Diamond Painting: A Sparkling Art Form & Hobby From an Artist’s View
Have you ever seen videos of satisfying art kits made of small, colorful diamond-like beads while scrolling through social media? Those dazzling art forms, similar to cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers, are diamond paintings.
Despite its name, diamond painting art has nothing to do with paints and brushes. Instead, it involves applying different colored rhinestones one by one on color-coded canvas, resulting in a sparkling work of art.
During the pandemic, diamond art painting became a popular creative outlet for people seeking a new activity. One such person is Jes Arky Lumacad, who goes by the username @rksensei on TikTok. Since August 2021, she has shared her large collection of diamond painting kits, ranging from small to big canvases, with her followers.
As a diamond painting enthusiast in the Philippines with more than 275,000 followers on TikTok, Jes has gained more than 20 million views in one of her popular videos, which ranges from ASMR videos to unboxing videos, and even storytime narrations while creating a kit.
But what makes diamond painting so fascinating and entertaining? Jes shares her perspective on diamond painting as an art form, her creative process, and everything in between with SM Stationery:
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What initially drew you to diamond painting?
Jes: The boredom. I was looking for a new hobby after I gave birth during the pandemic.
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Do you consider diamond painting a unique art form? If so, what sets it apart?
Jes: Yes, I do. Diamond painting uses “diamonds” instead of paint for paintings and threads for cross-stitching, which was my hobby before. This is why the finished pieces have a distinct, eye-catching quality due to the reflective nature of the diamond beads, unlike other arts and crafts.
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How would you describe the artistic process when creating a diamond painting kit?
Jes: It’s fun and relaxing. Placing those tiny diamond painting beads to create art from art is just amazing.
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How do you incorporate your own creative voice into your diamond paintings, even though you're working with a pre-designed kit?
Jes: There are kits of diamond painting designs with no special drills like Aurora Borealis (ABs) diamonds, Fairy Dusts, Crystals, and more. So I replaced some colors with my leftover special drills to highlight some parts of the art, giving it more shine and emphasis.
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How long does it usually take you to finish one diamond painting?
Jes: Mini kits (15x15cm) take less than a day, regular size (30x40cm) 2 to 3 days, and large kits (60x60cm up) more or less a month.
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How many diamond painting kits have you finished so far?
Jes: I finished 111 kits.
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What do you do after completing a diamond painting?
Jes: Depends on the size. I have a portfolio and envelope for my 30x40 and 40x50 kits. Anything bigger I paste it on the wall using Nano Tape.
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In your TikTok videos, you share your passion for diamond painting. How has this creative outlet impacted your creativity and overall sense of joy and fulfillment?
Jes: It really fills me with joy when I get comments that they started diamond painting because of my videos. With that, I always try to make my videos unique and showcase beautiful kits they’ve never seen before.
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You often showcase your art desk setup and diamond painting tools. How does your environment influence your artistic process?
Jes: Every crafter is messy during the process and I am one of them. However, if I’m done for the day, I always tidy them up and have a fresh start tomorrow. I just love working on a clean table.
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What are your favorite tools and diamond painting techniques?
Jes: I have 1 favorite hand-turner pen, metal tips, scented putty, and a white tray. I almost forgot about my bead storage, which is a must. As for the technique, definitely section your canvas.
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Are there any trends you see emerging in the diamond painting community?
Jes: We have this trend here in the diamond painting Philippines called “octopus” for diamond painters who finish their canvases so fast and it started when one of my titas in the DP group started calling me that and me sharing it on my platform.
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Do you find a sense of community with other diamond painting enthusiasts online? How has this community supported your artwork?
Jes: Yes. I love my community. I also join Facebook groups locally and internationally. They are very supportive and I just love them so much. I get inspired and be an inspiration at the same time.
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How do you stay motivated and keep your passion alive for diamond painting?
Jes: Joining diamond painting events keeps me motivated. I also own more than 40 stashes so that definitely keeps my passion burning because I feel like I have to finish all of them and they just keep piling every month.
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What advice would you give to someone who is just starting with diamond painting?
Jes: So for the new beginners out there, start small. The smallest would be 15x15cm and the next would be 30x40cm. Since there are two types of drills, rounds, and squares, I suggest you go for rounds. I 100% recommend SM Stationary’s Artherapy diamond painting kits since they are affordable for their quality. I have been very picky lately and I pick them.
Diamond painting has the power to spark creativity, reduce stress, and connect with a vibrant community. Inspired by Jes's journey to owning her creative outlet via diamond painting? Head over to SM Stationery and explore our collection of Artherapy Diamond Art Kits.
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With a variety of diamond painting kits for beginners and kids and sizes to choose from, you'll be well on your way to creating your own sparkling masterpiece. Each Artherapy Diamond Art Kit has a set of diamond cut gems in various colors, a diamond drill pen, a wax square, a plastic tray, and a beautiful canvas of diamond painting design.
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https://www.tiktok.com/@rksensei/video/7348894161866788101
https://www.tiktok.com/@rksensei/video/7329089103159381253
https://www.tiktok.com/@rksensei/video/7346665124805004549
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