personality for spooky season. The idea is simple: find an old painting, add adorable little ghosts with acrylic paint, and transform it into one-of-a-kind Halloween decor.
The thrifted ghost painting trend has been showing up everywhere lately, from TikTok videos to Instagram and Pinterest. People are finding thrift store paintings and adding cute ghosts, spooky details, and Halloween elements to create something completely new. It is one of those amazing DIY projects that looks complicated and artistic, but the actual process is surprisingly easy.
For my ghost painting, I used a piece of art from my dad passed on to me from my childhood home. I believe my mom painted it during her adolescence...but it wasn't precious, special or even that interesting! Instead of letting this old artwork sit tucked away, I decided to give it new life as part of my Halloween decorations.
I added cute little whimsical ghosts using white acrylic paint, created an antique-looking dark wash with diluted brown paint, and finished the painting with soft gold details. The crowning touch was placing the entire painting inside a vintage gold ornate frame.
The finished piece is the perfect combination of sentimental artwork, spooky season style, and elegant home decor!
What Is the Thrifted Ghost Painting Trend?
The thrifted ghost painting trend is a viral trend that involves taking an old painting or thrifted art piece and adding painted ghosts to the existing scene.
Usually, people start with thrift store paintings featuring landscapes, forests, cottages, lakes, gardens, or other outdoor scenes. The original painting becomes the background for a collection of tiny ghosts.
Some people add a spooky ghost standing near a tree. Others paint an entire group of cute ghosts wandering through a landscape. You can add a black cat, a full moon, bats, pumpkins, or other spooky season details too.
The beauty of this project is that there is no single right way to do it.
A quick Google search will show you dozens of different versions of this latest trend. Some are silly and colorful, while others look dark and mysterious. Some artists paint large ghosts in the foreground, while others add tiny ghosts hidden throughout the entire painting.
That means you can make your ghost art as cute, spooky, simple, or detailed as you want.
Choosing the Right Painting
The first thing you need is an old painting.
You can search your own home for old artwork that you no longer display, or you can go hunting at your local thrift store. A garage sale, estate sale, antique store, or Facebook Marketplace can also be a great place to find an inexpensive painting.
Look for a painting with an interesting scene and plenty of room for your ghosts.
Landscapes are especially fun because you can place ghosts throughout the scene. A dark forest, open field, mountain scene, cottage, or garden can all work beautifully.
Don't worry too much about finding the perfect picture. Part of the fun is working with what you find.
You can also use an old print instead of an original painting. The right painting doesn't need to be expensive or valuable. In fact, an inexpensive painting is perfect for experimenting with this fun DIY project.
If you are worried about painting directly onto a sentimental piece, try making a practice version first. Pick up a cheap thrifted painting and give yourself a little bit of practice before working on something more meaningful.
Supplies Needed for Thrifted Ghost Painting:
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You only need a few basic supplies to make this easy DIY project:
- Old paintings or thrifted artwork
- White acrylic paint
- Black acrylic paint
- Brown acrylic paint
- Gray paint, optional
- Gold acrylic paint
- Small synthetic brush
- Fine detail paintbrush
- Water
- Paper plate
- Paper towels
- Vintage or ornate picture frame
A paper plate works perfectly as a simple artist's palette for mixing your paint colors.
I used acrylic craft paint for this project because it is inexpensive, easy to work with, and dries quickly. You don't need professional artist supplies or expensive paint to create this project.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making a Ghost Painting
Step 1: Choose Your Thrifted Painting
Start by selecting your thrifted painting or old artwork.
Take a good look at the composition before adding anything. Decide where you want your ghosts to go and how many you want to include.
You don't need to cover the entire painting. In fact, leaving the original artwork visible is what makes this project so charming.
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For my painting, I wanted the original scene to remain the star of the piece. The ghosts would become a fun addition rather than covering up all of the original details.
Think about where your ghosts would naturally fit into the landscape.
Could one be standing near a tree?
Could a few be floating across an open field?
Could one tiny ghost be hiding in the background?
This is a great time to plan your design before adding your first touch of paint.
Step 2: Paint the Ghost Shape
The next step is painting the ghosts.
