10 Easy Tips for Painting with Textured Paint

Sometimes, painting with a simple, flat paint just won't get you the image you want. Or, you might simply want to expand your horizons, and try out some new things. Painting with textured paints isn't that hard once you get the hang of it, and it can help make your paintings and images and projects so much more interesting. Here are 10 easy tips for painting with textured paint to make your projects more textured and amazing.

1. Read labels carefully, and look for products that have sample swatches. A good paint company will have a number of clear gels that mix into paint to add texture, and hand painted swatches. Use these to get an idea of what kind of paint to buy, and what it will do.

2. There's a huge variety of products out there and they all do different things. From gels to mix into your paints, or lay down as a surface, to actual paints that take on grainy, stringy, or course feel. Try out as much as you can, and have fun. 3. Play with ways of applying the texture. Drip, throw, scrape, and paint on. Use brushes, sticks, pallet knives, and whatever you think would work. Drippy paints are better with paint brush handles and sticks, thicker, grainy paints work best with pallet knives.

3. Sometimes, a little goes a long way. Don't let your project be overwhelmed by the textured paint. Be loose and free, just don't go overboard.

4. If you mess up or don't like something, scrape it down or sand it off. It's not that hard.

5. Don't be afraid of messing up. Like I said before, you can always fix problems. Sometimes, you'll like things that happen that you didn't intend to.

6. Try painting back on top of textures with another color. It will create another visual texture on top of the physical texture, add depth to the painting, and add plenty of character.

7. Mix textures together. Combine different gels, and different paints. Layer effects, mush them side by side. See what happens. Texture goes a long way in helping a piece or project.

8. Make sure the textures you choose go along with your project. You don't want to use harsh pumice gel on a pretty little ballerina, nor do you want to use large splashy drips on a metallic surface. Think through your choices.

9. Don't keep too much control of the texture. Only putting texture in one or two confined spots will make them stand out sure, but they might not fit with the rest of what you're doing.

10. Try out as much as you can and experiment. I can describe as many techniques as possible, but none would compare to your own findings with the media.