How to Make Hanging Scroll Art (Painting or Calligraphy)

How to Make Hanging Scroll Art (For Painting or Calligraphy)

Let me show you how easy it is to make a hanging scroll from recycled materials. 

This elegant and simple painted floral scroll makes a great gift or gorgeous home decor. 

This great scroll-like technique works for any type of art--including the kids doodles and personal displays and has a Japanese vibe.

This hanging scroll is made using a knock-off Jenga game and recycling the wood game pieces. 

I love recycled crafting!

This is such a simple and beautiful way of displaying art!

My step mom gave us a series of Japanese hanging scrolls when we ran a martial arts practices Tae Kwon Do school (2002-2009). She lived in Japan for a while and they are landscape paintings and some calligraphic work.

Traditional Japanese scroll art hangings, known as "kakemono" or "kakejiku," are a classic form of Japanese decorative art from ancient times. These scroll paintings are typically displayed in Japanese homes, tea houses, temples, and other traditional settings. Kakemono often feature various elements of traditional Japanese ink painting techniques, such as sumi-e, which use black ink and water to create expressive brushstrokes on paper or silk.

The subject matter of kakemono can vary widely, ranging from Buddhist paintings, landscapes and nature scenes to calligraphy, poetry, and depictions of traditional stories, folklore or other parts of Japanese culture. The compositions are often minimalist, with an emphasis on balance, harmony, and simplicity.

Kakemono are usually mounted on silk or brocade fabric and attached to wooden dowels at the top and bottom, allowing them to be rolled up for storage or transport. They are then hung from a wall or ceiling using cords or hooks, often in alcoves to display the work of art.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, kakemono serve a practical purpose in Japanese interior design, providing a focal point for contemplation and meditation in spaces designed for relaxation and reflection. They are also often used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies as decorative elements to enhance the atmosphere of tranquility and harmony.

Overall, traditional Japanese scrolls are revered for their timeless beauty, cultural significance, and ability to evoke a sense of elegance and serenity in any space.

Asian art has always been the whole package for me from elementary school, middle school and high school. My grandparents had a set of 4 Japanese paintings that represented the four seasons and I loved them. That particular artwork has always been living rent-free in my mind for decades.

So--for illustration purposes, imagine your are in the best place with Japanese people in the Song dynasty and let's turn some art into a hanging scroll.

Supplies Needed for Hanging Scroll Art:

• Art (painting, calligraphy or child's doodle)
• 4 Recycled Wooden Strips of the same size--Old Jenga game, I'm looking at you!
• 8 inches of Bakers Twine
• Hot Glue/Gun
• Paper Cutter
• Wood Cutter (if necessary)

Step 1: Hanging Scroll Art

Begin by using the paper cutter to trim the paper slightly less wide than your wood strips. 

Or...use a power tool to cut some scrap wood strips into pieces a little wider than your desired art piece. Just a quarter of an inch difference is perfect.

*Hint: This was made with knock-off Jenga Game wood pieces--and is a cost-effective craft for kids to make to display their artwork or give as a fancy custom gift too!

This watercolor piece was a fun study I did while on vacation, sitting poolside while my kids swam. I love how it blends together with my daily life.

This technique can be done for any size of artwork, just cut the wood strips to the specification of the actual product and it will work great.

Step 2: Make it Hang

Next, hot glue about 7-8 inches of twine on both ends of the first wooden strip. 

Then add a stripe of hot glue to the wood, but not too close to the edge of the wood or it will seep out when pressed.

Step 3: Attaching the Art

Now place the watercolor floral painted art on the hot glue and press firmly.

This hanging scroll art technique works best for art that has plenty of negative space on the top and the bottom.

Just about 1/2 an inch of paper is covered by the wood strips at the top and the bottom of the scroll.

Then add more hot glue to the wood strip and the top edge of the art.

I totally love natural wood from the pine tree...but you can paint your woodblocks if you desire to.

Immediately place another wood piece on top and press firmly in place, sandwiching the artwork between the layers of wood.

This makes a permanent fixture for the art, although this can also be done with magnets and make it removable for future works of art.

Step 3: Attaching the Base

Repeat the same process to the bottom edge of the art by adding a stripe of hot glue to the backside of the bottom edge.

This gives the art a great hanging weight, so it doesn't curl, twist or bend. 

Just be sure the art paper used is strong enough...I'm just using watercolor paper...but wouldn't do this technique with something fragile like tracing or tissue paper.

Then place the paper on the wood piece so it's nice and even with the end of the paper. 

Finally, finish off the hanging scroll art piece with a little more hot glue on the wooden game piece and the paper before pressing the final wood piece on top. 

The hanging scroll weight is perfect for hanging on the fridge or with a command hook on the wall. 

This size of hanging scroll art is not heavy and great for the tiniest of works of art.

Such a fun alternative to a frame!

Super easy way to make a stunning presentation!

That's it!

Make a hanging scroll for special occasions, handmade gifts or just to brighten your personal space!

This is a fun and unique way to display art--great for showing a little extra love to a sketch or child's art.

I love the Eastern vibe it has and I am completely inspired to make more of these in the future--maybe with a more Japanese painting style!

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Check out this fun post on How to Make Japanese Paper Dolls with Origami Paper!

Learn how to make Japanese Paper Dolls with origami paper.

These adorable layered geisha girls are the perfect handmade gift tags, bookmarks or even wall art.

These are not origami (paper folding with no glue), but use the vibrant shades of origami paper to capture the traditional origami vibe...as a paper doll.