This is the easy way to create them: start with a rounded shape for the head and bring the sides downward to create the body.
The bottom of the ghost can be wavy, scalloped, or slightly pointed. There is no need to make the simple shapes perfectly symmetrical.
In fact, slightly imperfect ghosts are often the cutest.
Use white paint or white acrylic paint to create the basic ghost shape.
You can make each ghost a different size. Larger ghosts can sit in the foreground while smaller ghosts appear farther away.
If the first layer does not provide full coverage, let it dry and add another layer of white paint.
The goal is to make the ghosts stand out against the original background paint while still looking like they belong in the painting.
You can also vary the opacity of the paint. A ghost with a thinner layer of paint can have a soft, wispy effect, while a thicker layer creates a brighter, more solid appearance.
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Step 3: Add the Ghost's Outline
Once the white paint has dried, you can add a subtle ghost's outline if you want a little more definition.
I recommend using diluted gray paint or a very small amount of black paint for this step.
You do not need to completely outline every ghost. Instead, add a little shadow along one side or underneath the bottom of the ghost.
A light gray paint shadow can help the ghost shape stand out from the background without making it look too harsh.
Use a small synthetic brush and work slowly.
This may take a bit of practice, but remember that you can always add another touch of paint or paint over a mistake after it dries.
There really is no wrong way to make your ghosts.
Step 4: Paint the Ghost Eyes
Now it is time to give your ghosts some personality.
Use black acrylic paint and a tiny detail brush to create the ghost eyes.
The eyes can be small dots, tiny ovals, or slightly larger shapes for a more dramatic expression.
For cute ghosts, I like keeping the eyes small and simple.
For a more spooky touch, you can make the eyes larger or add tiny open mouths.
The ghosts don't all have to look the same. Give each one its own little personality.
This is one of the best parts of the project!
You can create a whole family of ghosts, with each one having a slightly different expression.
Step 5: Create an Antique Dark Wash
After the ghost art was completely dry, I wanted to give the entire painting a more aged appearance.
I diluted some brown paint with a little water to create a thin dark wash.
The key is to use more water than paint. You want the mixture to be translucent instead of opaque.
Brush the diluted brown paint lightly across portions of the entire painting.
Keep paper towels nearby so you can quickly blot away excess paint.
This creates an antiqued appearance and helps unify the old artwork with the newly painted ghosts.
The dark wash can settle into brushstrokes and textured areas, giving the painting more depth and age.
If you add too much, simply wipe some away with a paper towel while the paint is still wet.
Work slowly and build up the effect.
A little goes a long way.
Step 6: Add Gold Details
Once the brown wash was dry, I diluted some gold paint with water.
I brushed the diluted gold around the edges of the painting and added a little to the ground area of the scene.
This gave the artwork a subtle glow and added extra details without overwhelming the original painting.
The gold paint was not meant to create solid metallic coverage.
Instead, I wanted a soft, aged shimmer.
Diluting the paint helps create that delicate wispy effect.
You can add gold to tree branches, the ground, the sky, or around the edges of the painting.
This is a fun way to experiment with different paint colors and create a little Halloween magic.
The gold also works beautifully with fall colors and gives the painting an elegant finish.
Step 7: Let the Entire Painting Dry
The last step before framing is to let everything dry completely.
Make sure the white acrylic paint, black paint, brown wash, and gold details are completely dry before handling the artwork.
This is also a good time to step back and look at the perfect picture as a whole.
Do you want to add more ghosts?
Does one ghost need more white paint for full coverage?
Would a little gray paint add more depth?
Do you want a tiny black cat somewhere in the scene?
This is your chance to add any extra details.
The beauty of this project is that you can continue building on it until you love the finished result.
Step 8: Add a Vintage Ornate Frame
For me, the frame was the finishing touch that completely elevated this project.
I placed the painting inside a vintage gold ornate frame, and suddenly the whole piece felt like chic indoor Halloween decor.
The ornate frame adds a little drama and makes the ghosts feel like they belong in an old haunted mansion.
You can search a local thrift store, antique shop, garage sale, or Facebook Marketplace for a beautiful frame.
