Painting on rice requires precision.
Painting or writing on a single grain of rice originated in Turkey and also has deep roots in India and Asia. Today artists spend significant amounts of time, and precision, painting pictures on rice. These tiny pieces of art are often sold at artisan fairs and specialty shops. If you want to try painting on your own grain of rice, you'll need a number of precise tools.
Magnifier
When working with anything as small as a grain of rice, it's important to use a magnifier to ensure you can see your work. A desk-mounted magnifier with a fluorescent light built into it is ideal. This style of magnifier has a flexible arm that allows you to position the lens precisely where you need it.
Hobby knife
A sharp razor blade-style hobby knife, such as an X-Acto knife, is important to use prior to applying the paint to the grain of rice. Because the sides of the grain of rice are slightly rounded, the knife is used to carefully scrape the rice to create a flat side for painting. If you make a mistake during the painting process, the knife can be used to precisely scrape the paint away.
Clay
Modeling Clay is used to hold the grain of rice while it's being painted. You simply make a small ball of clay, stick it to a table under your magnifier and lightly press the grain of rice into the clay. The clay will hold the rice steady while you work on it.
Technical pen
Technical pens can be bought at art supply stores and are used by technical artists, such as architects, who require a thin-tipped writing instrument. Technical pens are sold in a variety of tip sizes, and for use on a grain of rice, you'll need a .18 mm or .13 mm size. The technical pen may be sold with ink or you may have to purchase ink separately. The technical pen is used to draw the outline of the painting.
Paint
Acrylic paint can be used to paint on a grain of rice because it is easy to clean up. Depending on what image you plan to paint, you'll need a variety of colors -- but not very much of each one.
Fine-tipped paintbrushes
To effectively paint on a grain of rice, you'll need the finest-tipped paintbrushes you can find. Art supply stores often sell brushes with tips so fine that they have 10 or fewer bristles. The finer the brush you can find, the better success you'll have during the painting process.
