Preparing the clay (for painting on top of it)
Acrylic paints (all uses)
...gen. info ...other uses
...metallic, pearlescent & glitter acrylic paints (reg.bodied)
.........making your own metallic/pearl. paints
...thin-bodied acrylics
........Neopaque (non-metallic) ...Lumiere + LunaLights (metallic)
...other acrylic paints (?), etc.
...acrylic "mediums"
Oils + oil-like paints, etc.
.....true oils + oil pastels
....heat set oils (Genesis)
....water-miscible "oils" (water-mixable... Max, Artisan)
Water-Soluble paints (permanently soluble) --watercolors, tempera
Misc. re paints... & other paints
Colored Pencils
Pastels
Chalks
Dyes

Stencils, etc.
Brushes
Antiquing ...& patinas
Crackling, stretching, & manipulating paint
...acrylic paints, inks...tempera...clear finishes...etc.
Misc. (re all paints + books/etc.)

Polymer "paintings"
...liquid clay
...thinned solid clay
...relief & onlay
......drawn outline on wood, masonite, fabric
......drawn outline under glass, acrylic, translucent papers
...other materials & ways
...misc. re "paintings"

Printing (with paints & inks)
....screenprinting (reg, w/ "frames")
.......simpler stencils
....PhotoEZ ...Print Gocco (no reg. frames, photosensitive)
(Photosensitive) polymer plates for texture plates

--see info on markers & inks, dip pens used with inks, etc, in Letters-Inks

PREPARING the clay for Painting Opaquely ON TOP of it

(see more on preparations for various paints & chalks, etc., below in their individual categories)

(see just above for summary of paints to use)

Generally color is built into the clay, since virtually any color can be mixed when using clay, but some people (especially sculptors and those who haven't done other things with polymer clay) add color by painting on top of the clay instead.
Some who build color in for all other parts of a sculpt, e.g., may still use paints and other mediums on top of clay for thin washes to create lip and cheek color over skin-colored clay though.

....(If using Sculpey clays to paint on), in general it's better to use Super Sculpey clay rather than plain white original Sculpey in the box, since SS is so much stronger... long term your pieces will hold up better using it. Jodi Creager
....SuperSculpey (not Sculpey III) baked at a slightly higher temp (just under 300 degrees) will darken, but it also proves to make the clay fairly strong. Katherine Dewey (...so especially good if you will be painting the baked SS or covering it with more clay)
...Kathy Dewey uses Premo beige clay, then paints over it (she is a renowned artist with two books on sculpting). Patty B. (was this a change from SS?)

In order to paint on baked clay, the clay must first at least be cleaned, and possibly primed, to make the paint adhere well:

CLEANING:
oils (including hand oils) and possibly waxes on the surface of the clay can keep water-based paints from sticking well to the clay, or cause them to bead up (... underbaked clay will also cause these problems)
... so before painting anything on polymer, degrease the surface first by using a little soap and water and a toothbrush, then rinse ( this removes any residue that remains on the surface after baking and gives the piece a better tooth for the paint to cling). Jodi
........ I have also used concentrated dishwashing liquid to de-grease clay - you then have to rinse under the tap and dry it with a tissue, but it works too.
...or degrease with alcohol ...alcohol based solvents: surgical spirit, isopropyl, methylated spirits, denatured alcohol (many of these are virtually identical but under different names in different countries)... I expect you could use gin or vodka if you wanted (but what a waste!) Sue
.......I think they all just evaporate so quickly that they do not have a chance to attack the clay, just degrease the surface.
......If you brush over the surface of baked polyclay with methylated spirit (denatured alcohol) you can get even the thinnest acrylic washes to stick without beading. Nail varnish remover works as well..... I get some good watercolour effects on clay like this.
...I had a bit of problem with using too much nail polish remover at one time - that is acetone based and did crack the clay. Sue
... If you are painting on Fimo, it is better to seal the surface first with matt or gloss varnish before degreasing and painting ... this stops the paint bleeding into the clay in time - only a problem with Fimo in my experience, though. . .Sue
...the shiney areas on your clay probably mean that you have tended to over-smooth the clay more in certain areas with either a tool or your finger... to remove the shine, you can 'wet' the surface with water and rub ...something I recommend to do before painting anyway. Jodi

PRIMING:
since acrylic paints are somewhat translucent, one or more coats of white or light paint or gesso underneath may be necessary before beginning to "paint" (see also Dipping, just below)
.....gesso (also called a "ground" or "size") is just a very opaque acrylic paint, used for priming canvas and other surfaces to receive paint
.......it comes in white, black, gray and a very few other colors (most common is white)... most of the major paint companies put out some version of gesso ... there is also a relatively new "clear" gesso which leaves a very nice "tooth" on the surface for holding paint
...."gesso has been around for a long time and there are many recipes for its ingredients... one ingredient is calcium hydroxate (plaster) or similar material which is what gives it "tooth" for drawing the paint into the ground (as opposed to floating on top).. gesso gives a flexible adhesion, which keeps paint from flaking off since canvas tends to expand and contract with environmental condition changes." Bob Tavis
....using gesso will help paint stick better, and allow it to appear richer and more opaque (...then may need fewer layers)
......I too would start with a one coat of gesso before painting (.... thin it 50/50 with water and do maybe two coats , drying well in between)... Jodi
....I paint on pc all the time, oil paints and acrylics.... I simply use a gesso primer first, then corresponding sealer. I have pieces that are over 15 years old that still look 'new.'
...or instead of a white or light coat, a particular primer color which is most suited for the piece can be used, and layers of paint may be built up over it (... could be a dark color for shadows, or whatever basic color you want to show).
....if you are painting acrylics on Fimo in particular, it is better to seal the surface first with matt or gloss varnish, then degrease and paint.... this stops the paint bleeding into the clay in time - only a problem with Fimo in my experience, though. . .Sue
...gesso is for use on both porous and non-porous surfaces.... coats textured surfaces to create an even, smooth, white non-porous painting surface yet on the other hand creates a slight texture or "tooth" over smooth surfaces for easier paint adhesion...apply over dark colors or surfaces when basecoating in a lighter color - results in fewer layers of paint and will keep your lighter basecoat color brighter
.......also ideal for basecoating paper mâché, canvas, masonite, tin cans, shortening cans, etc
.......can also be used to fill in slight imperfections in wood
.......it can be sanded when dry for an even smoother surface. rainee
....it also dries fast! To keep ridges from forming, paint quickly, do not try to put too much on your brush, and don't use a sponge brush. J. Smith
....I suggest priming it with light coats of Floquil or Krylon primer prior to painting.
....You can use automotive bumper spray primer ( made for vinyl ) or any good primer as a base then paint away (but what about propellants in sprays later reacting with cl

I might sand a little first to get the paint to stick better .... Black Feather ...(just a little... maybe with steel wool?)

