How to Paint an Acrylic Skull

Paint an acrylic skull to look like the real thing.

Acrylic skulls can be purchased in many stores and are often collected for their crystal clear nature. If you have such a skull but want to give it a realistic paint job, you must prepare the surface before you can begin painting. Once the surface is ready, using the correct colors and techniques will help you to paint it properly.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Rubbing alcohol
• Soapy water
• Primer
• Spray paint
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Matte sealer

Instructions

Prepping the Skull

1. Sand the entire acrylic skull with 400-grit sandpaper until the surface is hazy.

2. Wash the skull with rubbing alcohol, then a second time with soapy water to remove all residue of the sanding dust. Allow the skull to dry completely.

3. Apply four thin coats of white primer, allowing each coat to dry completely before adding the next.

4. Lightly wet-sand the dried primer with 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper, then again with 600-grit and finally with 800-grit.

5. Wash the primed skull in clean water and allow it to dry.

Painting the Skull

1. Spray the skull with three coats of dark brown spray paint.

2. Drybrush a coat of ivory acrylic paint onto the skull, covering all of the raised areas but allowing the cracks, sockets and depressions to remain dark.

3. Paint black into the nose and eye sockets, as well as into any cracks, teeth and other areas that need to be emphasized.

4. Mottle medium brown onto random portions of the skull by tapping it with the bristles of an almost-dry brush. This will provide some textural differences and help to age the skull. Apply this paint along any cracks in the skull, as well.

5. Apply a second drybrushed coat of ivory to the entire skull.

6. Mix a few drops of white into the ivory paint. Use this mixture to drybrush highlights onto the highest areas of the skull, such as the cheekbones, nose hole and teeth.

7. Spray on two coats of matte sealer to protect the paint.

Tips & Warnings

• Wet-sanding uses a special wet/dry sandpaper dipped in water, then rubbed against an object in small circles. Do not attempt it with normal sandpaper, which will turn to mush.

• Drybrushing is a process in which a brush is loaded with paint, then most of it is wiped off again. The nearly dry brush then transfers paint only to raised surfaces and misses deeper ones.

• Allow each coat of paint to dry before applying the next.

References

• Overclockers: "How To Paint steel, Aluminum, Plastic, and Acrylic"; Aaron McBride
• Grim Visions: Painting a Foam Skull