Real Spiderweb Transformed Into a Chessboard Pattern (2 Photos)

The delicate white lines on the dark squares aren't painted on—they're real spiderwebs. The artist managed to transfer an actual web onto the surface and seal it with varnish. Inside the folding case lies a backgammon board decorated with pressed fern and Jacob's ladder leaves.





In a discussion thread, the creator explained their technique: they first masked off the board with tape, cutting out sections to expose only the designated squares. The web was coated in white paint several times to make the strands thicker and stronger. After applying a clear topcoat to the board, they carefully lifted the web with it, adjusted the edges with a stick, and then added more layers of varnish over several days.

The creator mentioned that the project took several months off and on. They typically collected the webs from around trash cans—places where they were bound to be destroyed anyway. Up next, they plan to try the same pattern on the chess pieces, though those haven't been revealed yet.