Painting tips

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Type of Paint 

The best paint to use is craft acrylic paint or fluid acrylic paint
- Acrylic paint is permanent when it drys, so it is great for stones. (Make sure you wipe up spills off clothes etc immediately, before it drys - wet paper napkin is the best)
- Multi-purpose acrylic paint is great for glasses, flower pots, metal etc
- Satin vs Matte - Satin has more shine to it, but be careful, as it can sometimes be a bit thicker than the matte
- Fluid acrylic paint is higher quality due to the higher pigment on it (more colour depth).
- Both fluid and craft acrylic paints work for stones, but fluid paint is better for white canvases
Best brands of paint, suitable for dotting
- Craft acrylic paint
  - Deco art - available at the dollarstore, Michaels, and other craft, art supply places
  - Craft Smart - available at Michaels
  - There are also other brands of craft acrylic paint available at the dollarstore and Michaels
- Fluid Acrylic Paint - High quality
  - Golden fluid acrylic paint - available at art supply stores and Michaels
  - Opus Fluid arcylic paint - available at Opus stores
Paint consistency
- How to test the paint consistency? Tip the paint container, if it easily pours out within 1 second, then it is thin enough.
- If it comes in a tube, then it is too thick
- If your paint is too thick, just add a couple drops of water or medium to thin it out
- If the paint is too thick then the paint will not be applied evenly. It also will have a 'peak' on it.
Other types of paint
- Please avoid alcohol based paint, as it will break down the plastic tips over time
- Chalk based paints are usable, as most of them are fluid enough (some are maybe a little too fluid!)
- House paints. You can often get sample pots that you can use the tools with
- Fabric Paints - You may need to thin it out with a fabric medium (or use acrylic paint with a fabric medium)
- Tempera paint - great for card, but it is not permanent and will wash off stones
- Enamel paint - AVOID, as this not a water-based paint, but actually oil paint mixed with a solvent.

Type of stones & surfaces

Surface - (ie stone, canvas etc)
- Try and pick a stone that does not have holes or a rough surface.
- There is no need to seal the stone or prep the stone before using (when using acrylic paint).
- Gentle polished stones provide a better surface than a raw stone, but avoid highly polished stones, as paint can chip off easily.
- Be warned that highly polished stones make the dots look great, but are prone to the paint (and sometimes) the sealant chipping and breaking.
- If you are using canvas make sure you gesso it before painting or buy it pre-prepared or paint the background to ensure the paint doesn't bleed or spread.
- Certain paper will have the same effect. (ie Watercolour paper)

Cleaning the tool

Clean the tool immediately to ensure old paint on the tool does not change the circular shape. See how to clean the tools.

Dots on dots

If adding another dot on top of the first layer, make sure you wait for the paint to dry completely, before applying a top layer.
If you lift the dotting tool off the surface too quickly, paint can splash out of the circle. Just slow down your application speed.

Sealing

Seal the stones, when dry, with Mod Podge or a spray sealant.
- Mod Podge - To apply, simply brush on. One or two layers are enough. It dries fast and has no smell. Available at a craft shop
- Spray Sealant - Make sure you buy the 'non-yellowing' outside brand. Apply outside. Spray lightly and at a distance of about 20cm. Two layers are better

Note: Make sure you allow the item to dry completely in between layers. Read the instructions on the container for usage. Nothing will last forever outside, so you may want to bring your stones inside in extreme weather (sun, rain or snow)

Tips for the perfect dot

Follow the 'how to dot' instructions
The paint consistency needs to be fluid. If it is too thick then it will not create the perfect dot. Tip the container of paint and if it pours out in 1 second it is a good consistency. If you paint is too thick, then add a couple of drops of water to the acrylic paint.
Make sure there is enough paint on the tool
Push the tool all the way to the surface
Do a maximum of two dots before reapplying the paint (Tool #1 and #2 can be used to 'walk the dots')
Remove any built up paint at the bottom and the sides of the tool using the following the how to clean instructions
Check to see whether there are any deformities on the tool. #1/#2 can be bent easily if if falls off the table

"love your mistakes, and the adventures that follow"
- Kim Mackay

Tips for mistakes - small

Dot is too small?
- Just add a larger dotting tool size over the top.
The dots are not in an even pattern
- see Step by Step Instructions for tips.
- Ensure you start from the middle and work your way out.
- Often our mistakes are very obvious to us, and not to others. If you continue with this pattern, you will not notice one little mistake in the beautiful design.
- Use a pencil outline (protractor, dinner plate, pot) if you have a large canvas.
The dots are not a perfect circle
- See above tips to make a perfect circle
- See How to Dot for the correct application.
I made a mistake when following a pattern
- The best creativity happens when you veer off the pattern. Just embrace the mistake and make the pattern your own.
I slipped and now one dot is odd shaped
- You do not need to make the design entirely of perfect circles, maybe use oblong shapes, lines, cone shaped, etc to hide it.

Tips for mistakes - large

Wipe the area with water before it dries and hardens. If you have a polished stone, then this will be easy.
Made a huge major mistake? Then just cover to whole area/stone with black and start again!

"Life isn't perfect and neither should your art be."