Painting Different Size Balls on a Wall

Use string to paint a perfect ball.

Painting balls or circles on the wall is an ideal way to add dimension to a plan wall. Painting a ball is tricky because the shape, a perfect circle, is challenging to do by hand. Even if you trace an object that is round such as a mug or bowl, the size of your balls are limited to how big or small those objects are. The ideal technique allows you to paint a perfect circle that is any size you want.

Things You'll Need

• Spool of string
• Thumb tack
• Indoor wall paint
• Foam paintbrush set for each paint color
• 1.5-inch flat-tip paint brush for each paint color
• Paintbrush set, assorted sizes
• Pictures of various balls

Instructions

1. Determine how wide you want your first ball to be, and then pull a line of string to match that length. Hold one end of the string in each hand, pull it taught and then look at it. This is how wide the ball is going to be. Pull out more string if you want it wider.

2. Cut the string from the spool at the length you determined. Next, tie one end of the string to the middle of a pencil.

3. Stick a thumb tack into the tip of the other end of the string. Next, pin the thumb tack and the tip of the string it holds to the wall. The pencil should hang freely from the tack in the wall.

4. Grab the pencil and pull the string taught. Place the pencil at a 90 degree angle on the wall surface.

5. Draw on the wall with the pencil, tracing the arc that is created by the string and tack. Keep the string completely taught as you revolve around the tack until the circle is complete or you run out of space to draw.

6. Repeat using a different length of string each time. Alter the size of the string as desired.

7. Dip the foam brush in the color of paint you want and carefully paint your circles. Paint from the pencil edges inward for 1 inch using the corner of the foam paintbrush. Transition to painting with the flat tip brush when you are far enough from the edges. Use larger paintbrushes to paint inner space of bigger circles. Allow paint to dry according to the label before adding further coats of paint.

8. Dip the 1-1/2-inch-flat tip brush in the color of paint you want to define your ball. Look at a picture of the ball you want to make, such as a basketball, as you work. Carefully paint the pattern on the circle, ensuring to add curvature to your lines to add definition to the ball.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply additional coats of paint if necessary to achieve desired color. Follow manufacturer recommendations on coloring.

References

• Nursery Murals and More; How to Paint a Circle Wall Mural; October 20, 2008
• Wallpaper on Walls: Paint Brushes "Choose The Right One"