Like any other hobby, painting is also a very fascinating one. And you may be intrigued to know that there are some forms of painting as well. One such kind is diamond painting. It is a new type of DIY activity that is appropriate for people of all ages. Although, you might not have ever heard this term before and might question, “what is a diamond painting?” Well, let’s find out.
Diamond painting is a fun and addicting pastime that has swept the craft world. You can attach vibrantly colored resin rhinestones to a self-adhesive canvas to create a glittering masterpiece just by using a diamond art kit. The design is printed on the canvas, along with symbols that show you which color to use in each location.
This new form of art has become quite popular among amateurs and professionals as well. This is because it does not require any special skills of any sort to make diamond artwork. However, there is more to this form of painting, starting from the popular techniques of diamond painting to some secret tips and tricks. This article will cover all about it and talk about the materials inside a diamond art kit and what you need to get started with diamond painting.
What Do You Need To Start Diamond Painting?
To start with diamond painting, the most essential thing that you will require is a diamond painting kit. It comes with everything you need to diamond paint, such as an art pen, storage bags, and many more. The most basic thing you will need is diamond drills which are crafted from high-grade art resin.
Each drill’s bottom side is flat, allowing it to paint itself into place securely. Moreover, a complimentary comfort grip is also provided with the diamond pen. You can pick up the diamond drills with a pen and paint them onto the matching sign with various tips. To use the diamond pen to pick up a diamond drill, push one of the pen’s points into the fresh pen wax. That is adhesive enough to keep the diamond in place while you lay it on the canvas.
Each new kit also comes with a white tray to store and separate drills while you paint. When you gently shake the tray, tiny ridges on the bottom help turn diamond drills over and guide them into handy rows. Painting becomes easier and faster as a result of this. You can pour extra diamond drills into a fresh storage bag or container using the funnel at the end of the tray.
There are also other tools available for diamond painters, such as storage containers, multi-placers, and many more. Each is used in order to make this new activity more accessible and enjoyable. Multi-placers, for example, can use multiple diamond drills at the same time!This lets you swiftly paint huge regions of a certain color while maintaining a straight line with your drills.
Diamond Painting Popular Techniques
After putting hundreds of drills onto the canvas, it might bore you and you may want to change things up. There are a variety of diamond painting techniques and strategies that have been discovered just for a case like this. Anybody can use this to make the most out of their painting experience. Below is the list of some of these very captivating techniques.
- The Checkerboard Technique
You can consider a conventional checkerboard with alternating black and white squares. To vary things up a bit in places with a lot of the same hue, you can use the same approach with your diamond painting.
When you start filling in the gaps, it’s really satisfying and rewarding to see everything start falling into place.
- Row By Row Method
This method requires you to flip your pen upside-down and start working with your multi-placer tool if you have a huge block of the same color on your canvas.
Apply 3 or 5 diamonds at a time using the broader head, working swiftly row by row. This approach guarantees that the alignments of your diamonds are perfect.
- Color By Color Method
This method is very simple and does not need any elaborate explanation. You can simply work your way across the canvas one color at a time.
The disadvantage with this one is that with time, the exposed portions may become less sticky. On the other hand, filling up all of the blank places is far more rewarding than going with the row by row method.
- Farm Plot Method
To understand this method, put yourself in the farmer’s shoes and split big blocks of the same hue into small “plots” that you will “harvest” one at a time!
This metaphor, however, could be a little far-fetched. You just need to remember to keep each rectangle just broad enough so that you can use the wide end of your diamond pen to put three or five diamonds.
There are other modern techniques for diamond painting that you may have never heard of. With the advancing world, everything becomes much easier and simpler. Thus, even the simple techniques of diamond painting can be further broken down into a totally uncomplicated process.
Why Should You Try A Diamond Painting Kit?
Diamond painting has kindled your interest, but are you unsure if it’s the appropriate skill for you? Don’t be concerned! There are several compelling reasons why millions of diamond art enthusiasts recommend it. It’s very satisfying to turn small diamonds into a bright, three-dimensional masterpiece. In addition, this activity is simple enough for anybody to grasp.
