Large​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Diamond Painting: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Have you ever been at someone's house, noticed an absolutely beautiful piece of sparkling art on the wall and thought to yourself, "I wonder how they made that?" Well, there is a good chance that you were looking at a diamond painting. This artistic pastime has been embraced by millions of people worldwide, and there are very good reasons for it.

Besides being fun and relaxing, creating a diamond painting is a form of getting a double reward - the physical art creation itself and the joy which comes from the process. However, when it comes to large diamond painting kits, beginners are usually so scared and confused that they do not even try the first time.

Relax.

This guide will teach you step by step in plain and clear terms what you must do in order to confidently order your first diamond painting kit and by the way, you will be so enthusiastic about the whole process that you will be smiling ‌‍​‍‌throughout.

What​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Is Diamond Painting — And Why Is It So Popular?

In a diamond painting, you work with pretty, tiny resin "diamonds" (drills) that shine and sparkle, which you place piece by piece on a sticky pre-printed canvas, thus making a colorful mosaic artwork. One could say it's somehow a cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers hybrid. When it ends, the canvas becomes a precious piece of wall art that dazzles your eyes.

Diamond painting has been the fastest growing trend in the hobby/craft industry constantly making waves since 2018.

Apart from being a fun and relaxing activity, diamond painting kits are also a great gift idea. Kits are often especially successful among those who want to create beautiful and meaningful gifts.

Big diamond painting kits — e.g. the ones with the dimensions 40x50 cm (16x20 inches) or larger — are aimed at those who desire more details, more sparkle, and a more stunning final product. Even though they might take a little longer to complete, the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a big canvas is so great that most lovers can hardly resist ​‍​‌‍​‍‌it.

What's​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Included in a Large Diamond Painting Kit?

Before opening your first kit, it is good to identify what tools will be available to you in the box. Most big diamond painting kits of high quality are equipped with all the essentials for starting the project.

The Must-Have Items That You Can Expect to See Inside

• Adhesive canvas with pre-printed design — This is the canvas on which you will work. The coded pattern is printed on a sticky surface, topped with a peelable plastic film.

• Resin diamond drills — These are packed in small bags with labels corresponding to color codes (DMC numbers). Both round drills and square drills are widely available.

• Diamond pick-up pen — It is the main tool for picking up diamonds and placing them on the canvas.

• Wax pad — The small wax square is given to keep the pen tip sticky so it can grasp diamonds properly.

• Diamond sorting tray — A tray with grooves is issued for spreading diamonds, making it easier to grab them.

Here is a nice little hint for you: Many advanced crafters prefer to use square drills as these fit closer to each other and result in a more complete and elegant appearance. Although, beginners are suggested to go for round drills because these are simpler and quicker to ​‍​‌‍​‍‌place.

Starting​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Your Large Diamond Painting Project — A Guide

After receiving your kit and setting up your work area, doing your diamond painting doesn't require much, really only a handful of steps To get started, simply follow these steps:

Step 1 — Prepare Your Work Area

You should choose a clean, well-lit, flat surface. When working with very small diamonds and coded symbols, it is considered essential to have good lighting. Experienced painters use a light pad (sold separately) which is placed underneath the canvas to make the symbols easier to see.

Step 2 — Peel Back the Protective Film Gradually

One should only peel back a tiny bit of the protective film at a time — ideally, just a few inches. This stops the sticky surface from picking up dust and losing its adhesiveness before the diamonds are arranged.

Step 3 — Pour, Select, and Position

Pour a small quantity of diamonds into the sorter, then shake gently so they settle with the top side facing up. After that, stick the top of the applicator pen into the wax pad, and use the pen to grab single diamonds. Each diamond is set on its corresponding coded symbol on the canvas, then pressed down lightly.

Step 4 — Divide the Painting Canvas Into Sections

When it comes to working on large canvases, one should tackle it step by step. To start, many artists, if you want to avoid leaning on areas that have already been done, it is better to work from the top left corner to the bottom center center.

Common​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Mistakes to Avoid as a Beginner

Beginners, however enthusiastic, wrongly take some steps initially. The good news is that these errors can be completely prevented once they are identified. Removing too much plastic film at one time — When the adhesive is exposed to air, it dries up very fast. Only tiny portions should be uncovered one at a time.

Confusing closely matching color codes — It may be the case that some color codes practically look the same. Apart from clearly labeling each bag, diamonds should never be poured back into the wrong bag.

Not sealing — This is one of the biggest first-timer mistakes. Sealing is not a "nice to have" feature if the artwork is to be preserved for years. Hurrying the work — Large diamond painting sets are definitely not designed to be finished in one go. Usually, big canvases require 20 to 60+ hours of work, depending on the size and level of detail. It is the journey that you are supposed to enjoy, not speed through ​‍​‌‍​‍‌it.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a creative activity, one that is relaxing, cheap and at the same time gives you the result of a real beautiful product, then big diamond painting is one of the things you should try undoubtedly. Besides the fact that it helps lower the stress level, it also helps in the development of concentration and gives one a deep satisfaction after finishing a piece of work which is very difficult to get while engaging in other types of hobbies.

You can get the standard kits that include everything you need to make a diamond painting piece from various online platforms such as Amazon, Etsy or other diamond painting stores. The prices of these kits generally range from $15 to $60+ which is determined by factors like size and complexity of the work.

Custom kits — where your own photo is turned into a diamond painting canvas — are also widely available and make incredibly thoughtful gifts.

What are you waiting for? Choose your favorite design, make a clear space on the table, and let the diamonds speak for themselves. Your next favorite hobby is ​‍​‌‍​‍‌waiting.