How to Mix Gold With Liquitex

Liquitex acrylic paint can act as a binder for gold flake or powder.

Artists have used Liquitex acrylic paint for decades to produce paintings and crafts. The consistency of liquitex acrylic paint allows for the inclusion of additional materials, for which the acrylic paint when dry will act as a binder, similar to metallics and pearls used in automotive painting. You can add gold flake to acrylic paint in one of two ways. You can either mix the gold flake into the paint itself or sprinkle the flake onto the paint after it has already been applied. The first method will produce a rough texture with ingrained and understated gold highlights, and the second will produce a much more flamboyant and metallic finish after the paint has dried.

Things You'll Need

• Gold flake
• Mortar and pestle
• Mixing knife
• Paint mixing board

Instructions

1. Pour the gold flake into the mortar, then use the pestle to pulverize it into pieces that are the size you want to achieve. If you are applying the gold by sprinkling it onto the paint, a fine dust powder will work well. If, on the other hand, you are mixing it into the paint itself, grind it into flakes that are larger than 1mm.

2. Squeeze the desired amount of Liquitex paint onto the paint mixing board. If you are mixing the Liquitex with the gold flake, pour the flake over the wet paint, then fold it together using a paint mixing knife. Avoid using your paintbrush, as the gold flakes will stick to the bristles and may clump on your craft or painting.

3. Apply the paint to the painting or craft in the manner you desire.

4. Sprinkle the gold dust over the wet paint if you have chosen to not mix the gold flake into the paint but rather sprinkle it on top.

Tips & Warnings

• Use imitation gold as opposed to real gold to obtain good results and keep your overhead prices low. When mixing gold into Liquitex paint, as much as 90 percent of the actual gold may be buried beneath the surface invisible, wasting material.

References

• "Acrylic Secrets: 300 Tips and Techniques for Painting the Easy Way"; Gil Barron; 2009
• "The Encyclopedia of Acrylic Techniques: A Unique A-Z Directory of Acrylic Techniques With Step-by-Step Guidance on Their Use"; Hazel Harrison; 2009
• "The Acrylics Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist"; Barclay Sheaks; 2000