Interesting works on string art. String Art for beginners with diagrams - detailed master class. What kind of animal is it and what is it eaten with?

Today it is very popular to have at least several hobbies. Our world is developing rapidly and sometimes you want to take your time. Therefore, most begin to master needlework. In this article we want to talk about a new type of hobby of the younger generation. From the title you can already understand what we are going to talk about, namely string art for beginners with diagrams so that you can create beautiful paintings and more.

By the way, this type of hobby is very exciting and not only young people engage in it.

What kind of animal is it and what is it eaten with?

As many sources say, no specific place of origin has been found. Some refer to English roots, and others to African ones. However, this craft is considered not so ancient, since its popularity began to grow only in the last century. Who would have thought that thanks to a math teacher, this technique would become popular. The story goes that the teacher was trying to get kids interested in algebra and geometry. Nails were hammered onto the board, and the desired shapes were created using thread. American designer John Eichenger became interested in this technique. He became the man who was able to turn geometric shapes into art. His first work was directed towards oriental art, which is why we can often find paintings in the form of a mandala.

From the English word “string” is translated as rope or string. Accordingly, literally “string art” sounds like rope art. Agree, this is a strange combination of words. Although in reality it looks very attractive. Surely you have already come across pictures with nails and threads stretched between them.

Let's move on to preparation

Since the technique is simple, we can create drawings, paintings or decorate a room. Typically, haircut art uses straight lines that are layered on top of each other. This creates a lot of work. So, to start creating, we need:

• choose a scheme to create (do not take complex options yet);
• working tools (hammer, nails);
• skein of thread (any kind will do);
• base (can also be any: paper, wood, concrete, and so on).

How to make a beautiful picture? First of all, we need to choose a drawing. We are thinking about what size it will be and in what color scheme. You can also use templates from the Internet.

The next stage is preparing the base. For starters, you can consider cardboard or foam.

We print out the diagram of the selected image and attach it to our base. Then we take a needle or an awl and make holes along the contour. We nail nails in the places where the holes were made.

On a note! The nails should be at the same distance; there is no need to drive them deep.

Creating a masterpiece

This is the most enjoyable moment in creating a drawing. We begin to play with the threads and mix them up as we please. But remember about straight lines.

Let's give a couple more tips:

• do not pull the threads too tightly, otherwise the nails will bend under pressure and it will not look very nice;
• You should also not pull it loosely, as the pattern will become unclear and the threads will begin to tangle;
• combine colors, this is a creative process;
• For richer lines, wind more layers of thread.

An example of a simple string art

You've learned the basics, and maybe you've already tried yourself as an artist. However, below we will look at a master class for beginners.

The first thing we did was choose the size and pattern of the product.

As mentioned earlier, we select and prepare the base. Then we attach our diagram in the center, as in the photo below.

Mark an equal distance with a pencil. If the pattern you have chosen is more complex, then make marks with an awl or a needle (if the base is soft). Next we drive nails along the contour.

We remove the template; we won't need it anymore.

There's just a little bit left to do. We fasten the beginning of the thread and tie the carnations the way you like best. In our example, the outline is first tied, and then the empty space is filled.

The end result is this cute heart:

It would seem like a simple picture, but it looks so beautiful in the interior. It’s even more admirable when you create such things yourself. Many creatives started from the basics. Now some of them are organizing exhibitions in their galleries. Some people create panels to order, while others keep it as a hobby.

Video on the topic of the article

For those who are interested in viewing more options for creating drawings, we have prepared a selection of videos.

String art has long been a real art. Our master class is perhaps for beginners in this matter. The main thing is that this activity brings you pleasure both in the process and in the result.

So, what does it take to make a product like the one in the photo?

What you need

Necessary materials:

1. Wooden board - 0.5-1 inch thick, size of your choice,
2. Pencil,
3. Ruler,
4. Compass,
5. Nails,
6. Hammer,
7. Colored threads.

We measure and make marks

It is more convenient and better to pull the threads if the wooden board is an equilateral square and the thickness does not exceed an inch.

Mark the center of government. Prepare the pencil and compass, making sure that the line of the compass and the line of the pencil are at the same level. Make notes. Draw a circle on the board using a compass. Circle of any diameter. You can draw more circles.

