How Long Does It Take to Do a Diamond Painting?

A popular craft for adults and kids alike, diamond art paintings are a fun way to decorate your home and learn a new skill. These paintings are created by precisely placing small, faceted resin gems that work together to create a larger picture. If you’ve been thinking about trying your hand at one of these projects but are wondering how long it will take to get your end result, we have everything you need to know before you dive in.

What Is Diamond Painting? 

Before we discuss how long it takes to complete a diamond painting, let’s explore this exciting hobby and how to do it. 

Diamond painting is a captivating and accessible art form that offers a dazzling alternative to traditional hobbies like cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers. It doesn’t require any special artistic skills or experience, so it is an excellent option for anyone who is searching for a new DIY hobby that’s enjoyable and easy to master.

Picture a color-coded canvas coated with a special adhesive layer. In lieu of paint, you use resin diamonds called drills to bring the adhesive canvas to life. Because the canvas itself is sticky, there's no messy glue involved. All you have to do is simply place the diamonds on their specific spots —  it's meditative, and no artistic skill is needed. Some diamond art kits come with square drills, while others have round drills. Whether your kit has square diamonds or round diamonds, these shimmering gems come in a vast array of colors, allowing you to build a sparkling work of art that is a fun craft for all ages and experience levels.

When you purchase a diamond painting kit from Diamond Art Club®, you get everything you need to create one of these sparkling paintings. You’ll find step-by-step instructions and an assortment of diamond painting tools, including a diamond applicator (also known as a diamond pen) to pick up and place the diamonds precisely. For even more intricate placements, some diamond painters find tweezers helpful. 

So, How Long Does It Take to Do a Diamond Painting?

The length of a diamond art painting project will vary depending on the size of the painting and the level of detail. The more detailed the painting, the more color changes you’ll have to pay attention to. And, of course, it takes longer to complete larger paintings than smaller ones. You can also control the speed at which you finish a diamond art painting by working on it as frequently or infrequently as you’d like. Other factors play a role in how long it takes to finish a diamond painting, too. For example, using an applicator that only places one diamond at a time takes longer than using a multi-placer. Likewise, full-drill paintings that cover the entire canvas take longer to complete than partial-drill designs with open spaces. 

Products such as our Lil Diamondz™, Mini Dazzles™, diamond painting cards, and diamond painting stickers are a good choice for new diamond painters who want to try the hobby without committing to a larger project. Completing a section that’s roughly the size of the palm of your hand should only take about an hour. If you want to do a slightly larger but quick project that you can finish in three days or less, look for a small diamond painting kit like a 12.6” x 16.6”. Smaller sizes are the perfect project to do over the weekend. Slightly larger sizes, like 16” x 20”, may take an additional day but no longer than a week. If you’re looking to really challenge yourself, opt for large diamond painting kits measuring 22” x 28”, which will probably take a collective seven to 10 sessions. 

The timing is subjective for anyone wondering how long it takes to do a diamond painting in general. Some people only want to work on their projects for 30 minutes once a week. Others want to spend hours a day working on their piece until it’s perfectly completed. It’s really all about your motivation, but most diamond art paintings will take between two to nine one-hour sessions. Break up the work in a way that works for you!

Diamond Art Painting Projects

Turn Your Wall Into a Diamond Art Collage

For many people, once they’ve completed one diamond art project, they can’t get enough! But what do you do with an entire collection of beautiful diamond art paintings? Make a collage! Pick one wall of your house that you can redecorate as a tribute to your diamond art masterpieces and mix in some other decorative elements to pull it together, like hanging plants or shelves with photos and knickknacks. Consider adding some lighting to show off the shimmering rhinestones.

Go for a Large Scale Painting

If you’re looking for a challenge or a project that will take a lot of time, a larger-scaled diamond art painting is the way to go. As stated, large diamond paintings are more time-consuming than their smaller counterparts. Not only because they are larger but also because they usually contain a little more detail, which requires extra precision. As a result, a huge painting may not be the best choice for your first diamond painting experience. For anyone who has never tried diamond art before, it’s recommended that you start small. However, large-scale diamond art paintings look great in a big empty space in your home and make for the perfect addition to a blank stairway. 

Give It as a Gift

Completed projects make excellent gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and “just because.” Not only are they unique home decorations, but there’s an extra special element to painting because you put time and effort into creating something for someone you care about. If you’re planning to give a diamond art painting as a gift, choose your selection carefully to ensure it centers around the recipient's interest or matches the theme of their home. To make the gift look super professional, get it framed (or frame it yourself), and then wrap it up and add a big bow.

Learn How to Frame a Diamond Painting

Complete Your Project on Your Own Time

There’s no need to pressure yourself into finishing your project as quickly as possible. Go at your own pace and work on a canvas size that seems doable to you. Anyone new to diamond art should start with a smaller painting before moving on to larger, more complicated pieces. If you choose to start with a larger piece, use parchment paper to divide the canvas into sections and work on one part at a time to stay organized and precise. Find a project that speaks to you and start working on your awesome new art piece. You’ll likely be hooked on this fun hobby by the time you complete your first diamond painting! 

New to Diamond Art? Start Here!