Whether you’re looking for an eye-catching fill or a background for pinstripes or artwork, the fish scale technique is a timeless choice. “This is a very easy technique for someone to pick up,” says Chris MacMahan, owner of Aerografix in Elyria, Ohio. “We do this a lot on choppers and bobbers for a 70s look. It’s also great for backgrounds in retro-style murals.”
In this tutorial, MacMahan uses a traditional circular scale, but other shapes work just as well, such as triangles for a diamond pattern or curved “teeth” for a quilt pattern. With a little imagination and experimentation, you’ll be able to create a wide range of patterns and effects.
Drawing the pattern guide
MacMahan uses a template to create the pattern of overlapping circles (Fig. 1). Generally, the scale size should be big enough to fill the space without appearing busy. Use your best judgment.
Cut the guide
Your pattern should be drawn on a light cardstock, about the thickness of a business card — heavy enough not to become soggy and tear, light enough to cut cleanly with scissors or a craft knife (Fig. 2).