DIPPING
....Oborochann dips her small baked clay figures into diluted acrylic paint to give an even overall covering and avoid brushmarks (using a wire through the top loop in the item).... pops any bubbles she sees ... then hangs them to drip dry, removing with a brush the drip that forms initially ... could also be used for priming
....the also then adds details with a pigment pen or or dots of acrylic paint stamped on (for more on this, see Letters-Inks > Inks for Drawing & Writing)
....and also then dips the item in clear gloss finish the same way as into the paint --see more on that technique in Finishes > Dipping, under Varathane)
http://oborochann.deviantart.com/art/Octopus-Charm-Tutorial-45828570 (photos in middle of page)

(...for adding color by using washes of paint or chalks, et c., on flesh-colored clay for coloring only cheeks, lips, eyes, hair or other areas --rather than painting opaquely over all the clay -- see Heads > Skin > Coloring Skin
. . . and also below in Acrylics, Water-Miscible Oils, Chalks, and maybe more)

Acrylics

General Info

A coat of finish may be applied afterward only if you want (see Finishes)... antiquing may be done afterwards also, if desired.
...I use no sealer or varnish unless I desire a glossy finish, e. g. shiny eyes. Katherine Dewey
...Usually, when I apply (a thicker layer? of) acrylic paint on a clay surface, I'll cover it with a thin layer of TLS for protection from scratching off, etc.). Desiree
...the best (and cheapest) sealant that I've used is diluted PVA glue (white glue). after you've drawn or watercolored on clay ...this works wonderfully well. As it's water based, one can dilute it with water to whatever consistency one needs.....The beauty of this polymeric glue is that it doesn't react with clay plasticisers, will withstand baking temperatures and is completely clear when it dries. ... Alan V.

(for metallic or pearlescent acrylics in particular, see below in "Metallics". . . though they can be used in the same ways as regular acrylics)

Acrylic paints -especially quality artists' paints like Winsor Newton- seem to be the best for clay

You can also 'set' the paint with a 150-250 degree bake for only 10 min. or so (though it's not necessary)
...acrylic paint will be much harder and "baked on" if you bake it after painting
...most acrylic paints can bubble up or craze when they are heated ( too hot, or too long?, but okay if a little or thicker tube acyrlics?).
...paints intended for fabic painting and heat setting, will work with the clay also. Matilda
... I can't scrape the acyilic paint off no matter how hard I try, if it's been baked.

thin and even coats of acrylic paint are the best ... and load your brush lightly. Annette

When painting, I suggest that you use a flat brush rather than a round brush... one that will cover the most area for the project you are using..... for wide coverage, I have a large assortment of flat brushes with chisel points..

rubber-tipped "brushes" can also be used to apply paint just where it's wanted when using acrylics or acrylic mixes

lessons and techniques for painting on miniatures ... with various paints
http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/clinic.htm

So I can paint small pieces more easily, I attach a small object to the top of the golf tee with Fun Tack
...... the tees can then be stuck into floral foam or something similar for drying. Cynthia

I paint in thin washes of acrylic paint, as opposed to one or two thick coats, to achieve the wonderful rich and semi-translucent look (of that beautiful skin on the African American dolls we are known for)
...I find that the paint sticks better on the polymer if it is applied in this manner ....being sure to let dry throughly in-between washes. Jodi

Don't use water to thin your acrylic paints...they will bead up and not adhere as well to the clay
. . . . . instead thin them with gesso, or an acrylic medium, or Varathane (acrylic wood finish)
....you can thin the consistency of the paint to make washes and tints... or just to make thinner coats). Sarajane
...I tint Varathane with regular acrylic paints for glazes and antiquing..... I'm sure you could use Pinata inks (alcohol-based), too. Kathy W.
...mixing a few drops of Future floor finish into the paint on your palette will also make it adhere better to baked clay. Kathy R

I rather like thin washes of acrylic paints (over a solid color?) which are more translucent than solid applications of paint (as a background or a ground colour).
......I find that when I paint in washes though, I have to use a dry brush, or otherwise the paint beads on the surface.
..... a particular color of acrylic paint used as a primer( which is most suited for the piece) could be used instead of white primer, with layers of paint built up over it (...the primer could be a dark color for shadows, e.g., or whatever basic color you want to show through).
......my animals are all sculpted in a base color clay, a color close to the natural fur, feathers, or scales color to reduce painting.
..........painting for these creatures is usually a light drybrushing, followed by washes and glazes.
..........Katherine's long lesson on texturing and coloring the fur of her sculpted lifelike mouse (bottom of page, under Finishing)
..she first uses titanium white acrylic paint on a dry brush over the whole mouse
...... then uses raw sienna/burnt umber-colored clays with a bit of water to create a staining wash the consistency of cream to go lightly over the whole mouse a couple of times, letting dry between
...... then she highlights with dry brush (white on certain areas, or pink wash of raw sienna, cadmium red, and white for nose/mouth/ears): http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_paint_tips_techniques/article/0,,HGTV_3768_1389670,00.html

tips for common painting techniques --drybrush, washes, detail ...Polychrome Finishing Tech's- by Katherine Dewey
http://www.elvenwork.com/tips.html

When I screw up, I use a Q-tip wet w/ hair spray to remove both Future Floor Wax and acrylic paint (on baked/cooled clay).

to make shiny enamel-looking paint, acrylic paints can be mixed with Varathane or Future (..little or a lot)
....... mix water-based polyurethane (Varathane) half and half with acrylic paints ("Frames with Flair" by Suzanne McNeill)
........for a dimensional look that can be applied with squeeze bottles for raised designs, mix 6 tsp. baking soda to 3-1/2 to 4 tsp of the paint. MJ
...to get a "glazed pottery" look like Fiestaware style.. mix acrylics with Future, then paint with it. carlie
......mixing a few drops of Future into the paint on your palette will make it adhere better to baked clay too. Kathy R

"interference" paints. . . surfaces painted with these colors look different colors depending on the angle at which they are viewed and the angle of the light striking the surface. These paints contain tiny flakes of mica, coated with titanium dioxide, which enable the paint to refract its complementary color
.....they can be used alone, or mixed with non-interference acrylic paints, or layered translucently over an already painted area. Judy (see interference powders in Powders)

(from a message re terra cotta) . . . Patio Paints (check out michaels)... acrylic?.... are supposedly designed to be outdoors, if that is your concern.

