Paint it blank is a great example of John Bannon’s ability to combine the best of others’ ideas into a really effective piece of magic. Let’s get on with the review.
The Effect
The spectator thinks of a card. You’re able to show that it has ‘turned invisible’; it then turns ‘blank’ and materialises between two jokers; and is finally revealed in all its fullness.
Is it a sandwich? A thought of card reveal? Or some tertium quid? I’m not quite sure how to categorise it, but it is certainly a strong effect which is very easy to do.
What do you get?
It comes with one gaff card and a matching joker. These are in standard Bicycle design so can be used with any normal deck.
The teaching is clear and thorough – though the whole DVD/download lasts less than 15 minutes. I don’t know whether it was shot when Bannon had just arrived from across the pond, but he seemed to be on particularly ponderous form as he explained the effect – like he had only just woken up or was highly medicated!
As usual he credits well explaining the history of the development of Paint it Blank. It was originally published under a different name in the excellent Mentalissimo (regular readers may be pleased or possibly completely uninterested to know that I have finally completed my Bannon library with a much-prized copy of High Caliber!) – but of course the advantage of buying this release is that you get the necessary cards.
So what do we think?
As with most Bannon effects, Paint it blank relies more on subtlety than complicated sleight of hands. The one ‘move’ comes in two flavours. The first involves a pretty boldly discrepant move. The second is slightly longer and though still discrepant (this isn’t real magic you know!) it is less so.
The premise/plot is whimsical but works and leaves the spectator with the impression that they have seen something much more impressive than they actually have.
I really like this a lot. It is very easy to perform and very engaging for the spectator – and seems impossible! The Jokers can easily be added to a deck you’re using for other effects and the structure of the routine means they can equally easily be removed at the end.
Paint it blank gets our highest recommendation and is available direct from Big Blind Media (who kindly supplied the review copy) for £17.99 (at the time of writing).
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