HOME | DD

Description
You'll need:

scissors
sharp knife
fine tweezers
glue
thick card
small paintbrush
water based paints
water
binder clips or something else to hold your canvas up
milk
access to an area with spider webs (Preferably from non-venomous spiders)

.Take a piece of thick paper or card and cut a space in the center so you have a frame. (1) A smaller area is best to begin with, since it will be both easier to find a smaller section of clean web to use than a large one, and the small space will make it easier to handle the delicate web and paint without weighing it down too much or tearing it.

. Look for a suitable spider web. It should be tightly woven and as clean as possible, large enough for the space you've cut for your canvas, not too old or brittle, and hopefully without a live spider it. Grass spider webs are ideal if you can find them. You can also use bagworm netting, (2) if you are "lucky" enough to have them in your area.

. If the web is in a position that allows it, the easiest way to gather it is to pass your card underneath it and lift upward to let the web drape across it. If that's not possible, you can use two stick to gently lift the web or netting up and transfer it too your card.(3) Using scissors to snip it anywhere that doesn't break away cleanly will prevent distortion. You'll need to get several layers of web on your card for a strong canvas, at least 3 or 4, more if you are able although you don't want it so thick it's opaque.

. Use tweezers to carefully pick out debris in the web, (4)it's best to clean one layer before adding another so particles don't get trapped between them. It may not be possible to get the cobwebs perfectly clean, if anything is too entangled in the web trying to force it out could cause a bad tear. Aim for the biggest pieces first since they'll cause the most disruption to your painting, then just do the best you can with the smaller specks of dirt.

. trim excess web from the card.(5) I made a second frame from card and glued it to the back to make sure the spider web was secure. (6)

. set up your card in binder clips or some other holding device. You don't want the leave it resting on anything the web can touch and stick to. dilute some milk with a little water and very lightly brush it over the web surface and let dry. (7,8) This helps strengthen the web and will gve you a smoother surface to paint on.

.When the milk is dry, you can start painting. You can use watercolor, oils or tempera. Use a small brush and paint that isn't too wet or dry to begin with, you want it to flow onto the web without soaking it. Barely touch the tip of the brush to the surface and move slowly, the brush may stick to the web slightly and a harsh movement could tear the web. I found opaque colors to work very well, transparent colors required many layers. Stop to let the paint dry frequently, and spread the work evenly around the design so no one area is bearing too much weight at a time. You'll need to build up your painting in slow layers. (9,10,11)

. The finished painting will be very fragile, so store it in a safe place where it won't be disturbed, or have it framed between sheets of glass immediately to protect it. (12,13,14)

Description
You'll need:

scissors
sharp knife
fine tweezers
glue
thick card
small paintbrush
water based paints
water
binder clips or something else to hold your canvas up
milk
access to an area with spider webs (Preferably from non-venomous spiders)

.Take a piece of thick paper or card and cut a space in the center so you have a frame. (1) A smaller area is best to begin with, since it will be both easier to find a smaller section of clean web to use than a large one, and the small space will make it easier to handle the delicate web and paint without weighing it down too much or tearing it.

. Look for a suitable spider web. It should be tightly woven and as clean as possible, large enough for the space you've cut for your canvas, not too old or brittle, and hopefully without a live spider it. Grass spider webs are ideal if you can find them. You can also use bagworm netting, (2) if you are "lucky" enough to have them in your area.

. If the web is in a position that allows it, the easiest way to gather it is to pass your card underneath it and lift upward to let the web drape across it. If that's not possible, you can use two stick to gently lift the web or netting up and transfer it too your card.(3) Using scissors to snip it anywhere that doesn't break away cleanly will prevent distortion. You'll need to get several layers of web on your card for a strong canvas, at least 3 or 4, more if you are able although you don't want it so thick it's opaque.

. Use tweezers to carefully pick out debris in the web, (4)it's best to clean one layer before adding another so particles don't get trapped between them. It may not be possible to get the cobwebs perfectly clean, if anything is too entangled in the web trying to force it out could cause a bad tear. Aim for the biggest pieces first since they'll cause the most disruption to your painting, then just do the best you can with the smaller specks of dirt.

. trim excess web from the card.(5) I made a second frame from card and glued it to the back to make sure the spider web was secure. (6)

. set up your card in binder clips or some other holding device. You don't want the leave it resting on anything the web can touch and stick to. dilute some milk with a little water and very lightly brush it over the web surface and let dry. (7,8) This helps strengthen the web and will gve you a smoother surface to paint on.

.When the milk is dry, you can start painting. You can use watercolor, oils or tempera. Use a small brush and paint that isn't too wet or dry to begin with, you want it to flow onto the web without soaking it. Barely touch the tip of the brush to the surface and move slowly, the brush may stick to the web slightly and a harsh movement could tear the web. I found opaque colors to work very well, transparent colors required many layers. Stop to let the paint dry frequently, and spread the work evenly around the design so no one area is bearing too much weight at a time. You'll need to build up your painting in slow layers. (9,10,11)

. The finished painting will be very fragile, so store it in a safe place where it won't be disturbed, or have it framed between sheets of glass immediately to protect it. (12,13,14)