I suggest you try water mixable oils instead, such as Artisan by Winsor Newton because they work so well.. Katherine Dewey (see details below)

To create a durable, soft, and washable fabric paint for fabrics from regular acrylic craft paints, mix them with Textile Medium (it's in the same rack as the acrylic paints). Sheila in NC

other uses & misc.

Katherine Dewey's many tips re painting on clay sculpts... drybrushing, etc.
http://www.elvenwork.com/tips.html#nine
Judi Maddigan's polymer clay painting tips for faces (also glazes, gen. info, etc.)
http://www.angelslanding.com/pushmolds/paint.html ... http://www.angelslanding.com/pushmolds/swplate.html
Christel's very complete lesson on making & coloring a troll (or other) face & head with acrylic paints
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/may2001/troll.html
Chrissie's figures are completely covered (arm/legs skin,etc) with opaque acrylic paints (+gloss med.?)... somewhat flat appearance of colors
http://pageperso.aol.fr/Paithian1/Gallery.htm

Laukkonen 's lesson on making faux abalone, using black (acrylic) paint on each mini-stack of layers, indented with fingers, re-cubed, then cut (or cut with wavy blade) http://members.aol.com/Laukkonen/abalone.html (see more in Faux-Many)
...for lighter mother-of-pearl, but don't use black paint and don't mix black into the pearl or silver clay.

(see below in Misc., for achieving a crackle finish from stretching metallic acrylic after drying)

thinned acrylic paints (or colored white glues, or possibly liquid clays) can be combed, swirled or otherwise created in interesting patterns (then allowed to dry) for interesting and possibly textured sheets of pattern
......created on a slick surface (glass, freezer paper, silicone sheet, etc).... then attached to other surfaces, including clay
......or the paints could be swirled directly on a permanent surface like clay
...Jana Ewy's ("faux vinyl") lesson on pressing 4-7 colors of acrylic paints (thinned to cream consistency) between 2 sheets of freezer paper (coated sides in) after .. she places second sheet on the painted first sheet, pressing paint outward toward edges before removing top sheet and allowing to dry... she uses to cover boxes (with spray adhesive)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_paper_crafts_boxes/article/0,,hgtv_3289_1376364,00.html
.......she zigzagged the colors (trying not to overlap them) onto the shiny side of freezer paper, then put *another* sheet of freezer paper, shiny side down, onto the paints; then she pressed the paint between the sheets (almost) out to all edges and corners with her finger which also caused the paint to cover the interior completely (and avoids bubbles).
.......when she pulled the papers apart, there was a sort-of wavy pattern created
........let dry about 12 hrs. and remove the "vinyl" sheets.
........later, use spray adhesive (or other dry adhesive?) to adhere to boxes, put on cards, etc. (the photos only show one or two variations)
....... I noticed was the "good sides" of each vinyl sheet were not shiny, and had to be varnished to make them shiny too...or the back sides could be used (they were nice but didn't have that neat secondary pattern)
....the pattern could be varied by how a finger is dragged, or maybe if other manipulations (like combing) were done first.
....it would be neat to do the same with liquid clays. Since they have to be baked, I don't think freezer paper would work (don't know what the coating is comprised of) but 2 pieces of metal or glass might work ...or maybe aluminum foil would be better since it could be *peeled* off as she did (that sort of "pulled" the pattern into a slightly different effect).
..........(.I put a few lines and drops of colored liquid clay directly on a sheet of clay , then I sandwiched it between another sheet (of clay?), smooshed and separated. It came out pretty good. Alicia)
...Another neat pattern would be to make "Rorschach" prints ("ink blots") with the liquid clays or with regular paints. I had a great time one day *for hours* just using tube watercolors on squares of plain paper, folding, and opening to reveal the symmetrical pattern . . . I was totally mesmerized and had a hard time stopping <g>.
... As for using the "vinyl" later with clay, one thing would be to glue shapes or cut-outs of the patterns onto regular clay, maybe with a molded shape on top. Or if using liquid clay, I guess I'd try wrapping it around boxes, pens, etc., the same way she did, or using on cards, etc. Would make a great looking postcard, though it would need to be backed with cardstock or clay. There's probably lots more though... Diane B.
....(I've even done something similar with acrylic paints squirted in shapes on aluminum foil, then removed and added to a t-shirt (with more acrylic paint), etc., but hadn't thought to use a second sheet like she did.
...(see Kathy R's similar technique for making a texture plate with 3-D or smooth texture paint on folded cardstock by allowing the paint to sit a while to thicken up, in Textures > Making your own)
...also see Misc > Marbling for more ways to use various paints (on starch, etc), to create marbled, dragged, patterns

similar lesson using tacky white glue (1/2 c) mixed with acrylic paint (1 tsp) to create sheets of pattern http://crafterspick.com/02vinyl.html

for a dimensional paint that can be applied with squeeze bottles for raised designs, mix 6 tsp. baking soda to 3-1/2 to 4 tsp acrylic paint. MJ

Styli'stick paint, from Pébéo... some kind of acrylic paint which can be ironed onto clothing-fabric (temporarily) with slik setting after drying 24 hrs. ...dries to a soft film ...may be peeled off and used on other fabric
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayArticle?articleNum=as0138&channelid=3

according to info at trade shows, both (thoroughly cured) polymer clay and acrylic craft paints are safe for use in scrapbooking...regular acrylic paints will buckle paper, though..... (in order to attach the polymer piece to the page though, you must use an acid free glue --best I've found is Glue Dots or Red line Tacky Tape). Laurie D'
(... for which inks are acid-free, see Letters & Inks)
(.....and for ideas on scrapbooking, see Cards > Greeting Cards & Scrapbooking)

antiquing or highlighting dimensional textures or impressions created with stamps, texture sheets, or molds
(see much more about antiquing and highlighting in Molds > Highlighting, etc. and in Powders)
...Maureen C antiques and/or colors the upraised segments with acrylic paints (thinned for soft effect?)
...(or could use inks, fluid chalks, or various inclusions in clear mediums see below in making your own metallic paints, etc.)
http://www.weefolk.com/rstamps.htm (may be gone?)
.. textured sheets which have been antiqiued or highlighted with various paints can also be flattened and still retain the pattern in the flat sheet
(see more on that technique in Texture > Flattening Antiqued and/or Highlighted texture sheets)

acrylic gel medium ... comes in versions from very soft to very stiff, to some with fibers or sand in it. ....made by both Golden and Liquitex
...it tints up beautifully with just about any paint or paint pigment you want to put in it.
.......it looks white, and when you add tint it will look very pale. However, the stuff winds up drying clear, so your original colors show through.
...comes in glossy, semi-gloss, and flat ...takes about 24 hours to cure completely (lets you work with it longer).
(It was originally set up FOR paper or canvas, and definitely works on polyclay --I used it to make my dragon scales originally).

