DIY Network

Hand Painted Guitar Visit DIY's Craft Lab to learn the art of guitar design painting. From "Craft Lab" episode DCLB-114

Guest Walter Knabe and his daughter, Gwen, join host Jennifer Perkins to demonstrate how to turn transform a plain guitar with a one-of-a kind design.

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Turn an ordinary guitar into a work-of-art by painting and adding designs.

Project designed by Walter and Gwen Knabe.

Materials:

guitar—electric or acoustical with flat surface
water base primer
base color acrylic paint
stencil color acrylic paint
second stencil color acrylic paint
brush color acrylic paint
2 stencils—different sizes
2 stencil brushes
2 small foam brushes
1 soft bristle brush
painter's tape
craft glue
rhinestones

Note: Download three stencil designs for your guitar, below:

PDF Download a "flower" pattern.

PDF Download a "circle" pattern.

PDF Download two "miscellaneous" patterns.

Figure A

Hand Painted Guitar

1. Remove the strings, and tape out or remove guitar pick-ups and any other hardware attached to the main body of the guitar.

2. Prime the main body of the guitar using water base primer—one coat should do it. Let it dry for one hour.

3. Paint the entire primed area with acrylic color of choice and let dry one hour.

4. Tape stencils to the guitar where you choose (figure A) and then stencil the first pattern using a stencil brush and acrylic paint.

5. Stencil the first pattern using a stencil brush and acrylic paint. You can place the same stencil in a couple of areas for multiple uses. Let dry to touch, or use a hair dryer to speed up the process.

6. Stencil the second pattern with the same process as the first, again, placing the stencil pattern as many times as you like. Let it dry to the touch.

7. Next, take the small 1" foam brush and "whisk" some random replacement strokes around the body of the guitar.

8. Rhinestones can be added with craft glue for added glitz.

9. It is very important to seal the finish after it has dried for an hour with water base polyurethane. Give the guitar three coats following the manufacturer's instructions. Another option for coating the guitar is to take it to an auto body shop and have them give the guitar a professional clear coat to make it rock solid.

Tips:

• Remember, you can do most any pattern as long as you can place it on the flat surface of the guitar—and almost any item that can be adhered will work well.

• Also, remember patterns can be silk-screened as well, adding to the complexity of the design—so rock on!

RESOURCES :

Guitar
Sam Ash Music Store
Website: www.samash.com

GUESTS :

Walter Knabe
Walter Knabe Studios
We apologize no further information is available.