Even people who struggle with other arts and crafts may complete a piece with minimal effort. Diamond art is a relatively new pastime that is suitable for both beginners and seasoned craftsmen. It is also suitable for people of all ages. Everyone may put their creativity into creating a gleaming piece of diamond art, from little toddlers to elderly individuals.
This procedure is simple to master, and there is typically no mess to clean up afterward. The diamond painting is described as soothing and tranquil by its creators. In fact, most people claim it relieves stress better than any other hobby. Placing the diamonds one by one is incredibly relaxing, and many people find it to be meditative. The hours fly quickly when you are focusing on the task at hand.
Thus, you need not be shocked if the hour you put aside to concentrate on your latest masterpiece turns into an all-nighter! Diamond art might be the answer you’ve been seeking if your attempts at creating leave you feeling more irritated than satisfied. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, it’s a great way to decompress while making gorgeous artwork you will be more than happy to exhibit.
What’s Included In A Diamond Art Club Kit?
Each Diamond Art Club Kit includes everything you will need to finish a diamond painting. In addition, the diamond art supplies that come with the kits are of the finest quality. For crafters of all ages and skill levels, those products are designed to make painting with diamonds simple, joyful, and frustration-free. The materials inside the kit include the following items.
Bright, Premium-Quality Canvas
The canvases in the kit are buttery smooth, and instead of the double-sided sticky tape utilized by many of the other competitors, the kits use high-quality poured glue. This is what makes them different. The use of a high-tech poured glue adhesive improves adherence and guarantees that the diamonds do not slip off the canvas.
These canvases are also intended to resist wrinkling and fraying. It is constructed of heavy-duty, waterproof tarpaulin cloth with a velvet backing for added strength and stability. Each canvas has a surface treatment that makes it smooth to the touch and enables high-quality printing.
The edges are serged, which is what helps prevent fraying and guarantees self-flattening in minutes. It’s sometimes simpler to work with an LED light pad, especially in darker creative spaces. The light shines through the canvas, making it easier to see where the drills should be placed.
Vivid, Extra-Reflective Resin Diamonds
The diamonds used in diamond art, also known as drills, are not all made equal. There are a few different varieties available, and the construction can be of resin or inexpensive acrylic. All of the drills in this kit are manufactured from high-quality 100% resin for excellent color and durability, ensuring that they will not shatter or fracture.
Instead of the industry standard 13 facets, this kit uses 26 facets in the round drills. This means they glitter twice as much and reflect twice as much as acrylic gems available in other kits. The square drills are made to fit snugly and tightly, providing you the finest “snap” while you work on your mosaic.
Applicator Tool, Tray, And Wax
Nothing is more frustrating than choosing to attempt a new pastime only to discover you lack the necessary supplies. That is why every Diamond Art Club package comes with an applicator tool or diamond painting pen, a comfort grip, a tray, wax, and additional baggies.
All of the square diamond kits come with a pair of tweezers. This assists you with placing the drills. Thus, you will have everything you need to make your first masterpiece as soon as you open the package.
Simple Instructions And A Color-Coded Chart
Diamond art painting should be a simple and accessible pastime for crafters of all skill levels. This is why each kit includes simple instructions and a color-coded chart to help you visualize where each color should extend the canvas.It also comes with pre-labeled and pre-cut inventory labels to help you stay organized.
All you need to do is simply select the artwork you like when placing your order. The designers will charter it to the best canvas size and diamond shape feasible, ensuring that the diamond painting closely resembles the artist’s original artwork. You will then get a package with all of the supplies that you will need to create your next masterpiece right at your door after they have received your order.
The Difference Between Round And Square Diamonds
When looking through the diamond art kits, you will note that some come with round diamonds and some come with square diamonds. Both are of high quality, so which one you should select is purely a matter of personal choice.