Buy a bottle of "extender" (any brand) which makes the paint more translucent and also increases it's "open" time, which means that the paint stays workable for a longer time.
.... If you brush it on and let it sit after you get it where you want it, the brush marks will "flow out" of the surface.
..."Student" grade would cost a lot less, but, the colors are less saturated and contain more "filler" than the artist grade. Those can be mixed with the extender, as well, to take out the brush texture. Elizabeth

what I would try if you want to use a spray... is go to walmart or a hobbyshop and pick up a small Testors airbrush .... the kind that uses a can of compressed air that is usually in the same area of the shelves... then you can mix your own spraypaint using only safe for polymer acrylics and water... you can then reuse the cheap airbrush anytime you want to paint something like that again … Tommie
....or buy an artist’s manual sprayer …Sue Heaser

Metallic ..Pearlescent ..Iridescent + Glitter acrylic paints (regular bodied)

( for pearlescent inks, see Letters-Inks)

Using metallic acrylic paints is so much simpler than using metallic powders... wish I'd discovered them years ago!
.... The great thing is that metallic acrylic paints can be used the same ways as metallic powders can -- that is, painted onto unbaked or baked clay, then baked -- with no problems whatsoever..
....the advantages are that the colors are REALLY nice... the paints are inexpensive
.... you don't have to mess with the flying dust particles of powders
.....never have to glaze after using a powder because it could rub off. ...using the paints is so much simpler (if applied well, powders don't need sealing tho).

Iridescent, pearlescent, interference, and metallic acrylics combine conventional pigments with powdered mica (aluminum silicate), etc.
...colors have shimmering or reflective characteristics, depending on the coarseness or fineness of the powder
...interference paints are "made from titanium coated mica flakes with an outer layer of a transparent, light-absorbing colorant rather than traditional pigments"?

....some metallic paint lines offer only "metal" colors like gold,copper,silver (including the thicker "metallic" tube acrylic paints)
.........some lines may also offer interference metallic "colors" though (Golden)
....some do offer metallic colors in red, blue, green, etc., though
........ Lascaux pearlescents, "artist quality"(many) colors... http://www.dickblick.com/zz006/66/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=1004

SOME BRANDS of acrylic metallics
... I prefer Liquitex and Golden for their metallic-type paints, as I haven't had as much luck with Creamcoat bunch.
.......Liquitex acrylic paint's interference or iridescent colors are nice...
...Heather uses Plaid and DecoArt brand metallics (see her lesson just below)
...What I used is called Accent- Jewelry Colour (acrylic "craft" paints). ....they are water based and go on quite nicely when applied to unbaked clay... baked as normal.
......I have squeeze bottles of metallic acrylic paint (Folk Art metallics by Plaid), and had forgotten about them!!... haven't tried them yet though
.........the bottle mentions "heavy pigmentation for maximum coverage" and "longer open time"...shake well... for regular use, let dry 1 hr.
.........it also says transparent or watercolor effects can be achieved by mixing these with (Folk Art) Extender ...on brush. Diane B.
...I have some old Tulip Colorpoint metallic paints (for applying dots of color in patterns on t-shirts, etc.) ...wonder if they would work in the same way

I bought Plaid's Folk Art Metallic Acrylic Paints from Michaels and absolutely love them... they are a much cheaper than some of the other paints used for dichroic, and personally I would say they are just as good ($2 for a 2 ounce bottle, and sometimes on sale)....they also come in dozens of metallic, shimmery, colors and shades ...the colors, texture, application and end results seems to be exactly the same as some of the other paints used for dichroic
... I use them for crackling but also painting (see more below in Crackling)
....I've put it on before curing as well as after
....and I've dipped the painted pieces in Varathane, or UTEE. Shannon
....I got some at Ace Hardware, and they're just regular old craft paints, they were in the home painting section and used to do stencils
..If they're not pearly enough the way they are you can also just add (more) mica powder. Nancy

Metallic mica powders can be mixed into an adhesive medium ... (some examples would be glues, sealers, liquid clays, paints, Diluent, etc.).

I love to "tip" (highlight) my clay rose earrings in gold or silver to give a extra elegant look.

(you can also make your own metallic, pearlescent or glitter acrylic paints... see below in "Making Your Own Metallics")

If acrylic paint is baked on clay, it's impossible to scrape it off afterwards no matter how hard I try.

Heather P's lesson on using metallic acrylic paints (like Plaid and DecoArt brands) with stamping (..or texturing)
.... she applies paint to stamp with a cosmetic sponge .... stamps scrap clay ... then uses sponge to apply a diff. color(s) of metallic paint to the upper areas (highlighting) ... lets dry
http://www.humblebeads.com/tip7.html
(...in this case, she also trims clay to desired shape...then adds simple cane slices to the edges of the clay... trims them to only a small frame ... bakes... coats with Future--necessary?)

Lucy A's paints all parts of her mini shoes w/ gesso first, then with several layers of pearlescent inks (and fancy nail polishes), but could have used metallic acrylic paints instead
http://www.lucyarnold.com/miniature_shoes.htm

Emma R's illuminare beads ...suface of the "base" clay (possibly marbled clays) has been colored randomly with pearlescent inks or paints (possibly thin-bodied ones like Daler-Rowney's Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic Colours, or heat set Lumieres) or mica powders or could have been something similar using a carrier of translucent clay or liquid clay, etc.
... onlays of various types are then added and rolled down into the surface (cane slices, curving ribbons of watercolor sheets, etc.)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/2004sept/emma.html

Mary V's dragon painted with multi-colors of metallic paint http://members7.clubphoto.com/gail412387/Marys_little_People_and_Animals/ (gone?)
...(see more links below)

(Lumiere paints just below are also metallic acrylic paints, but they are thin-bodied and are especially strong colors
...can use both metallic paints in many of the same ways)

