Earlier this month, I made a shallow dish, but thought it looked plain.  To fix that little issue, I decided to try a paint dipping technique, courtesy of a couple thousand You Tube videos.  If done right, it will make some really cool swirls on the item being dipped.  If done wrong, it will make a gloppy, sticky mess!  For a first attempt, there was much in the way of learning lessons to be taken away:

• DON’T put any finish on the piece before you dip it, because the paint may not stick.
• DON’T put too much of any one color in/on the water, or you’ll get a piece fully dominated by that color.
• DON’T use a container for dipping that you ever want to use for anything else, because it will be completely ruined – OR – make sure you put some kind of liner in before you fill it with water.
• DON’T use a container with a small surface area to save paint.  You’ll end up with a splotchy spot because there won’t be enough paint on the water surface to cover the whole project.
• DON’T save time by using cold tap water, the paint won’t disperse enough if you do.
• DO wear gloves of some kind, or you’ll get spray paint all over your hands.
• DO keep a supply of mineral spirits readily available to clean up your hands because you stupidly think your hands won’t get dirty.  They will.  Almost instantly!
• DO figure out a way to attach some kind of handle to your piece.  It’ll keep your fingers out of the way of the paint and avoid a blank spot on the final product where your fingers were clamped on.
• DO wear some kind of breathing protection, because when spray paint hit water, it will quickly become breathable.  No coroner wants to see Technicolor lungs when you get to their table…

Here’s the final product.  I’m thinking the next wig stand that I make for the cancer patients will have a much different visual appearance.