Round diamonds or round drills are easier and faster to finish in kits. Round drills from Diamond Art Club have 26 facets for twice the brilliance. They’re ideal for novices because there is no need to bother about aligning each diamond correctly. One thing to keep in mind with round diamonds is that the colors of the canvas will show through between the gems on the completed item.
Many of our artists prefer this appearance, but you should keep this in mind when choosing a diamond shape. If you want to go for a look with a portrayal that only shows the drills, then round drills are probably not a good idea for you. Moreover, even though this look is aesthetic as well, the canvas showing through might not always look good when you display it on the wall.
Square diamonds, also known as square drills, take a little longer to put and require particular attention to ensure that each one is straight. An entire row might be thrown off by a single misaligned square diamond! This is why each of Diamond Art Club’s square kits includes a set of tweezers.
When they are put in the proper position, they fit edge-to-edge and make a gratifying “snap” sound when you are almost done and only need to fill in gaps. Square diamond artwork provides a full mosaic effect since no canvas comes through on finished works. Unlike a diamond painting with round drills, this looks good almost all the time when displayed.
Sometimes the kits even include a different kind of diamond. These are known as the premium Aurora Borealis, or AB, diamonds. In fact, you can find them in most of the packages. The hues of the Northern Lights are replicated by a unique coating on these iridescent diamonds.
They are even more glistening, ethereal, and lovely than the regular square or round diamonds, and they’re included as accents in most Diamond Art Club packages. The AB diamonds give the completed painting a dazzling appearance. You have to see this in person to fully appreciate this magnificent artwork.
Diamond Painting Tips and Tricks
There are numerous things you can do to take your initial diamond painting to the next level and accomplish tasks faster once you have mastered the fundamental methods and become a diamond painter. Down below are a few ideas to help you start with the basics of diamond painting.
Arrange And Review
You need to arrange all of your supplies on a level surface where they will be easily accessible. Once done, choose a specific part of the painting you wish to work on first.
Examine the canvas’s color-coded chart. This will aid you to determine the colors you will need for that region you have chosen.
Deposit Pack Of Diamonds
Next, you need to place the diamond pack in the supplied tray with care. Shake the tray back and forth gently afterward.
This causes the diamonds to settle with their flat sides facing down. You will notice that it also makes picking the diamonds up with the applicator much simpler.
Remove The Plastic Film
Remove the plastic film off the region of the canvas where you will be working one step at a time. To preserve the pattern from dust, you need to cover the remainder of the canvas.
Alternatively, you may remove the plastic film altogether and use parchment paper to cover the portions of the canvas you are not working on.
Create Sections And Apply Diamonds
Some diamond painters like to divide their canvas into sections to produce straighter lines and rows, as well as boxes for specific portions to work on at specific periods. If you want to do the same, you can simply use washi tape to divide sections of the canvas into square grids.
After sectioning, start at the lowest corner of the pattern and work your way up the canvas using diamonds. You can use a multi-placer tool to apply many drills at once on bigger portions of the same color.
Put Plastic Film Back On
Place the plastic sheet again on top of the domains after the painting is over. Then, softly and carefully press the canvas with a book or rolling pin. This helps to keep the gems in place.
After each session, wrap the wax on the applicator in cellophane. You will also need to remove the film from your work in progress so that it does not create any hindrance.
Trust The Process
You need to have faith in the process. During your work in progress, you might feel like the painting is not looking good and might turn out horrid. This will make you feel like quitting. One word: Don’t!
Continue with the process even if your design doesn’t appear exactly perfect. When you are halfway through a project, it might be tough to visualize what the completed product will look like. Keep going on and it will surprise you to see how well it works out.
Remove Canvas Creases By Applying Weight
Apply weight to your canvas for a lengthy period of time if it has wrinkles, folds, or other flaws. To smooth things out, place the canvas underneath your mattress. Try ironing out any creases and wrinkles in the canvas with your body weight overnight. You can apply weight in the form of heavy books to the canvas as well.
