How to Use Glitter for Paintings at Paint and Sip

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When most people think about paint and sip parties, they envision people creating traditional acrylic or oil paintings. 

But, just because people are learning traditional painting techniques at these paint parties, it doesn’t mean that they can’t get creative and use other materials as well.

For instance, even though it is extremely messy (often referred to as the “herpes” of the crafting world), glitter is so much fun to use. It can add a lot to an acrylic painting.

Even though every student at a paint and sip class is doing the same painting, each painting is going to be different. Using glitter will make them even more different and unique.

Today we are going to take a look at using glitter to embellish a painting and make it more interesting. 

Let’s get started.

Why Add Glitter to a Painting?

Some people think that adding glitter to an acrylic painting just isn’t right. But, art is subjective, so just because one person doesn’t like glitter, it doesn’t mean that no one can use it on their paintings.

While there is a chance that glitter can cause damage or discoloration, this chance is very low. I enjoy blinging up my paintings with a bit of glitter. Sometimes, I even add rhinestones and other embellishments, just for fun!

I have found that people attending paint and sip parties love it when I break out the glitter. They get to add some sparkle to their creations and have even more fun.

How to Add Glitter to a Painting

There are a couple of ways that you can add glitter to a painting. Some people prefer to spread a thin layer of white glue or Mod Podge over the area that they want to add glitter to.

Another option is to use glitter pens. These pens already have glue mixed with glitter, and they can be used like regular markers. All you have to do is start coloring.

If you only want a very thin layer of glitter, this may be the best option. Often, when using glue and glitter, you end up using way too much glitter and end up with a thick clump on your artwork.

When I use glitter at paint and sip classes, I like to go over the various ways to use it. I get the students to try each method to figure out which they prefer.

Work in Layers

When I teach painting events to students, I always advise working in thin layers when using glitter. If you use thicker layers, there is always a chance of ending up with way too much glitter, and it’s next to impossible to get rid of the excess.

I suggest adding a very thin coating of Mod Podge or white glue and letting it dry for a couple of minutes. It is still sticky at this point, but not runny.

Lightly sprinkle a little bit of glitter onto the area, and allow the area to dry completely. If you decide you need more glitter, you can add it in layers until you get just the right amount.

Try Using Clear Acrylic Paint

Another option is to use clear acrylic paint. I don’t tend to use this at paint and sip parties though, because it is more costly than Mod Podge, which is available at most dollar stores.

Use Glitter with Wet Paint

Acrylic paint does dry rather quickly, but if you work quickly, you can sprinkle some glitter right on top of the wet paint. As the paint dries, the glitter will stick to it.

Once the paint is dry, I always recommend using some sort of glue or sealant. This will prevent bits of glitter from coming off later on, and it will protect the painting.

Add Glitter to Your Paint

If there are going to be large areas of a painting that are embellished with glitter, I often like to mix the glitter right into the acrylic paints. This is also a lot less messy than the other methods we have talked about.

You can add as much or as little glitter to the paint as you like, depending on what you want the painting to look like when it is completed.

I don’t recommend adding the glitter directly to the paint. Instead, mix it up with a bit of Mod Podge, and then combine this mixture with the acrylic paint. Then, you can paint as you normally would, with a lot more sparkle.

Use Glitter Nail Polish

Another easy way to add glitter to a painting is to use glitter nail polish. I find it a lot easier to use nail polish because it is not nearly as messy as using loose glitter.

The only downside to this is that it takes longer for nail polish to dry than it does for acrylic paints. If you only have a couple of hours, this may not be the best option unless you are only working with a single layer of polish.

Try Different Types of Glitter

There are many different types of glitter, and you aren’t limited to only using the stuff that you can sprinkle out of a bottle.

Some glitter is made with larger pieces, and in a variety of shapes so it looks more like confetti. This can add some interesting variations to a paint and sip painting, and it is a great way for guests to have lots of fun and get even more creative.

You can also use microbeads. These are nearly as tiny as glitter, but they will look totally different. Try using these and other items to jazz up your next paint and sip party.

Final Thoughts

Paint and sip parties aren’t about being perfect. They are about having fun, and glitter can be a whole lot of fun to play around with.

One thing I learned very quickly is to make sure that I lay down a lot of newspaper or cheap plastic drop cloths before using glitter. It is messy to use, and it will spread all over the place.

If you are going to be using glitter for any project, whether it be painting or other arts and crafts, try to pour as much of the leftover glitter back into the bottle as possible.

I like to use flimsy paper plates when working with glitter. When the students finish their artwork, all they have to do is fold the plate, put the folded edge at the top of the glitter bottle, and pour any unused glitter back into the bottle.

*image by BiancoBlue/depositphotos