It is better if you mark the places where you want to hammer the nails. Use a clear ruler to mark the position of the nails along the circle. The photo shows points after every 1 cm.

Hammering nails

Now start driving nails at the marked points along the drawn circle.

Drive the nails halfway into the wood board.

This step takes time and it can be quite boring, but you must drive the nails patiently, since the whole art depends on the position of the nails. To cheer yourself up a little, it’s completely permissible to sing your favorite song)

Start

The colors used for this art are red, yellow, green, blue and purple. Although it would be more fun to use sazu in all the colors of the rainbow.

Choose a nail as a starting point. Take a thread, wrap it around any nail and tie a knot. Apply a drop of glue on the knot to do this, it's safe.

Count the nails and try to create an equilateral triangle with the string wrapped around the nails. After creating the first triangle you will return to the starting question again. Just skip that nail and grab the next one. Create another equilateral triangle by wrapping the following nails. Keep doing the same.

Take a thread of a different color. Wrap it around the nail, next to the previous nail (but not the same nail). Continue creating equilateral triangles until all the nails are covered.

String Art is certainly an interesting direction in needlework. The work uses decorative nails, a hammer, threads and produces very beautiful and unusual patterns, paintings or inscriptions. In this type of needlework, it is very important to pay attention to the color scheme of the threads. Both monochromatic paintings on a laconic background, the classic combination of black and white, and bright color paintings look equally good and interesting. A panel in this technique depicting dishes or products is perfect as a decor for the kitchen, the hallway can be decorated with a painting depicting shoes, keys or an umbrella, in a children's room images of cartoon characters would be good, for a bedroom a panel depicting doves, hearts or silhouettes of a man and a woman. In today's master class we will look at the String Art technique, which is perfect for beginners, because it comes with diagrams.

String Art is creativity at the peak of popularity, as it allows you to combine the incongruous - the rigidity and brutality of nails and the lightness and fragility of threads.

Learning the String Art technique for beginners with diagrams

String Art, as a type of art, comes from England. There are two versions of the origin of this method of needlework: the first - the ancestor of String Art is a woman mathematician who taught and explained geometry in this way, the second - this is how weavers decorated their homes.

A panel using the String Art technique can be an excellent gift for a loved one on Valentine's Day or Women's Day. Let's consider the idea of ​​​​creating a heart-shaped panel: what materials will be needed and directly how to make it. The process is not that complicated, and the result will be stunningly beautiful.

For work you will need the following materials:

• Hammer;
• Decorative nails;
• Plywood (small size);
• Cotton threads;
• Drawing template on paper;
• Sandpaper.

Let's prepare the basis for the future product; for this, the plywood needs to be sanded with sandpaper.

In order to choose a heart to your taste, we offer several schemes - templates to choose from.

Once the heart template is drawn or printed, cut it out of paper. Its size should correspond to the size of the plywood. An important step is to position the template strictly in the center on a plywood base, or in another position, but the evenness of the lines still needs to be maintained.

Next, along the entire contour of the heart template, at equal distances, we mark segments with a simple pencil. Now it's time for decorative nails. We nail them on the marked notches very carefully so that the height of all nails is the same. This is a painstaking task, but there is no way to do without it, so we gather all our will into a fist and hammer in the nails.

When all the nails are driven into the plywood, the heart stencil can be removed. Now we prepare the threads for work. First of all, you need to wrap the heart along the contour, and then proceed to parallel winding of the threads. You should try to wind the threads with the same intensity and adhere to strict lines. The winding must be tight to avoid sagging threads, as this can significantly spoil the appearance of the future product.

When the entire area of ​​the heart is filled with parallel lines of threads, choose a different direction and continue winding. Depending on the density of the threads, you should independently adjust the number of winding layers; in our case, there were four layers of threads in different directions.

The result of painstaking work is presented in the photo.

The discount done and the resulting result will, without a doubt, delight your eyes for a long time. This idea of ​​a panel fascinates with its rigor and transparency at the same time. It contains metal in the form of nails, wood, threads - unusual, isn’t it?

Depending on the colors of the threads, the base, the size and texture of the nails, the appearance of paintings in the String Art style can be completely different. To add integrity to the picture, the heads of the studs can be tinted.