If you already have a frame that you love, this project can be completed with no extra cost.
If you don't, finding the perfect frame can become part of the adventure.
A good quality frame can completely change the appearance of a thrifted art piece.
The contrast between elegant vintage decor and cute little whimsical ghosts is what makes this latest ghost painting trend so much fun.
Tips for Creating Cute Ghosts
You do not need to be an experienced painter to make this simple ghost craft.
The ghosts are made from very simple shapes, which makes this a great project for beginners.
Here are a few tips:
- Make some ghosts larger and some smaller to create depth.
- Use white acrylic paint with good coverage.
- Add a second coat if needed.
- Use a small amount of gray paint for shadows.
- Keep ghost eyes simple.
- Try different ghost shapes.
- Don't make every ghost identical.
- Allow the original artwork to remain visible.
- Add extra details only if they improve the scene.
- If you make a mistake, let the paint dry and paint over it using colors that match the original background.
Even an experienced painter makes mistakes sometimes, so don't let the fear of doing something the wrong way stop you from trying.
This project is supposed to be fun!
More Ghost Painting Ideas
Once you make one ghost painting, you may want to make several more.
Try these ideas for your next project:
- Paint ghosts under a full moon.
- Add a black cat sitting in the grass.
- Paint tiny ghosts floating through a forest.
- Create ghosts in a vintage ocean painting.
- Add a blue hue to the sky for a nighttime effect.
- Use old paintings featuring cottages or houses.
- Add bats to the sky.
- Paint a spooky ghost near a garden gate.
- Add fall colors around the edges.
- Create a group of cute ghosts in different sizes.
- Use your own paintings as a starting point.
- Turn a thrifted painting into a collection of Halloween decorations.
The possibilities are endless.
A quick Google search for ghost painting inspiration can help you find even more ideas, but the best projects are the ones where you add your own personality.
Why I Love This Thrifted Art Trend
There are so many reasons I love this project.
- It is an easy DIY project that does not require complicated tools or expensive materials.
- It gives old paintings and thrifted artwork new life.
- It is a great way to create completely unique Halloween decorations.
- It can be done with simple craft paint and a few basic supplies.
And, most importantly, every finished painting is different.
Unlike mass-produced decorations, your ghost painting will be completely your own.
You can spend a little extra time adding intricate details, or keep the whole thing simple for a quick afternoon project.
The latest trend may have started on social media, but I think the idea has staying power because it is so easy to personalize.
Some people have even turned these types of projects into a small commission business, painting ghosts onto thrifted art for customers.
There are so many possibilities!
If you enjoy watching video tutorial content, you have probably already seen TikTok videos or Instagram reels showing artists transforming old artwork into spooky Halloween masterpieces. Many creators add a bit of text overlay explaining each step, and some even use a CapCut template to turn the process into a quick before-and-after video.
Whether you share your project on Facebook, Instagram, or keep it as your own handmade decoration, this project is definitely worth trying.
The Finished Ghost Painting
I absolutely love how my finished painting turned out.
What started as a piece of art from my childhood home now has a completely new purpose.
I can still appreciate the original landscape and imagine my mom painting it all those years ago. Instead of covering it up, I added a few cute ghosts and gave it a seasonal makeover.
The antique dark wash softened the colors and made the entire painting feel older and moodier.
The diluted gold paint added just the right amount of shimmer.
And the vintage ornate frame was the perfect finishing touch.
That's it!
It is now one of my favorite pieces of Halloween home decor.
If you have been thinking about trying the thrifted ghost painting trend, this is the perfect time.
Find an old painting, grab some acrylic paint, and give it a spooky new personality.
This fun DIY project is proof that old artwork does not have to stay exactly as it was forever. With a little creativity, a touch of paint, and a few cute ghosts, you can create something completely new.
That is the beauty of this project.
Whether you find an inexpensive painting at a thrift store, discover a hidden treasure at a garage sale, or use a sentimental piece of art from your own home, you can transform it into something special.
Give an old painting new life, add a few ghosts, and create Halloween decor that is spooky, stylish, whimsical, and completely unique.
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