How To Make Acrylic Paint Look Like Its Glowing

An artist’s imagination and technique are supplemented by the variety of possibilities their materials have to offer. Acrylic paints are a fine example of materials with which you can create many different effects. And a glowing effect is one of them.

How To Make Acrylic Paint Look Like Its Glowing? You can make acrylic paint look like it’s glowing by using techniques such as subtractive metallic grisaille and painting in high contrast. Also, materials such as iridescent acrylic paint and metallic pigments can help you achieve a glow in your artwork.

How to make acrylic paint look like it’s glowing is one of the skills every painter should learn. In this article. I will discuss some of the techniques used to achieve this effect. I will also provide you with step-by-step guidelines on how to apply them to your own artwork. 

Use the Subtractive Metallic Grisaille Technique

Backgrounds, underpaintings, and underlayers with grisaille enameling were originally used for oil paintings. But this striking play on light and shade has been applied to acrylic paintings as well, achieving a wide tonal range from subtle to bold.

This is how to go about this technique:

Materials Needed

• Paints – iridescent acrylic paints and Carbon black
• Substrate – surface primed with gesso or painted white
• Tools – paint brush, rag or other paint application tool, painting or mixing knife, mixing palette, textural tools
• Products – acrylic (polymer) gloss medium

Procedure

1. Prepare the surface. The surface you will be working on should be white. You can use a pre-primed white surface or paint over one with white paint. If you are going with the latter option, be sure the paint is completely dry before proceeding. Once dry, apply a coating of an acrylic gloss medium using a paintbrush and allow it to dry.
2. Apply the paint. Mix your iridescent paints on a palette and add Carbon Black as desired to create different tones. Apply them onto your substrate with a paintbrush or using a knife. 
3. Create lighter tones. While this layer of iridescent paint is still wet, take a rag and wipe off some areas, varying the pressure as you go about it. This will result not only in lighter tones but varied tonal values as well.
4. Subtract lines and shapes. Using a textural tool, scrape the paint off of some areas, creating lines and shapes that reveal the white background underneath. This should be done while the paint is still wet. Wipe off the excess paint from the textural tool as you work.
5. Let it dry. Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your surface, allow it to dry completely. 

Mix Metallic Pigments or Iridescent Acrylic Paint With an Acrylic Matte Medium

Another way to achieve that glow in your art pieces is by working with metallic pigments or iridescent acrylic paint. You then combine these with an acrylic matte medium, and paint them over the substrate to create a reflective background.

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You can then draw images on this surface using any drawing material, including pencils, crayons, markers, or charcoal. 

This is how to apply this technique:

Materials Needed

• Paints – dry metallic powder/pigment or iridescent acrylic paint
• Substrate – any painting or drawing surface
• Tools – painting or mixing knife, paintbrush, drawing materials, mixing palette
• Products – acrylic matte medium

Procedure

1. Prepare metallic mixture – Using a knife, mix either metallic powder or iridescent acrylic paint in a 1:1 ratio with an acrylic matte medium on a mixing palette. You may choose to add a bit of water to this mixture so that you can apply it more easily onto the surface with a paintbrush.
2. Apply the mixture to the surface – Using a paintbrush, knife, or rag, apply enough of the mixture to the surface to create a thin layer. Make sure the surface is evenly coated, then allow it to dry completely. 
3. Draw image on the painted surface – Once the paint on the surface has dried, use a drawing material of your choice to create images on the painted substrate. 
4. Troubleshooting – If you are unable to make marks on the surface using your drawing materials, revert to Step 1. If you used metallic powder, add more of it to the mixture. On the other hand, if you used iridescent acrylic paint, add more acrylic matte medium to the mixture. This will make the mixture grittier, and when painted on the surface, it will provide more traction allowing you to make markings on it using your drawing materials.

Note: When using metallic powder, work in a well-ventilated room and wear a mask or respirator to avoid inhaling the airborne particles.

Play With Contrasts

When used correctly, light and dark color contrasts can effuse an illuminated or glowing effect in some areas of your painting. Below is what you need to do:

Materials Needed

• Paints – one or more acrylic paint colors, Carbon black, Titanium white
• Substrate – any painting surface
• Tools – paintbrush or another application tool of choice

Method

• Pair two high-contrast colors – Black and white are what often come to mind. However, any two high-contrast colors can create light and dark. Just be careful not to push the contrasts too far. Find the right balance that works with your overall image, and the lighter areas will evoke a glow contrasting with the dark colors. 
• Combine high-contrast and low-contrast colors – Using both high-contrast and low-contrast colors in the same image can further amplify that glowing effect. A fine example is when Rembrandt masterfully employed both high-contrast and low-contrast colors in his 1632 portrayal of The Abduction of Europa. While this is an oil painting, the same effect can be achieved with acrylic paint. The contrasts are what’s key.

Final Words

There is so much more to painting than stroking pigments onto a canvas. With the application of certain techniques, you can achieve a myriad of effects. Some of these allow you to add a glow to your acrylic paintings. 

Other than technique, the materials you use can also contribute to your work. Artists should equip themselves with knowledge on both materials and techniques to enable them to produce fine pieces of art.