How to Do Pinhole Art

Pinhole art is not something you commonly see but the creations are beautiful and very easy to make. There are several different techniques and many different ways to display the pinhole art. One technique is to use a coloring page as your guide. Simply lay the page on top of the new paper then place them on a piece of cardboard. Use a pin or needle to poke holes, every quarter-inch or so. A large pin, like a hat pin, is perfect. It helps to tape the paper and pattern to the cardboard to make sure the pages don’t slip. Upon covering the entire design with pinholes you can tape it to a window or a picture frame with no backing.

Another way to make the design is to use stencils. Draw the entire design on to the fabric or paper with a disappearing marker, found in sewing departments. The marker’s color will last for about 72 hours then disappear for good. This allows enough time to make the pinhole arrangements before allowing the pattern to disappear.

The disappearing ink markers are perfect for making intricate designs from a poster or large picture. Make dots with the marker, spaced evenly, then go back and poke a hole in each dot. The picture is then outlined for display.

Some people prefer to keep the original picture rather than having it disappear. During certain conditions only the picture can be seen, not the pinholes. In other conditions, the pinhole art will show rather than the original picture.

Any number of things can be your pattern maker. Calendars, postcards, wallpaper, and posters all make great patterns. And, the pattern doesn’t have to be done on paper only. You can make pinhole art on cloth, cardboard, foil or poster board.

Pinhole art requires no colors, markers, or paints but does require a light source that will shine through the pinholes to form the design. Windows are a perfect place to display your pin art because the light will shine through yet bright sunlight will be filtered through the artwork.

Besides windows you can also display the artwork in a picture frame that has no backing. Make the design on a dark piece of felt, then place a single light behind the art. A bulb, made to look like a candle, is the perfect way to shine light through your artwork. The candle bulbs can be found around Christmastime in stores that sell Christmas decorations. You can also burn a tea light behind the picture.

For denser materials, like felt, try using a nail rather than a pin to make the holes. Be careful not to tear the fabric when inserting the nail. You’ll find many creations that you can easily do by looking around your home for things to make the patterns and finding places to hang the artwork.