To make your paint shiny, apply a high-gloss varnish or use a gloss medium mixed with your paint.
Here's a breakdown of how you can achieve a shiny paint finish:
1. Choosing the Right Paint:
- Acrylics: Acrylic paints generally dry to a satin or matte finish. To get a shiny finish with acrylics, you'll need to use a gloss medium or varnish.
- Oils: Oil paints naturally have a slight sheen and can be brought to a higher gloss. Consider using a medium designed to increase gloss.
2. Using a Gloss Medium:
- Mix In: You can mix a gloss medium directly into your paint to increase its sheen. Liquitex makes a gloss medium that can be used this way.
- Application: Mix the medium thoroughly with the paint according to the product's instructions.
3. Applying a High-Gloss Varnish:
- Timing: Apply a high-gloss varnish after your painting is completely dry. This is usually several days for acrylics and potentially much longer for oil paints (weeks or months, depending on thickness).
- Product Choice: Look for varnishes specifically labeled as "high gloss". Liquitex offers a product that functions as both a gloss medium and a varnish, offering flexibility.
- Application Technique:
- Ensure the surface is clean and dust-free.
- Apply the varnish in thin, even coats. Avoid thick applications, which can lead to drips or uneven drying.
- Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat.
- Safety: Work in a well-ventilated area, especially when using solvent-based varnishes.
4. Polishing (for Oil Paints):
- For oil paints, once thoroughly dry, you can carefully polish the surface to enhance the gloss. This is a more advanced technique and requires specific polishing compounds. Exercise extreme caution to avoid damaging the paint layer.
In Summary:
Achieving a shiny paint finish involves either mixing a gloss medium with your paint or applying a high-gloss varnish after the paint has dried. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific products you're using.