For a detailed study of this technique, we suggest watching several interesting videos in which experienced needlewomen will reveal the secrets of the work and give advice to beginners. You will also be able to see different ideas for creating a heart using the String Art technique. Enjoy watching and good luck in your creativity!

Video on the topic of the article

“String art” or the art of creating a picture from nails and threads is a graphic technique that appeared in the 17th century. A kind of “embroidery” on cardboard or wood is not too expensive in terms of materials and tools, but it perfectly develops fine motor skills in children, perseverance, and accuracy. The use of colored threads in such needlework lifts the mood, being one of the most popular hobbies in many countries of the world.

What is string art

The art of string art originated in the 16th-17th century in England. At that time, weaving on looms and frames was a very popular activity. One day, one of the craftsmen came up with the idea of ​​putting a lot of nails on a board and pulling the threads so that a certain design came out. Later the technique became more complex, multi-layered and multi-colored. Such original products decorated the walls of houses, art workshops, and public buildings.

This interesting technique, also called “isothread,” gained the greatest popularity thanks to the English mathematical researcher Mary Boole, who figured out how to teach geometry to children using nails and threads. At that time, with her “light hand”, almost all segments of the population began to engage in string art, entire clubs for lovers of this technique began to be created, and training classes were conducted for people of different ages.

Clocks, key holders, mirrors, spaces around lamps, drawers and other elements are decorated using the string art technique.

Tools, materials for creativity

To start “embroidery” with isothread, you will need to purchase a piece of plywood or thick cardboard, a couple of small nails, any strong colored threads (floss, iris, knitting, sewing), a hammer, an awl and pliers. The latter will come in handy if the nail is driven in the wrong place. For marking, you will need a pencil to beautifully build complex figures; use a square, compass, various patterns, rulers with circles, diamonds, numbers, etc.

In order to place additional emphasis on one or another part of the image, use paint - acrylic, gouache, or any other. It is also advisable to find or come up with a suitable picture in advance. To easily wind thread onto nails, many craftswomen use a thin hollow tube, a handle without a rod through which the thread is passed. Some handicraft stores sell entire sets of materials and tools for String Art.

Professionals use a cork base instead of plywood - it is softer and has a beautiful texture. Foam plastic is suitable for teaching children string art.

Basic techniques, filling schemes

To master the String Art technique, it is better for a beginner not to immediately take on overly complex products, but to try to make the simplest monochromatic drawings. Beginners will be helped by diagrams where numbers and arrows indicate the sequence and direction of weaving. First, it is advisable to master the principle of filling an angle, circle, arc, since all shapes are derivatives of these elements. Even the most intricate painting depicting flowers, animals, insects, a portrait or a landscape is made up of small and large geometric elements. Volume is obtained by using nails of different lengths, several shades of each color.

This “exercise” is suggested for training purposes. An angle with sides of five and ten cm is drawn on paper, each side is divided into 10 segments, the points are numbered. The lines go back and forth, wrapping around the studs, intersecting in many places. The denser and darker the area being designed should be, the more intersections are made in different directions.

The circle is a little more complicated to fill - first, using a compass, a drawing of the circle is made, the contour is divided into equal parts, about a centimeter long. The threads are pulled at an acute, very acute or right angle to each other. In each case, a different pattern is obtained. The arc is filled in approximately the same way as the corners - both symmetrical and arbitrary winding is allowed.

Features of creating paintings

First you need to decide what kind of pattern you want to create, think about the dimensions, number of colors, and other parameters. Often ready-made diagrams from magazines are used - these are inscriptions, silhouettes, plot drawings. Pictures with “tips” will be useful for beginners. The most important point in creating a thread pattern is tensioning the threads. It is advisable to do this not too tightly so that the nails do not bend, but not too weakly either. Only strong threads are used - if the material breaks, it is tied, and the resulting knots spoil the appearance of the product.

If you need to get a rich color, a larger number of threads are wound in a certain area. When using several shades of the same color, the threads intersect each other, forming soft gradient transitions.

How deep should you drive the nails?

All nails are driven in to the same depth, at an equal distance from each other. The height of the part protruding above the surface is five to nine mm. When driving in nails, use small forceps or pliers - this way there is less chance of damaging your fingers. After the painting is completed, it is permissible to drive the nails deeper, although this is not at all necessary.