GLITTER acrylic paints

Liquigems Acrylic Glitter Paint in green, blue, red, "opal" pink, plus gold and silver (colors could be mixed to create more colors?)
....heavy concentration of mica flakes (in transparent medium?)
http://www.dickblick.com/zz006/12/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=222
.... I found a new, to me at least, product to play with - Crayola Glitter F/X paint (a fine, multicolor glitter in clear medium). . .. it's an interior latex paint, milky white in color when applied. It dries clear, but shows fine multicolor glitter when light shines on it.
.......to try it, I grabbed a pen I had covered with red, white and blue clay and sealed with Future.... I dipped the pen in the can and just let the paint drip off....when dried, there was no masking of the underlying clay colors, but a fine reflection from the glitter... looks like a sky full of fireworks... had a slightly rough texture, but accepted another coat of Future with no problem.... Now I'm thinking fairy wings... Carol Beebe?
..... I used a blob of Tulip fabric paint with glitter in it to hold the feathers on the clay, and it stays on quite well. I had it left over from fabric painting days...In fact, I tested, and it requires real effort to scratch and peel it off, tho it can be done. .... I just squeezed the tube.... No scratching.
......... it probably would also work for cloisonne ....I only had gold and silver, so I never messed with it much! Sarajane
..........would also work for painting on clay?
...for the glittery areas (instead of using nail polish after baking), she could have mixed (Jones Tones or Art Institute) glitters into either gloss Flecto or into Future, then used that as paint for certain areas. Patty B. (see more in Finishes)

Thin-Bodied acrylics... Lumiere & Neopaque & Luna Lights

Neopaque ...thin-bodied (non-metallic) acrylic paints, by Jacquard
....very opaque... designed to cover dark backgrounds with light application
... bright even on dark surfaces..... like Lumiere (see below), but not metallic
....on light backgrounds, their color is less intense
http://www.jacquardproducts.com/products/paints/neopaque

Lumiere... thin-bodied metallic (or pearlescent or iridescent) acrylic paints, by Jacquard
...may "dry," but they won't actually be permanent (defined only as washable?) until cured (...can be important for some projects using Lumieres, less important for others):
...slightly metallic-pearly... very intense colors
...available in Hi-Lite, Pearlescent, and Metallic colors
http://www.dickblick.com/zz029/53/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=4139
http://www.jacquardproducts.com/products/paints/lumiere

Lumiere brand paints . . ...intended for fabric (leave fabric soft and supple)...must be cured to withstand washing.
...I just discovered those paints thanks to Leigh while we were at Shrinemont. The ones I've bought are beautiful pearl colors and are great for use on Polymer Clay. I've been buying mine from Wilma at the artway.com
...I’ve experimented with every brand of fabric paint there is, and these are the best I’ve found – definitely not the typical fabric paints you find in craft stores! ...they apply evenly to almost any surface, including paper, canvas, basketry and wood – yet they leave even silk soft and supple..
....The colors are brighter, more heavily pigmented ...because they are particularly reflective, you may wish to tone them down with white, silver, a darker color, or a matte color, according to your taste...I would rather be able to tone down a vibrant color than be stuck with a dull one that nothing can brighten! The only bone I can pick with Lumiere is that they don’t yet make a metallic black, dark brown, Christmas red, or yellow.
....I'm so glad I got some Sunset Gold Lumiere. It's a rich gold as opposed to their yellow-y plain gold. In fact I like it so much, I used tiny amounts of it over their Silver to warm the Silver slightly and give it a little more character. Linelle
...mix Lumieres with regular matte acrylic colors for an even more extensive range of metallics...add the Hi-Lite colors for subtle, reflective, opalescent effects... and the Super Sparkle for extra glitter.
...The Lumieres are gorgeous, and yes, they're just as brilliant after they've been cured.

You can apply them to raw clay, wait for it to dry to the touch before you further manipulate it into the shape that you want, then cure.
...Or, you can cure your piece and paint on it with the Lumieres with one-coat coverage (no need to cure if not needing to be washable, etc.?).
...if I put Lumieres on top of metallic leaf (on clay) that I didn't let dry enough ( felt dry to the touch but it wasn't completely dry), the pasta machine scrapers just scraped the whole thing into a mess. ... so now let it dry a couple of hours to be safe. Linelle

I usually wipe a cured piece with alcohol before I apply Varathane, so I'd do the same with a cured piece before I painted on it with Lumiere Acrylics... it seems to remove surface residue so that the finish can grip the surface more directly. Have a great time with these.. they are truly fantastic paints for use with the clay. Elizabeth

can also use for highlighting or antiquing as with using other paints

highlighting+flattening
....Kris's lesson on impressing clay with a stamp, applying Lumieres to the upraised areas (let dry thoroughly), then flattening with a hand roller ..design is somewhat less distinct, but still present ....sort of like texture sheet mokume gane or one ghost image mica technique (these are made into solid lentil shapes, and have top loops and cording added)
http://sculpey.com/Projects/projects_impressedpen.htm
(see more on this technique using paints and other colorants in Texture > Flattening Antiqued and/or Highlighted texture sheets)

Consuelo painted on a sheet of black clay with silver Lumiere paints (reminiscent of black and silver "scratch art")
http://groups.msn.com/WoodchuckMuldoon/polymerclayart.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=8
... I have a project in Oct 2005 Bead and Button on making painted polymer clay beads. DottyinCA.

for crackling Lumieres, I'd recommend that you dilute them about 1/2 and 1/2 with water before you apply them to the raw clay sheet, and then apply thinly --this will eliminate a lot of the body of the paint so that it can crackle or thin itself across the surface of the clay as you manipulate it instead of stretching so much (there is so much mica in the Lumieres that diluting them does not seem to remove any of their sparkle)
... and when applied to a white base, I don't believe the colors will even appear to fade down with dilution....they will lose their opacity though ...applied to black base clay, they will not appear as intense as the full-bodied paint. Elizabeth

You can use it to paint on layers of clay for a different type of mokume gane effect (from Tory Hughes) . Jill
....(for using inks rather than paints in the same way, see Letters-Inks and Mokume Gane)

I also dilute the Lumieres when I'm using them for mokume gane
--too thickly applied, and the dried Lumiere paints are the devil to cut through neatly from the top of a mokume gane stack. Elizabeth
(see more on Lumiere paints in Mokume Gane > Paints)

.....To cut the clay when it's coated with dried Lumiere paint, saw back and forth with a very slight downward pressure, using a very sharp blade. Don't push down. DottyinCA

As for scraps of clay with paint on them, unfortunately the paint won't mix into the clay so it can be reused
....however, you can often pull or scrape off the paint. DottyinCA

polymerclayexpress' lesson on applying (metallic) Lumiere paints to Buna cording (layered and spongy appearance, or solid) http://polymerclayexpress.com/jan2001.html

how can I minimze paint strokes with Lumieres?
...use a nice sable brush dipped in water (a tip I learned from Lisa Pavelka in using her PolyGlaze). Trina (so true for all water-based mediums?)

