How to Paint a Clock Face
Perhaps the most famous artist who made his mark using clocks as subject matter was Salvador Dali, known for his unforgettable, surrealist portrayal of melting clocks. Even if you're not interested in surrealist subject matter, a developing artist should be able to paint a clock face with a high level of accuracy, even if the clock will just be in the background of the picture. Painting a clock face is simple if you treat it as a compilation of shapes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bow compass
- Canvas or paper
- Pencil
- Acrylic paints
- Palette
- 1-inch nylon paintbrush
- Paper towels
Instructions
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1
Adjust a bow compass so it is at the desired width. This width will be the radius of your clock face: one half of the diameter of the clock.
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2
Set the spike of your bow compass onto your paper or canvas. Keeping the spike planted, spin the compass around, creating a perfect circle. Make a light dot at the top, bottom, and extreme right and left sides of the circle. These are where the digits 12, 6, 3, and 9 will go on the clock face.
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3
Draw in the digits 12, 6, 3, and 9 with your pencil. Sketch roughly where you want your clock hands to go. Squeeze paint onto your palette.
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4
Dip your paintbrush into the color you want to use as the background for the clock face. Paint the background of the clock face in smooth, even strokes.
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5
Rinse off your paintbrush, dry it with paper towels, and dip it into the color you want the numbers to be. Start by painting the numbers you've already sketched out, and follow with the remaining numbers. Keep your strokes uniform as your paint the numbers.
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6
Rinse off your paintbrush, dry it, and dip it into the paint color you want the clock hands to be. Paint the clock hands with deliberate, even strokes.
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7
Rinse and dry your brush, and dip it into a final color that you'd like the clock frame to be. Use your paintbrush to follow the outlines of the clock face that you already drew with your pencil.
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