How to change thread color

When winding the thread, its beginning is secured to the first nail with a knot. When it runs out or you need to change the color, a neat knot is also made. The new thread starts again from the knot. After finishing the work, all the “tails” are cut off and glued inside out to make them unnoticeable.

Using the same pattern, using different colors and thread placement options, it’s easy to create completely different paintings.

Options for filling the picture

When the nails are already filled along a certain contour and perimeter of the board, there are two filling options. In the first, the interior is filled, in the second, the background. There is a third option, when the middle is decorated with threads of one color, the edges - with others. The threads do not necessarily intersect in many places. For example, if the outline is square (round) and the middle is in the shape of a heart (circle), the lines run in different directions side by side, like rays from the sun. The use of several overlapping thread colors allows you to create beautiful shades. To create a light, openwork pattern, thin sewing threads are used, wool yarn is used for more voluminous work.

The edging is a dense, usually contrasting outline of the design. It is performed by entwining carnations with a “snake”. The outlines are often made with a thicker, denser thread, while the filling is made with thinner threads. Sometimes the edging is made just two or three tones darker (lighter) than the figure itself, which looks especially beautiful when creating realistic paintings.

How to create multi-layer compositions

Complex, two-three-color, multi-color compositions can also be created using this technique. If we take an image of an animal or a bird as an example, then first the main color of the creature’s body is woven into the picture, then the contours, paws, spots on the “fur” are made, and lastly the eyes and noses are made. To give the color an interesting shade, threads of similar tones of the same color are used.

Selection and preparation of a wooden base

It is permissible to use even rough, unsanded boards as a base, but most often the surface is thoroughly sanded with sandpaper. The most commonly used materials are decorative cork panels, plywood, multi-layer cardboard, and polystyrene foam. If desired, the surface is painted in a light or bright color and carefully covered with paper.

When the canvas is prepared, a drawing is placed on it, holes are pierced with an awl along the contours - nails are later driven into them. It is important to make punctures strictly at right angles - this way the studs will hold tighter. Before you start driving them in, place the board on a slight elevation so as not to accidentally nail it to the table. After applying the markings, the diagram is removed, if pieces of paper remain, they are removed with tweezers, and they begin to fill the picture with threads of a suitable color.

Master classes for beginners and more - sketches, diagrams

The basic patterns for making circles, corners, and arcs using the String Art technique are not at all complicated, but their proper combination makes it possible to create almost any image. But it is important to pull each thread correctly, otherwise the picture will be ruined. Each thread is pulled tightly enough so that it does not sag over time.

The most popular image options:

• flowers, snowflakes;
• hearts, stars;
• leaves, trees;
• letters, words, inscriptions;
• animals, birds, fish;
• still lifes with fruits, bouquets;
• portraits of people;
• world map, starry sky.

When working with nails and a foam base, do not pull the thread too tightly - the parts may fall out and the picture will be ruined.

Snowflake

Snowflakes are the most popular decoration for New Year and Christmas. In the String Art technique it is performed like this:

• an elegant six-pointed snowflake is drawn on a square or round piece of paper;
• the drawing is applied to the plywood;
• nails are driven into the board to create a suitable contour;
• white or pale blue threads are used, sometimes two colors at the same time;
• wrapping is done starting from the middle;
  The more often the nails are filled, and the thinner the threads, the more interesting the picture will look.

As New Year's decorations, a similar technique involves making snowmen, the most striking detail of the image of which will be an orange carrot nose.

Flower

Flowers are the most popular idea for any art. These include intricate rich shades of roses, lilies, violets, almost “childish” daisies, and sunflowers.

How to make fluffy dandelions step by step:

• for the work you will need about a hundred nails, a skein of white and light green threads, a wide board, a simple pencil;
• Three circles of approximately the same size are drawn on paper - these are flowers;
• then leaves and plant stems are drawn, points where carnations will subsequently be driven in are marked;
• the drawing is applied to the board, the required number of elements is driven in, the paper is removed;
• Dandelion inflorescences are “embroidered” in a circle with white thread; it is also permissible to use an overlapping pattern;
• the stems and leaves are done in green, as is the frame of the board, if required.

Light contours look most advantageous against a dark background, and vice versa.