The Lumieres are very metallic and so they compliment the mica, magic leaf and wire that I tend to use in my work. Dianne C.

There are dozens of techniques that you can use with Lumiere paints
...stamping, sponging, stenciling ...as well as hand-painting, airbrushing, screen-printing
(check out Sherrill Kahn's books "Creating with Paint" and "Creating Stamping with Mixed Media Techniques" for some beautiful techniques that will also work on polymer clay)

I made some chysanthemum canes with Lumiere paints. The ones which I made up right away turned out fine.
....but the canes which I let sit unitl I got to them---over a month later did not reduce well .... in fact the translucent layers could be separated out in sheets. The more that I worked at reducing, the more the layers separated from the paints.... Don't know if this was due to the translucent clay or if the Lumiere paints prevented the clay from reducing. Jeanne

other sites for Lumiere:
http://www.martydoll.com/Supplies/Paints.htm#Perfectly%20Pearl-Ex
http://www.jacquardproducts.com/paints.htm
Dharmatrading...wonderful, wonderful, wonderful place to deal with
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/lumneo.html
http://www.dharmatrading.com/lum_neo.html
On this site you need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the info: Dotty
http://www.sistersanddaughters.com/dyesandpaints.html

Luna Lights ....are quite thin and more like an ink (in fact, have been marketed as Luna Lights Inks..DB), but dry like paint. ....bond extremely well with the clay. Dotty
......basically a "thin acrylic paint" probably (metallics and non-metallic colors)...flexible, water based paint.... on metal, plastic, ceramics, etc..
.....I've noticed that Luna Lights are exactly like metallic airbrush acrylics --same viscosity, similar coverage, etc Margaret D.
...Carol's or Tracy's Art Angel Pins...cutout shapes of polymer, stamped, finger painted with Luna Lights, then dusted with copper pearl ex.
http://collective-artwerx.com/2002/art_angels.jpg (can enlarge by hovering over bottom right corner, then clicking)
...Tracy's lesson on Luna Lights on black clay beads with widely crackled gold leaf and diff. color paints here and there.. dry...bake..gloss glaze....a little dichroic
http://www.collective-artwerx.com/how2_polymer.html
..lots of good analysis and tips re Luna Lights from Tyra http://netnet.net/~cloud9/prod_reviews/pr_luna_lights.html
...they will crackle fracture just a little bit on raw clay (not enough for doing any of the techniques which need clear fracturing however --see below in Stretching for more on using them this way) . . . coated and fired on black clay and then covered with ...glaze, they are beautiful!! When fractured just the little that they capable of, then glazed, they look a lot like dichroic glass. Dotty
...Tyra mentions that one of the main things the makers suggest using these for is making Rorschach-type ink blots (on paper) to be used as backgrounds or cutouts... she feels the special paper they use for this is basically just freezer paper (the glossy coating keeps the open time longer) ... but could do this with a clay sheet?? as well?
.......with the freezer paper I tried Lumiere Paints, Crayola Pearl Brites, Ordinary Metallic and Pearl Acrylic Paints and The Pearlescent Inks by Daler and Rowney and they all worked! ...I also created backgrounds using both white and black glossy card stock and they both worked reasonably well... I also had great success with acetate. Trish
http://www.creative-cards.co.uk/newsletter/trish/freezerpaper/freezerpaper.html (some effects)

Making Your Own Metallic Paints

using metallic powders

Mica powder (like Pearl Ex) or real-metal powder (or other pigments) can be mixed into a clear liquid medium to create a metallic" paint" which can be applied in various ways.
......the resulting paint mixture will take on the characteristics of the medium it is mixed with (e.g.., gloss, flat, frosted, or iridescent..., and can look dense and opaque or lighter and more subtle depending on how much mica powder is used (or how much the medium is thinned)
...many clear mediums can be used

I like the "lighter-more-spread-out" look when I mix just the smallest bit of metallic powder into my Future
...then I bake the peice for 5 min and see if I want more or not (depends on the final look I'm after, but I always bake between coats of Future)
...I have a small container that I keep just for my mixture. Connie

Rustoleum's Varathane can also be used as the carrier for metallic powders ...but it is a bit milky when wet, and could make seeing the "color" while it's being created a little more difficult?

Elizabeth's lesson on mixing mica powders into gum arabic powder to make paints
...she mixes the metallic powder with the gum arabic powder (4 to 1)... then adds drops of water, and mixes till liquid
...she then lets it sit (and evporate) 1-2 days before using (or can use a "convection" oven to concentrate it)
...apply with wet brush (she applies to paper), often building up layers of color
http://polymerclayexpress.com/sept2003.html

I mixed Fimo's real-metal powders, called pulvers, (or Authentic Metal Powders by Houston Arts) into Future & into liquid clay
....... the Future +pulver makes a smoother line of "paint" & adheres well to baked clay
........the TLS (liquid clay) +pulver "paint" gives a grainy line (and must be rebaked to cure, of course).
.......12 real metal powders in metal colors http://www.houstonart.com/ (then click on Metallic Powders)

i put a lot of metallic powder into liquid clay and I thin it some with Diluent-ClaySoftener
..... if i touch my finger into the liquid clay lightly and brush quickly across something (highlighting) , it spreads the powder so it looks like you used the powder alone!!... the difference here is that the powder is baked on with the liquid clay, and sealing is unnecessary!! most cool, huh? Sunni
....You can see a sample of liquid clay tinted with Pearlex pigments here, I used it to make the tail of my merhorse, it looks almost like dichroic glass or a very blueish crystal opal. http://codie.cratered.net/sculptures/merhorse/aquas/tail4.jpg (gone) Laura
...Pearl-Ex mica powders (or real metal powders) can be mixed liquid clay to color with (i.e., antique silver for grey, or gold which turns out yellowish)....can use as a paint ... I have been putting stripes on my ornaments this way. mamadude
....... Mamadude used a rubber-tipped painting "brush" tool to apply it ... or use whatever works... stamps?
...I use Kato (liquid clay) and also TLS along with the Pearl-ex powders (and other powdered pigments too), for making faux stained glass, for painting on clay, and for many other uses as well. Jeanne
...some liquid clays bake up clearer than others (TLS is the least clear), and that could affect the look of the mica powder paint depending on how thick it's applied

see Kellie's use of Pearl Ex colors as paint (using paintbrush ..which medium?)
... she colored different sections of raw clay (which had been delineated by impressing a bent wire shape into a sheet of base clay)
http://www.kelliesklay.homestead.com/wirenclaypins.html

USArtQuest's page on using Pearl-Ex into various clear mediums
http://www.usartquest.com/products/index.html (Products & Techniques > Tips & Tech's)

