How to Tattoo a Banana

Written by Jason Poel Smith

You will need:

» Banana

» Image

» Scissors

» Scotch tape

» Needle

» Mechanical pencil (optional)

JASON POEL SMITH is a lifelong student of all forms of making, from electronics to crafts and everything in between. He creates the “DIY Hacks and How Tos” video series for Make: at youtube.com/make.

DON’T JUST PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD — MAKE ART WITH IT. I started tattooing bananas after seeing similar work by artist Phil Hansen. It is a great way to add some fun to packed lunches, and it doesn’t ruin the food.

When you puncture or bruise a banana peel, the ruptured cells release chemicals that start to oxidize and turn brown. By using a fine-tipped needle, you can make detailed drawings on a banana peel. You can even use stencils to make a copy of your favorite picture.

1. CREATE A STENCIL

Find a picture that you want to use and scale it to the appropriate banana size. Then print it out. Cut out the picture, leaving some blank paper around the edges. Next, use Scotch tape to attach the picture to your banana.

2. OUTLINE THE PATTERN

Using a needle, poke holes through the paper along all the major lines. Try to keep the holes close together and as shallow as possible. To make this easier, try attaching a needle to a mechanical pencil. When you’re done, remove the stencil. You should see a dotted outline of your picture.

3. FILL IN THE DETAILS

Now you need to connect the dots and apply shading. Go back over all the major lines and make more dots to fill in the gaps. To apply shading, gently tap the surface to make very light scratches. The details will darken over time.

It’s art that you can eat!

Jason Poel Smith