To make a maple leaf from threads and carnations, you need to find a real, preferably large and whole, maple leaf, trace it on paper or directly on the board. To fill the outline, use almost any natural tones - spring green, emerald, brown, yellowish-brown, crimson, orange-yellow, etc. The outlines of the leaves are decorated with a darker braid, but preferably in a tone that matches the main one. The main “veins” are worked out in the same way. If desired, it is easy to create a whole “autumn bouquet” of colorful leaves.

Trees

Trees using the string art technique are made schematic or more believable. Trees, in this case, include both individual branches and an entire thread forest. Such a panel is made in black and white or multicolor. This is an oak or baobab on a greenish-brown background, a green fir tree among snow-covered forests, a sketchy eucalyptus “stuffed” right on the wall. A tree with a thick crown looks interesting, made on a board covered with a dark stain, where the texture of the wood is clearly visible. Here the background is filled with thin threads, and the main element is decorated with paper leaves, apples, cherries, and acorns.

Hearts

The heart is one of the simplest details, after a circle, square, arc. The finished product will be an excellent gift for Valentine's Day; it will decorate a bedroom, living room, or children's room, made in a romantic style. A heart is carefully drawn on paper or the board itself, dots are placed on the resulting line, in increments of about one cm. Nails are driven into the latter, and the line is erased with an eraser. Working with threads begins by tying a knot at the bottom of the heart. The winding is made at an acute angle. There is another option for executing the idea - the background is filled with a thread “web”, the heart itself is painted red and decorated with a textile or paper sticker.

Inscriptions

To create inscriptions you will need stencils of letters in Russian, English, or any other alphabet you like. They are made in capital letters or printed, and the distance between the details is sufficient so that the words are clearly readable and do not merge when viewed from a distance of several meters. This type of decor was invented and first used by the Americans.

Here is one option for creating a word:

• for work you will need a large board, a furniture board;
• All over the surface of the object, at a distance of a centimeter from each other in height and width, nails are stuffed - to make it even, the markings are applied directly to the board, using a ruler or square. If it is decided to make the outer contour round, a compass is additionally used;
• First, the letters are outlined with an outline, then the background is designed in one or more colors;
• filling is done in random order - most often strongly “broken” lines are made, but smooth transitions are also acceptable;

Animals

“Drawing” realistic animals with isothread is very difficult, especially when it comes to multi-color paintings. Before starting, a pencil sketch is made on paper to understand what exactly should happen in the end. Next, the drawing is simplified - the contours of individual large parts are indicated, the template is applied to the surface to be designed, and pierced with an awl in the places where the nails are driven in.

The figure of the animal, bird, fish or the background around it is filled directly. The most interesting picture ideas:

• silhouettes of different birds on a perch;
• colored fish in a round “aquarium”;
• figure of a horse with harness made of strips of leather;
• antlers of deer, elk;
• a wolf howling at the moon - dark in a white circle;
• black and white zebra – whole or only head with mane;
• an elephant in tones of terracotta and reddish-gray, stylized as an African mask;

Portraits

Unique portraits using string art technique take a long time to create, but look very impressive. Such a product will be an interesting, memorable gift. The basis here is a photo of a famous person, an acquaintance, a beautiful pencil drawing from the Internet. The creation of such a picture begins not from the center, but by filling the entire background - the threads are first stretched in the darkest places (shadows, details of clothing), then the light spots (face, hands) are worked out. The main difficulty here is the use of a large number of colors, halftones, shades, which allows you to create a magnificent portrait or full-length image.

Painting individual background fragments in one color or another will give the picture volume using no more than four or five thread colors.

How to further decorate the picture

As additional decor in crafts made from threads with nails, paints are used to decorate the substrate, decorative attachments for the heads of nails, beads, rhinestones, and glitter in the form of a spray. The finished painting is placed in a frame made of wood, metal, plastic, cardboard, or other material. Additional parts made of paper, textiles, leather are secured with glue. The heads of the nails are sometimes painted to match the threads, less often - in a sharply contrasting color. Often used are jute “tassels”, satin ribbon bows, paper, dry (varnished) or polymer clay flowers, all kinds of rivets, “gifts of the forest”, such as acorns, pine cones, dry hawthorn, rowan, etc.

