Sent to you by nunok via Google Reader:
With the polka dot trend in full-force, it's no surprise that this Elle Decor image of Damien Hirst's spot painting showed up in our Pinterest feed. He's done hundreds of versions of these paintings, each with precise spacing and no single color being repeated. Our creative director, Casey, was in the midst of decorating her house, so she took the opportunity to D.I.Y. this fantastic inspiration.
Supplies:
Canvas (I used a 48″ x 36″ size)
Acrylic Paint
Potatoes (yes, potatoes)
Wood Stain
Wood for Frame (optional)
Instructions:
1. I looked far and wide for a circle stamp or a round foam brush, but when my search turned up empty I reached for a potato to create my own. Simply cut a potato in half to start. Using the lid from a jar (I used my bare minerals lid), press it into the potato and twist it back and forth to really cut the circle shape into the potato. Follow the line with a knife to make the cut deeper, then remove the outer ring around your new circle stamp.
2. Mix up your paint colors. I didn't have quite the ambition to mix up 88 distinct shades of grey, so I compromised with five.
3. The next step is key for keeping your dots straight and evenly spaced. Find a spacing you like (I used my jar lids to create a good visual) then make a tiny pencil mark on your canvas. I ended up using a 4″ spacing, so I made a tiny little 'x' on my canvas every 4″.
4. Stamp your dots onto your canvas one paint color at a time. I used a completely random pattern but made sure the same color dot didn't end up side by side. The stamps didn't always make a completely filled-in circle, so I touched up any little imperfections with a brush.
5. After your canvas is completely dry you can add a nice level of dimension by wiping a thin layer of wood stain on top of everything. (You can see the difference it makes in the image above. The bottom corner marked by the arrow has had the stain treatment.) I chose a color called Pecan, and just randomly wiped it on so it was heavier in some spots than others. The more carelessly you wipe it on the better—be sure to wipe in all different directions and vary your pressure.
6. To finish it off, I used four pieces of scrap wood and nailed them directly to the edge of the canvas to make a frame.
And there you have it! I hope you enjoy making your version as much as I did!
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