As one of the millions of people who has jumped on board the diamond painting craze, you may have wondered just where this marvelous craft originated. While hobbies like knitting, jewelry making and painting have been around for centuries, diamond painting is a much newer addition to the crafting world. Gaining momentum over the past few years, it has become one of the trendiest crafts on the market. Enjoyed by all ages — from young kids to adults — and offering a wide range of mental health benefits, it is unlikely this enjoyable hobby will be declining in popularity anytime soon.
What is diamond painting, and who came up with the idea of painting with diamonds? Whether you have recently picked up the hobby or if are a seasoned diamond painting pro, keep reading to learn more about who invented diamond painting and to discover the history of this exciting craft.
What Is Diamond Painting?
New to This Fun Craft? Learn "What Is Diamond Painting?" in Our Guide
Before we dive into the history of diamond painting, let’s take a moment to go over what it is. Of course, if you are already familiar with making DIY art with diamond drills, feel free to skip to the next section.
So, what is diamond painting?
Diamond painting involves placing sparkling resin diamonds — also known as drills — in various colors on a self-adhesive canvas. The canvas is printed with symbols that let the crafter know where each colored round or square drill needs to be placed. When finished, the individual diamonds work together to create a beautiful mosaic image. This activity is popular among crafters of all ages and skill levels because it allows anyone to create a display-worthy piece of art without the need for any special skills or talent.
Many crafters describe diamond painting as “diamond embroidery” because its similarity to cross-stitch and paint by number kits.Only instead of using thread or paint, you create images using the colorful resin drills.
The Inventor of Diamond Painting
Diamond painting is thought to have originated as a combination of sand painting and cross-stitch. In fact, the inventor of diamond painting mentions a patent of the Sand Painting Card in the patent for diamond painting. The patent states that diamond painting aims to produce a pattern with a plastic canvas — much like the Sand Painting Card — and you follow the pattern and place beads like adding stitches in a cross-stitch pattern.
The patent for what we think of as diamond painting was filed in 2010 by a China-based company called Guangdong Dazu Yueming Laser Technology Co., Ltd. Previously, a similar product existed in which plastic beads were placed on velvet to create an image. The inventor of modern diamond painting came up with the idea of using resin diamonds attached to canvas as a means of overcoming the problem of the glue not providing strong enough adhesion on velvet.
Though diamond painting originated in Asia, it quickly spread to Europe. From there, it didn’t take long for the craft to reach American soil and for diamond painting kits to make their way onto the shelves of craft stores throughout the nation.
As a long-time lover of diamond painting, Angie Shehaj was disappointed in the quality of the kits available to her at the time. She decided to she would create the kit of her dreams herself. In 2018, she founded Diamond Art Club®, producing high-quality, 5d diamond painting kits to inspire people, regardless of age.
Today, Diamond Art Club® is a leader in the diamond painting industry and is well-known for producing kits that are far superior to those available from other brands. In addition to being well designed and incredibly beautiful, every kit contains all of the high-quality diamond painting supplies needed to create a display-worthy work of art.
Benefits of Diamond Art
One of the truly remarkable things about diamond painting is the benefits it offers. Painting with diamonds is more than just a hobby or an art form, it’s a way to improve your mental health. It can also help your kids develop better hand-eye coordination, patience, teamwork and more. Some folks even see it as a form of meditation.
Working on a diamond painting is easy, but it does require concentration. When you are focusing on placing each individual diamond in the correct spot, it is much more easy to let go of the stress and worry of your day and get lost in the moment. Plus, completing a project can give one a much-needed self-esteem boost since these kits make it possible for anyone to create breathtaking art.
For kids, diamond painting provides an opportunity to learn about colors, shapes, and matching colors to symbols. Working with the small “diamonds” can improve their dexterity and focus as well. And, diamond art’s universal appeal means that it’s great for working with autistic and neurodiverse kids as well.
Check Out Our Diamond Painting Kits to Find the One for You
Should You Buy a Partial Drill or Full Drill Diamond Painting Kit?
When shopping for your first diamond painting kit, you may notice that some are labeled “partial drill,” while others are “full drill.” What does that mean? It simply refers to whether or not the entire canvas will be covered in diamonds when complete. Partial drill canvases have areas in which no diamonds are applied. With full drill kits, though, the entire design is made up of sparkling diamonds. While partial drill kits often take less time to complete, we recommend sticking to full drill kits. They form a “true” mosaic, and there’s just something incredible about looking at a painting made entirely from resin diamonds.
What Comes in a Diamond Painting Kit?
When you purchase a diamond painting kit from Diamond Art Club®, you will receive everything you need to complete your own diamond painting. Our kits include square or round diamonds in all the colors you need to create your masterpiece. They arrive presorted in individual bags and labeled according to DMC color codes. Not sure if you prefer round or square? Round drills are easier to work with for beginners since they don’t require perfect alignment. However, square diamonds create a more uniform mosaic.
Your kit will also include a pre-printed canvas that shows you where to place each drill, a drill pen for applying your diamonds to the canvas, wax, a tray for your drills, and resealable baggies for storing them. Plus, we include a sheet of labeled stickers and clear, step-by-step instructions so you can start diamond painting as soon as you open the package.
If you would like to take your diamond painting project to the next level, consider investing in some optional accessories, like a stylish, more ergonomic, diamond applicator pen and a light pad. As all crafters know, the right tools make all the difference when working on a project.
In Conclusion
Diamond painting hasn’t been around nearly as long as many other hobbies, but it has already made a huge impact on the crafting world. If you are looking for an interesting new craft, try it for yourself to see what all the excitement is about!
