Considering some facts on how to paint metallic surface using acrylics or oil paints depends on the artist eye for keen details and the right materials to use. One of the challenges an artist will experience is on how to paint metallic surface the realistic way. With these easy hacks, you can start working that process as a professional artist and enjoy the benefits of learning the tricks that old master made from continuous experimentation to achieve success.
What are the key factors to remember when painting a metallic surface with oil paints and acrylics? What are the essential materials for this painting technique? Are there certain exercises or tips to remember to achieve that realistic metallic painting surface?
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Practicing How To Paint Metallic Surface With Acrylics And Oil Paints

There are many ways on how to paint metallic surface using traditional acrylics or oil paints. Though it may sound and feel challenging than just using metallic paint directly on your painting surface for convenience. Learning how to paint metallic surface with ordinary paints is a skill an artist can try acquiring along the way. It is rewarding to know that you can actually do it the old way as the old masters did way back when metallic paints are not yet available.
Factors To Remember When Painting Metallic Surface
To further learn how to paint metallic surface using traditional paints, we are giving you a quick overview and helpful tips on how to achieve that sophisticated and dynamic results in no time. It is by keen observations to details that make a successful and realistic metallic surface painting. With these tips, you are one step closer to creating that painting in no time.
One of the key factors on how to paint metallic surface is the details incorporated around the object that you wanted to copy. You have to pay close attention to these details as to how it affects each other and the reflections what was created by looking closely. The shadows and colors that you can see all over give you heed of observations and proper color harmony and contrast all at the same time. The temperature for each hue, their appearances and values and the transparency of your ground also matters.

The realistic reflection of all the images surrounding the metallic surface allows the artist to further understand the colors all over the reflections. Remember that each object’s reflections are distorted and produce that abstract image once seen on the surface of the subject image you are trying to portray. There are also some factors you need to take note for the more still life effects, the image and all that is in it is a whole picture of what you see and not just what you remember. It is completely different as to how you create from the memories that remain in you from the actual image that you are working with. It is best to start drawing the whole image that you are about to paint. Start to outline the fine lines and sketch the details that must be included.
Essential Materials For A Successful Metallic Surface Painting
There are different materials to use on how to paint metallic surface using acrylics and oil paints. That differs on the painting medium that you will be using and the subject image that you wanted to copy. There are some materials that work best in this technique and not on the next technique. The painting method also depends on the artist approach as to how they wanted to create each realistic image on their style and preference.
You have to prepare the paints that you will use on how to paint metallic surface especially with oil paints or acrylics.
The painting surface or canvas is another factor to achieve that successful realistic metallic surface. Always use high-quality artist grade or acid-free board to achieve the long-lasting lifespan of your paintings.
Paintbrush and palette knife can also be taken in considerations when painting a metallic surface. If you happen to use metallic paint instead, you will still use a palette knife to achieve a textured painting surface.
Try preparing other painting mediums that work best for your painting sessions. Those that you are comfortable working with will help your painting sessions a lot easier.
Helpful Tips And Exercise For A Realistic Metallic Surface

On this helpful tips on how to paint metallic surface with your oil paints and acrylics, you will have additional knowledge on the know-how and some basic exercises to further improve and enhance your skills with the painting technique and methods.
Tip #1. Remember to take the subject image that you wanted to copy in full details. It is not just what you think it looks like but what it literally looks like that matters to achieve those successful realistic paintings.
Tip #2. The key factor of achieving a realistic image is not just about the colors that you used for your painting but most especially, the image and reflections that incorporated inside the metallic surface. The sheer details make the difference and the details that encapsulated inside the reflections is what matters to showcase the realistic view from the mirroring image to its surroundings.
Tip #3. The degree of intensity on the reflected objects become different from the actual image that is present on the surroundings of your painting subject. Keep these image dull and less color from the image outside your metallic image or mirroring image. Take note of the actual color of your metallic object. The objects reflecting inside must have the same shade as the mirroring subject image.

Tip #4. Different tints and shades of each reflection vary on the color of your metallic surface. Brass and gold give the yellowish reflections per object. The copper metallic surface creates a coral or more of a peach hue while if your metallic surface is silver, the reflections are almost the same as the original colors but may differ just a bit.
Tip #5. The reflections of a still life image vary on the metallic surface’s color. There are some reflections that are visible while others have a lot of changes. Keep the sheen’s sharper lines to produce that realistic reflection that creates the texture of your image.
Tip #6. You are working on a metallic surface that has an outline with some abstract images encapsulated inside. Work on the larger reflections of image all the way down to the smallest of details and that also goes with the darkest of the possible reflections all the way to the bounce of light that creates white blank space on your metallic surface. That is how you can create that perfect metallic reflection or mirror within your painting surface.
Tip #7. Understand the nature of every image and reflections by looking intently on different objects and directions of the image being used as the subject. That way you can further have an overview of how it looks like in different angles to enhance its realistic feels.
To make an effective reflection of different image, try practicing using different types of the subject image such as different silverware. Create that still life image with just two or three colors and practice creating adjacent image next to it. If you can make this with just a few colors then you definitely can with a much more variety of other colors afterward. Use a glass or spoon as a subject. Start with small details and go little by little until you can create a larger artwork and a painting canvas.