Instead of using pigments which are fixed with one single color, using pigments which chemically react with each other, in such a way as to create spots or stripes, similar to the reactions which create the patterns on spotted or stripped animals.
-- goldbb, Mar 22 2009

Some sample images http://images.googl...turing%20structures
[goldbb, Mar 22 2009]

Self Patterning Paint! http://en.wikipedia...habotinsky_reaction
Ok, not paint (yet), but color changing chemicals which form patterns. [goldbb, Aug 11 2014]

If we can do that, then can we do this? Solar_20Panel_20in_20a_20can
[normzone, Aug 11 2014]

Before boning this, check his link. It seems like it's possible.
-- cindik, Mar 22 2009


Is this a loop chemical reaction? How long will it run for? Is it like the monkey/type writer thing and eventuarly you end up with the Mona Lisa?
-- eight_nine_tortoise, Mar 23 2009


Yes! Hodgepodge paint. Brilliant.

I think the trickiest part would be getting the pattern to fix in as the paint set.
It might be handy to have the initial reactants in two separate pots, mixed at the time of application.
-- Loris, Mar 23 2009


You would definitely need to have the initial reactants in two seperate containers, since one generally needs at least three chemicals reacting with each other to produce turing structures, and at least one of them gets "used up" as the reactions continue.

As for getting the pattern to become fixed as the paint set... that could simply be a matter of adding something to the paint to make it dry extra slowly.
-- goldbb, Mar 23 2009


I don't consider those roller-based paints as equivalent to goldbb's idea.
There is something more similar in existance, called Hammerite. Which is lovely stuff. It's for protecting rusting metal really, but the cool thing is that it <presumably> uses the cell convection pattern of the drying paint to set up a 'hammered metal finish'.

goldbb, my concern with the pattern 'fixing' is really about it not just drying to a uniform colour. A requirement might be that the reaction proceed for a period then stop relatively quickly. That is, if the reaction slows down gradually the pattern may be lost. You don't want the reactant to get used up before the paint has dried.
I wonder whether it would be possible to use solvent evaporation to power the cycle. That way maybe it wouldn't matter.
-- Loris, Mar 24 2009


Simple version would be like a toothpaste tube, at least that way you'd get stripes...

Sure I've got some somewhere...next to the rubber hammer for the glass nails, the skyhook, the bucket to collect sparks and so on.
-- not_morrison_rm, Aug 12 2014


Yes, I've use Rust-oleum hammered bronze paint. It creates a nice randomly bumpy/splotchy surface. They also sell a crackle finish. I'm not sure if these fully cover the intent since the pictures of Turning structures appear to be a bit more organized than these paint textures.
-- scad mientist, Aug 12 2014


Flock?

Sorry, I have a cold...
-- not_morrison_rm, Aug 13 2014



random, halfbakery