(see more on using mica powders in clear mediums in Powders > Pearl Ex)

using acrylic paints

You can mix your own pearlescent paint colors by using Pearl white acrylic paint with non-metallic acrylic paints:
......get more colors by mixing in non-metallics in basic colors like a red, a blue, and a yellow or gold), along with black

clear mediums can also be mixed with metallic acrylic paints:
...mix with acrylic paints into water-based polyurethane (Varathane) (half and half --"Frames with Flair" by Suzanne McNeill)
.......for a dimensional look that can be applied with squeeze bottles for raised designs, mix 6 tsp. baking soda to 3-1/2 to 4 tsp of the paint. MJ
..or mix them into Future ......mixing a few drops of Future into the acrylic paint on your palette will make it adhere better to baked clay too. Kathy R
..or mix metallic acrylic paints into liquid clays for painting
... I think Golden brand acrylic paints (in tubes) are just awesome to tint liquid clays .....the colors I found that I love so much are all iridescent copper, gold and silver! ...they are are SOOO rich!
........ I just finished the inside of a rock purse with the copper, and think I'll use it as a base on the outside as well. Jan

if using Lumiere paints (see above?) ...add the Hi-Lite colors for subtle, reflective, opalescent effects... and the Super Sparkle for extra glitter.

for more info on making polymer paints, see below in Paintings, and also in Finishes,

misc.

i store these new "paints" in little 1/2 oz serum bottles. sunni

for glittery areas ---instead of using nail polish after baking, she could have mixed (Jones Tones or Art Institute) glitters into either gloss Varathane or into Future, then used that as paint for certain areas. Patty B. (see more in Finishes)

Delta CeramDecor's Perm Enamel (the "Clear" medium) can be used on glass, tile, and ceramic
... (remember, just because something is named "enamel" doesn't mean it can't also be acrylic... this is acrylic?)
...I often mixed small amounts of Pearl Ex into Perm Enamel Clear to tint it for painting in select areas:
http://www.sunshinecrafts.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl?db=catalog.dat&category=Perm%20Enamel%20Mediums
...Clear alone does give a really nice thick shine and it takes long enough to dry that it levels nicely and brush strokes diappear... I found though that it really works best only on flat pieces, not anything 3-d or sculptural.
... I re-baked for 20 min. at regular clay temp to cure and harden the finish, as it will peel off if you don't (though don't re-bake for at least 12 hours until it is completely dry or it will bubble... it may feel dry to the touch after an hour, but still be a little moist or sticky down under the "skin") Patti K.
...the top photo shows feathers and dots drawn or impressed into beads... then depressed-area shapes were painted
http://www.kimledesigns.com/jewelry/jewelry.htm
... the wild rose jars (near bottom) use the same method ...but the (non metallic?) purple color areas are painted over the gold acrylic paint in order to achieve the faux enamel effect. Patti K.
http://www.kimledesigns.com/otherstuff/otherstuff.htm

Other acrylics (?)

AngelWing's Radiant Pearls . . . pearlized paints in jars with emollients mixed into them similar to oil paints ...they are .translucent, like watercolors.
...shading and blending techniques?... use with rubber-stamped images or apply straight from the jar as a watercolor... embossable. Katie
...Radiant Pearls don't dry on any type of plastic (including polymer clay). Katie
...Radiant Pearls need to be applied to porous surfaces (to uncoated paper, fabric, unglazed tile) in order to dry. Last I heard, it will never dry on clay, not even with heat-setting.
..........However, you can make beautiful pearlized accents by mixing powdered mica colors into TLS, so if Radiant Pearls puts out a powder form?, that would work just great. (You may have to thin the colored TLS to make up for the increased viscosity from adding the powders.) Eliz.
~I stamped ornaments on Sculpey III for xmas presents and painted them with Radiant Pearls (metallic paints which don't dry on plastic..). . . . After 3 weeks they still weren't dry so I poured clear embossing powder over them and threw them back in the oven for 15-20 min. Turned out like glass. Tonnia
http://www.rubberstampsofarkansas.com/radiantpearls.htm
http://www.radiantpearls.com/technique-art-gallery.html (techniques)
....I found out recently that they won't dry when painted over acrylic paint either. Katie
...I haven't used the Radiant Pearls but I know the main difference between these and other paints is that they don't mix together well.... In other words Blue and Yellow don't make Green. So you get side by side color in whatever pattern you mix.?? Trina
....I tried painting RP on paper that I then placed on a sheet of clay and followed with a layer of TLS and baked. The resulting piece looked okay, but I came across it recently (about 2 years since making it) and the color faded terribly. Ellen M.

Another option, by the same company, is Radiant Pearls' line of pigment powders and solutions called Primary Elements. They have about 25 colors of pigments in VERY rich colors, and accompanying solutions for fabric, paper, glass and, of course, polymer clay. You just mix a little solution and pigment and then paint it onto the clay.... You can cure the Primary Elements with the clay. ...more info about both product lines at: http://www.radiantpearls.com. Margaret D.

...as far as I can tell, "Liquid Leaf" (Plaid, Modern Options) is solvent based (and can be mixed into raw clay, but is not the same as similar sounding acrylic products like metallic liquid acrylic paints Liquid Gold, etc.??)
...metallic acrylics or sovent based??? . . Plaids' Liquid Leaf contains both a primer and a film of gold.
Plaid's Liquid Leading ...to create the look of real leading lines with this waterbased, non-toxic formula.
...Can you use these to blend right into the clay?. . . (using another liquid leaf I) made some beads, baked them and whalaa...They're gorgeous! They really look like you've added gold foil or similiar material.
Treasure Liquid Leaf is a combination of red primer and metallic particles, which when applied, closely resembles traditional gold leafing. Apply with a brush and protect when dry with Treasure Sealer. Treasure Gold is effective for achieving metallic finishes on a variety of surfaces and is applied with a soft cloth. It will dry almost immediately and can be buffed to a fine lustre. Thin or remove using Turpentine or White Spirit and seal with Treasure Sealer.

