How to Make Gold Paint: Shimmer & Shine

Gold paint brings a touch of luxury and elegance to any project, whether you’re crafting, decorating, or creating fine art. While you can easily buy gold paint from a store, making your own gives you more control over its tone, texture, and quality, allowing you to adjust the shade and shimmer to your exact preferences.

In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating gold paint from scratch, covering both traditional and modern methods.

You’ll learn how to mix pigments, add metallic finishes, and even adjust the paint’s consistency for different surfaces.

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or an artist looking to customize your materials, this guide will ensure your homemade gold paint truly shines.

Materials You’ll Need:

1. Pigments:

Yellow pigment (ochre or yellow oxide)
Red pigment (for warmth, such as red oxide)
White pigment (for brightness, like titanium white)
Metallic pigment (bronze powder, mica powder, or gold leaf flakes)

2. Binder (Medium):

Acrylic medium (for water-based paint)
Oil medium (linseed oil for oil-based paint)
Water (if using gouache or watercolor)

3. Optional Additives:

Gloss medium (for a shinier finish)
Retarder (to slow drying time for acrylic paint)
Flow aid (to improve consistency for smoother application)

4. Tools:

Palette knives for mixing
Small jars or containers for storage
A glass or ceramic palette (for mixing pigments)
Brushes for applying the paint
Measuring spoons or a scale (for accuracy)

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Gold Paint

Step 1: Choose Your Base Color

The base color of gold paint typically starts with a combination of yellow and a touch of red. This creates the warm, golden hue that will later be transformed into a shimmering gold.

Mix Yellow Pigment: Start by mixing yellow pigment (like yellow ochre or yellow oxide) with your medium. If you’re making acrylic paint, add acrylic medium; if you’re making oil paint, mix it with linseed oil. Ratio: Use about 2 parts yellow pigment to 1 part medium.
Add Red Pigment: Slowly incorporate a small amount of red pigment to warm up the yellow. Red oxide is an excellent choice, but you can experiment with different reds depending on the warmth you want in your gold. Tip: Start with tiny amounts of red pigment. Too much red can overpower the yellow and turn your base color orange.

Step 2: Adjust Brightness with White Pigment

To achieve the brilliance of gold, you’ll need to add white pigment. Titanium white is a great option because it’s opaque and bright, helping to lighten the base color without dulling the vibrancy.

Mix in White Pigment: Add a small amount of white pigment to your yellow-red mix. Be cautious with the amount—too much white can make the paint look pastel rather than rich and golden. Ratio: Aim for about 1 part white pigment to 3 parts yellow pigment.

Step 3: Incorporate Metallic Pigment

Now comes the key ingredient that gives gold paint its metallic shimmer—metallic pigments. These can come in several forms, from fine mica powders to real bronze powder or even gold leaf. Each type of metallic pigment offers a different effect.

Mica Powder: Mica powder is the easiest to work with and is available in various metallic shades. It’s often used for craft paints and provides a smooth shimmer.
Bronze Powder: For a more authentic metallic look, you can use bronze or aluminum powder, often found in art supply stores. These powders give a richer, more metallic finish.
Gold Leaf Flakes: If you want to go all out, you can crush gold leaf flakes into fine pieces and mix them with your paint to create a luxurious gold. Ratio: The amount of metallic pigment you add will determine the final sheen. Start by adding 1 part metallic powder to 3 parts paint and adjust as needed for more or less shimmer.

Step 4: Fine-Tune the Tone

After you’ve mixed the base pigments with the metallic powder, evaluate the color and shimmer. You can adjust the tone by:

Adding more yellow if the gold is too dark.
Adding a tiny bit of black or brown pigment to deepen the tone if it’s too light or bright.
Incorporating more white to lighten the gold for a paler, champagne-like hue.
Experimenting with different mica powders (such as copper or silver) to create custom metallic shades like rose gold or platinum.

Step 5: Adjust the Consistency

Depending on the surface you’re painting and the effect you want to achieve, you may need to adjust the thickness or fluidity of your gold paint.

For a thick, opaque application (ideal for textured surfaces like canvas or wood), leave the paint as is or add a little extra binder to thicken it.
For a more fluid, smooth application (perfect for fine details or flat surfaces like glass), add water (for acrylic or watercolor) or a flow aid to thin the paint.

Tips for a Perfect Finish:

Layering for Depth: Apply several thin layers of your gold paint, allowing each one to dry before adding the next. This helps to build up the richness of the color and shimmer.
Enhance the Shimmer: Once your base gold paint layer is dry, you can brush on an additional layer of mica powder mixed with a gloss medium. This will add extra shine and give a metallic gleam to the finished product.
Use Gloss Medium: Adding a gloss medium to the final layer of your gold paint can help enhance the reflective quality, giving the paint a high-shine finish. It’s especially effective on smooth surfaces like metal, plastic, or glass.

Storing Your Homemade Gold Paint

If you’ve made extra gold paint, be sure to store it in an airtight container. Keep the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as light can affect the pigments over time.

Stir the paint well before using it again, as metallic pigments may settle at the bottom of the container.

Alternative Methods for Making Gold Paint

1. Using Gold Leaf

If you don’t want to mix your own paint but still want the effect of gold, you can use gold leaf sheets. Apply a layer of adhesive to your surface, then carefully place the gold leaf on top. Once it’s set, you can seal it with a clear varnish for added durability.

2. Pre-Made Metallic Powders

If mixing pigments isn’t your style, you can buy pre-made metallic powder kits, which only require mixing with a binder. These kits often include a variety of metallic shades, so you can experiment with different gold tones.

Conclusion

By making your own gold paint, you have complete control over the shade, shimmer, and texture, allowing you to customize it to suit your specific project.

Whether you’re looking to create a subtle metallic finish or a bold, shiny statement, this process allows for endless creativity. From fine art projects to home decor, your homemade gold paint is sure to add a touch of elegance and shine.

Happy painting!