canvas painting tips for beginners

What Is Diamond Painting? A Beginner's Guide to the Latest Quarantine Craft Trend

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While sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been picking up some pretty interesting hobbies and skills, from baking bread and pondering over puzzles to creating TikToks and taking up painting. Now, diamond painting, the latest hobby sweeping the arts and crafts world, is also helping to stave off the quarantine boredom. Not only does the activity keep kids busy, but, like journaling or painting, it can provide adults with a calming escape too. Best of all, with each easy-to-use kit, you're able to create incredible, vibrant diamond-mosaic masterpieces.

What Is Diamond Painting?

Diamond painting has been called a combination of cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers. The art form was created in 2015 by a company based in China called Guangdong Dazu Yueming Laser Technology Co., Ltd. Though the trend originated in China, diamond painting has now become popular throughout Europe. Not to mention, it's picking up steam in the United States too.

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Designed to be easier and faster than cross-stitch, diamond painting truly has proved therapeutic for those who try it out. How so? It doesn't involve any actual paint. Instead, diamond painters place diamond-shaped gems on a specialized canvas. With these gems, which are also called diamond drills, and a special pen, users fill in the grid pattern, giving the original picture a 3-D look.

How Do You Use a Diamond Painting Kit?

Diamond painting kits are really simple to use. Budding creatives receive a DMC (data matrix code) adhesive canvas, which allows the diamonds to stick easily. Much like cross-stitch, the grid pattern of the canvas contains a symbol, letter, or number assigned to a specific DMC color. Users also receive a color chart so that they know which color diamond corresponds to each DMC code.

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Thanks to the built-in adhesive, you don't need to worry about glue either. Thankfully, all kits come with the right amount of diamonds to finish the mosaic painting, so you won't need to spend money on add-ons. After you're finished with the painting, you can place some heavy books on top of it to secure the diamonds in place. After that, all the finished painting needs is a frame!

What Are Some Diamond Painting Techniques?

Diamond painting involves several different techniques and approaches. The "checkerboard" technique requires you to think of the alternating black and white squares on a traditional checkerboard: With this method, you simply apply that same idea to how you work on large areas of the painting that are made with the same color. You place a diamond down on one space, skip the next, place one, and then skip the next. Trust us — filling in the gaps can be really satisfying later.

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Another method is simply working your way up the board. To perfect this method, you should start with the diamonds that have the smallest quantity first and then finish with the color you have the most of. The "one at a time" technique allows you to work your way through the canvas by focusing on one color at a time. Finally, the "farm plot" method divides up large blocks of the same color into little areas, making it perfect for bite-sized diamond painting sessions.

The Perfect Organizer to Hold Your Supplies

Because a diamond painting kit has so many little gems and supplies to keep track of, having a great supply box will help you keep everything organized. The INFELING Diamond Painting Accessories Kit offers plenty of storage for painting gems thanks to its 28 grids. Additionally, the kit comes with four types of sticky pens for your diamonds; a transparent tool bag; a pair of plastic point tweezers; and three plastic trays for holding your gems while you work.

Photo Courtesy: INFELING/Amazon

Keep Cozy This Winter with This Special Diamond Painting Set

With the holidays right around the corner, you can purchase this special wintry diamond kit from Bliss Extra. This HD canvas features a cute little snowman decked out in a hat and scarf. Families can work on this one together either before or after Christmas. Best of all, this finished painting will make for a great seasonal decoration.

Photo Courtesy: Bliss Extra/Amazon

A Diamond Painting Kit That Will Make the Kids Smile

Diamond painting is an easy and fun craft for kids as well. They will enjoy creating this Maydear Small and Easy DIY Happy Cat 5D Diamond Painting Kit for a fun project. In addition to entertaining kids, this kit will help kids cultivate practical skills and patience. As an added bonus, this kit also comes with a white frame, making it a must-have art piece for your kid's bedroom.

Photo Courtesy: Maydear/Amazon

The Large 5D Set For Diamond Painting Experts

For those who consider themselves to be experts in diamond painting, this kit is a bit more of a challenge. In fact, the Large 5D Pumpkin Farm Diamond Painting Kit from TOCARE creates a huge painting that measures roughly 16x20 inches. Showcasing a pumpkin farm and other autumnal touches, this one is great for cottagecore lovers. It will certainly take longer than kits aimed at newbies, but the end result is well worth it.