How to Use Pearl Paint
Painters use pearl paint primarily to add depth to a coat of paint. Pearl powder is a material added to a base coat or a covering clear coat painted over a base coat of paint. Placed onto a surface, the pearl material bends light directed at the painted surface, creating a softly glowing effect that changes as the angle of light changes against the surface. The pearl power comes in two types, ghost pearls that have no colors of their own and enhance whatever color of paint they're mixed into, and colored candy pearls added to a clear coat and applied to complement the base coat of paint, adding complexity to the colors used.
Things You'll Need
- Primer paint
- Paintbrush
- Sandpaper
- Rags
- Base coat
- Pearl paint powder
- Paint mixing stick
- Plywood board
- Clear coat paint
Instructions
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1
Clean the painting surface, removing any dirt or debris present. Allow the surface to dry completely before painting.
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2
Apply a primer coat, using a primer paint that complements your base coat color. The primer covers any flaws in the painting surface as well as providing a clear surface to which the base coat can adhere. Brush on the coating of primer using three or four thin layers to prevent running or clumping of the paint. Allow the primer paint to dry overnight.
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3
Sand the primer smooth with 600-grit sandpaper, removing any signs of brushstrokes and leveling the primer surface. Remove sanding residue with a rag.
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4
Mix the ghost pearl powder into the base coat with the paint stick if you desire to add depth to the base without adding additional color. Use ¾ teaspoon to 2 teaspoons of the pearl powder per quart of paint, according to taste. Use less powder for lighter paints, but the more pearl powder used, the greater the effect on light. Experiment by adding a small amount and testing the results on a piece of plywood, adding more of the powder until you reach your desired effect.
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5
Apply the base coat of paint over the primer. Brush the base coat onto the surface, working in a single direction and using light layers of paint to build up to a solid coat of color. Allow the base coat to dry overnight.
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6
Sand the base coat smooth with fine grit sandpaper, removing any signs of brushing. Wipe the surface clean of the residue left from sanding with a rag.
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7
Mix the candy pearl material into the clear coat paint with a wooden mixing stick. The pearl is translucent and as such, the base coat will shine through. Experiment with pearl amounts, testing the results over the base coat applied to the plywood. Adding more pearl material to the clear coat has a greater effect on the light and alters the color more.
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8
Paint a layer of clear-coat over the base color. Make sure to use even strokes that apply a level layer of the coating over the base paint without any heavy concentrations of the paint in any one area. Allow the pearl coating a full night to dry.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit paint brush image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