Conclusion

Paintings made from threads and nails, made by hand, will perfectly decorate the interior and will become a source of pride for the master. The panel is easy to make at home with just a few nails, yarn, and a piece of flat wood. Detailed master classes on this type of art can be easily found on the Internet, on sites dedicated to handicrafts. The product will decorate the interior of almost any interior style - it is only important to choose the colors correctly. Having mastered the art of String Art to perfection, many masters earn big money by turning their favorite hobby into a real business.

The variety of types of needlework is designed to satisfy the most fastidious demands of craftswomen. But if simple knitting and embroidery are not for you, then we suggest mastering a completely new technique - isothread or string art. To create paintings using this technique, no special knowledge is required: everything you need to know to master this type of needlework is given in this post.

What is string art

The isothread technique gained its unprecedented popularity thanks to the English researcher Mary Boole, who used threads and nails to teach children algebra and geometry.

Tools for creating paintings using string art technique

In addition you will need:

• board or piece of plywood


• thick cardboard - used as an alternative to plywood for creating cards


• diagram or finished image


• paint for emphasizing individual areas of the composition


• hammer or awl

String art: first steps to mastering the technique

You need to start mastering the technique by studying the principles of filling corners and circles. The remaining shapes: square, oval and letters are derived from the basic elements, so they are much easier to master.

It would seem that there is nothing difficult in creating a picture from such familiar tools as nails and threads. In the isothread technique, the correct weaving of threads is very important, once mastered, you will be able to create stunning three-dimensional paintings.

The big advantage of string art is that you can choose absolutely any sketch to create a picture. This comes in handy when you need to create a unique drawing with a portrait of a specific person, numbers or words.

In the first stages, use plain threads for string art. In the future, add additional shades to the color scheme, creating multi-colored panels.

Many people believe that regular geometric lines are not appropriate in images with flowers, insects, wildlife or portraits, where smooth transitions and the absence of obvious angles are important. But string art copes with this task perfectly, conveying the depth of color through the use of threads of several shades or nails of various lengths.

String art: master classes on creating compositions

Heart using isothread technique

One of the simplest images that beginners can do is the heart. Even a child can handle such a composition, provided that adults hammer carnations into the board. This craft will make a great gift or just decorate a wall in your living room.

Draw a neat heart on a blank sheet of paper or print the finished image on a printer. Arbitrarily place points in the picture where the nails will be nailed. Place marks at the same distance; the final appearance of the product will depend on this.

Place a piece of paper on the plywood and nail in the places marked with nails. Carefully remove the sheet from the plywood.

Next, we proceed directly to working with threads. Make a neat knot on the central top nail, pulling the tip diagonally. Pull the thread towards each nail so that an acute angle is formed each time.

Once all the nails are wrapped with thread, secure it and carefully cut off the tip.

Below are the basic schemes for creating corners and circles using the string art technique. Having mastered them, you will be able to perform simple, but at the same time effective and voluminous compositions.

Flower using string art technique

To create a picture you will need:

• paper


• pencil


• white and green threads

Attach the sheet to the plywood and nail the nails at the previously marked points.

Using white threads, embroider dandelion inflorescences in a circular pattern. To do this, fasten the edge of the thread to the central nail and lead it to the other points, forming sharp corners. The operating diagram is presented below.

To achieve the volume of dandelion leaves, divide them into several triangles and embroider each of them according to the principle of an angle.

Portrait using string art technique

If you have already mastered the technique of isona thread and are confident in your abilities, then it’s time to start creating spectacular portraits from nails and threads. As a basis, take a portrait of a loved one, a famous person, or a pet.

The creation of such a complex image begins not with the central part, as was the case in simple master classes, but with filling in the background. That is, first of all, denser areas of the image with shadow or clothing are covered with threads. After this, the remaining details are filled in, such as the face, hands, etc.

Even professional craftsmen use ready-made patterns in their work, since one incorrectly chosen direction of the thread can spoil the perception of the picture.

Try to make as few knots as possible, which simply have nowhere to hide. The thread tension should be maximum so that the pattern does not subsequently sag and lose its attractiveness.

The string art technique is a fairly new direction, which is just being mastered by needlewomen. Believe me, even a small piece of plywood, decorated with an image of nails and threads, will impress friends and family. Professional craftsmen who have thoroughly mastered the isothin technique earn good money by creating unique portraits and three-dimensional paintings for sale.