Just simply apply weight in the form of heavy books to the canvas for a day or two. Another way is to cut out creases with a crafting knife. If persistent creases remain, run over them lightly with a knife to remove any trapped air between the canvas and its adhesive layer.
Embrace Mishaps
It is when you see your diamonds dropping to the ground in slow motion or the terrifying sensation you get when your pet wanders over your artwork. These moments are more or less unavoidable in diamond painting, as they occur all the time. But don’t worry. Every mistake can be fixed, and so can this one.
If your canvas has paper, fur, or dirt stuck on it, you can use a baby wipe and scrub it on the painting aggressively to clean the area. The garbage will clump together and roll away. Wait for the area to dry before continuing to add diamonds.
Mishaps such as diamond spills and mixups can also be mended. To suck up a spill, you need to cover your vacuum nozzle with a t-shirt. After that, you can choose to manually sort the disaster.
Difference Between Full Drill And Partial Drill Canvases
Drills are the resin beads needed to finish diamond artworks, as previously stated. When looking for drill kits, keep in mind that some come with entire drill canvases and others just have half drill canvases.
When done, you will see that whole drill canvases are entirely covered in diamonds. On the other hand, half-drilled canvases are just partially covered in diamonds. Partially drilled images are intended to draw attention to certain areas of the image, whilst fully drilled images produce a mosaic appearance.
Beginners will benefit from partial drills because they take less time to complete. It is a matter of personal preference when it comes to which sort of canvas is preferable. As a novice in diamond art, it is recommended that you try both varieties to discover which one you like. Once you have a preference, you can keep choosing that canvas for all your future work.
Frame Your Finished Masterpiece
It’s time to show off your work once you’ve finished it. When it comes to exhibiting your final diamond painting, the options are many, from professional frames to DIY foam board displays. You’ll want to pick an alternative that fits your budget and timeline restrictions. One of the most effective ways to do so is to frame it. Framing diamond artwork is simple and adds the last touch to your masterpiece.
You can frame diamond artwork in a variety of ways. Using a regular store-bought frame with the glass removed is the simplest option. You may also use stretcher bars to frame your artwork, or you can connect it to an art canvas or have it professionally framed. Below is more detailed information on the methods of how you can display the painting.
- Apply Stretcher Bars To Canvas
This is easy to do and you save all the trouble by doing it yourself. Grab a set of Stretcher Bars for a more do-it-yourself approach to installation.
A stretcher bar is used to make a wooden stretcher that artists use to hang their paintings. Traditionally, they are wooden frameworks on which an artist attaches a piece of canvas. The directions are simple to follow, and the end product is a lovely show with depth.
- Mount Painting To A Foam Board
This method involves some measuring and cutting. You can find a foam board at your local craft store or on certain online websites.
Later on, cut the foam board to the same size as your canvas with box cutters. This is to produce a flat and borderless painting. You may notice that it does not include the canvas border.
- Use Magnetic Hanger Bars
This approach requires very little work and takes only a few minutes to complete. You simply need to cut a couple of magnetic hanger bars to the precise size of the diamond painting.
These hanger bars prevent the canvases from falling out. Once done, press them to the top of your diamond painting. However, framing is the finest method of preparing your work for display in your home or office, regardless of which choice you have picked. When giving a completed piece of diamond art as a gift, adding a lovely frame is also ideal!
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has now answered your question of “what is diamond painting?” Quite impressively, it has never been so much fun to pay attention to detail! The first step is to choose a diamond painting kit that piques your curiosity. You will find convenient diamond painting kits to suit your needs, whether you want to start small or go big.
All you will need to start this very interesting hobby is to get the diamond painting kit and learn the proper instructions. You need to find your preferable canvases and the shape of diamonds. If your confusion about where to begin still exists, you can take help from a diamond painter who has the experience. Thanks for reading the full article. I hope you have learned all the techniques necessary for you to get started on diamond painting.