Angelwings' Twinkling H2O's . . . shimmery (mica?) watercolor cakes embedded with mica powder to make them shimmer and glow.. .acid free ...dip a wet paintbrush or "waterbrush" into the solid cake of color and begin to paint ...on paper, canvas, rocks, eggshells, wood, etc. ...five 6-color packs....use group TW-605 (the light "iridescents" containing no pigment) to lighten the other colors without losing the shimmer
http://www.radiantpearls.com/catalog/twinkling-h20s.html
......These products look really cool, but they won't do the things on clay I do with Pinata Inks. They are waterbased and need water in the brush. They need to be used on a base which will absorb water and "set" the pigment into the surface, then the base (paper, canvas, wood) dries. This would not work on clay as there is no absorbtion of water by clay. The alcohol ink deposits the pigment particles on clay as it evaporates, "setting" the pigment that way. I think it would take way too long for water to evaporate off the surface and you couldn't layer colors... I've never found a way to use the radiant pearls effectively with clay, either--even though the colors are scrumptious! Patti
....(technique for dark cardstock, or clay?...certain areas like those between embossed dark stamped lines can be bleached out with a waterbrush, allowed to dry and then painted over with these paints . . . any wet paintbrush will work, but a waterbrush is much more convenient ...have special handles that are actually receptacles for water. To add more water to your project, just squeeze the handle. Or to clean the brush between colors, just squeeze until the water flows through the brush, then gently wipe the brush on a paper towel. .. http://www.stamperzine.com/july2003/page14.html

?? Plasti-kote makes a spray paint called "Bumper Chrome" (is this acrylic??). The can says it gives a chrome-like finish. I have had great luck with this. My pieces have the smooth, mirrorlike finish and look Chrome, an effect one cannot get using regular metallic silver acrylics or paints. I purchased my Bumper Chrome, and many other finishes I use at the auto parts store. (has lasted 2 years on baked Super Sculpey with no problems). (nothing bad in the spray propellant though?)

Acrylic "mediums"

"mediums" ....each "paint" contains has a pigment, a vehicle and a medium.
....the medium in oil paint is either safflower, linseed or some other oil, like walnut, for example (...the vehicle would be turpentine or paint thinner)
...the medium in acrylic paints is polymer (...the vehicle is water)
...pigments are medium-indifferent...you can mix your own paint with pure pigments using a vehicle and a medium of your choice

..you can purchase premixed mediums that have different qualities to aid in the painting process
....in oils, mediums can be used to create transparency for glazing, impasto (thicken paint), speed or slow drying time, etc.
....in acrylics there are similar types of mediums Bob Tavis (see below)

acrylic mediums:
...made from acrylic polymer emulsion ....the various types can be mixed together...dry slowly by evaporation
...form durable films when dry which are flexible and water/chemical/UV resistant
1. when added to an acrylic paint, they alter various characteristics of it:
........handling characteristics (tackiness-tooth, on fabric can control bleeding and allow smooth application, etc.)
.......appearance (shiny, matte)
.......volume (viscosity or thickness, vs. runniness) to create many different effects
2. when used alone, have excellent adhesive qualities so can be used as glue (even decoupage)

acrylic gel medium
... comes in versions from very soft to very stiff, to some with fibers or sand in it.
...it tints up beautifully with just about any paint or paint pigment you want to put in it.
.......it looks white, and when you add tint it will look very pale. However, the stuff winds up drying clear, so your original colors show through.
...comes in glossy, semi-gloss, and flat ...takes about 24 hours to cure completely (lets you work with it longer).
(It was originally set up FOR paper or canvas, and definitely works on polyclay --I used it to make my dragon scales originally).

These are created by different manufacturers, such as Liquitex or Golden... usually available at craft stores (and art stores).

listing of the various types of acrylic mediums(& their characteristics and what they're often used for):
http://www.dickblick.com/zz006/18a/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=213
...Gel Medium ...used to extend acrylic paint, alone as an adhesive (see Glues > other glues), and as a clear finish
...Heavy Gel ... Matte Gel
...Gloss Medium... Matte Medium... Iridescent Tinting Medium
...Glazing Medium... Matte Varnish ...High Gloss Varnish ....Gloss Varnish Flexible Surface
...Acrylic Slow-Dri Medium
...Super Heavy Modeling Paste
(see more on acrylic mediums in Glues > Acrylics, or bottom of page)

"OIL"-type paints
+ Heat-Set "oils" (Genesis) + Water-Mixable "oils"
+ Oil pastels

true. OILS

(various brands ... "artist" quality, "student" quality, etc.)

You can use (true) oil paints on top of baked clay.... or in raw canes and clay, liquid clays, raw canes & mokume gane ...because you bake it later and that sets the paint more quickly
....these would eventually dry on baked clay but it takes a long time, so it's best to rebake to speed up the process.
...some people like to bake the oil paint for 5 minutes at 250 to set it more quickly (rather than waiting for it to dry thoroughly) (...will also work with regular "painting"?)
(...for heat-set paints like Genesis, see below)

The oils in oil paint will not react with the baked clay if they are in a linseed oil base, not petroleum based . ..
......however, I just prefer not to use them on my things as they take too much time to dry throughly. Jodi C.
(.........though you can bake 5 min at 250 to set paint )
...."enamel" paints are suspect though (depending on what they really are)
....some paints (the heat-set "oils" which are really acrylics) will not ever dry on polymer clay unless they're baked.
... some do dry, but then turn sticky after a year or more - be careful! Sue (see linseed oil distinction just above?)

oil paints can be used to color solid clays, especially translucent clay
.......it marblizes really well in the clay (how much depends on how you mix it). Sharon

oil paint can also be mixed into liquid clays to color them

I paint on baked..translucent clay with oil paints and cotton swabs (gradient color)
--they blend fantastically...they don't dry out right away... and you can get lovely sheen without using a buffer. Louise
http://www.LouiseFischerCozzi.com

I paint on pc all the time, oil paints and acrylics. I simply use gesso first.... (later a corresponding sealer). I have pieces that are over 15 years old that still look 'new.' )
(....see more info about preparing the surface of baked clay for best results with paint above in "Preparation")

oil paints can be used as an antiquing in the crevices, and as light "glazes" on baked clay"

antiquing baked clay
...Gwen Gibson used mostly oil paints for filling in the grooves of clay created by her etching transfer process, but from what I can tell she did usually rebake for 5-10 minutes (probably just to speed up the process of drying though).
....oils fall into the grooves much better than acrylics. ...you can just squeeze on some oil paint, rub it gently into the engraving. Then using a cardboard, or the chisel end of one of those clay shaper tools, remove the excess paint from the surface. You want the paint to be only in the grooves...rebake for about 10 minutes if using oil paint to set it.
...Gwen does use primarily oil paints...it IS messier...harder to cleanup. ...Somebody else said they had some "clay degradation" with oil paint. Quite frankly, I spend enough time on my stuff to NOT want to lose it...so I'm sticking with acrylic paints. Jodie
(though "degradation" may be a result of not curing the clay completely?)

patinas . . .( liquid clays --with inclusions such as oil paints or powders)
. . . .these can be stippled on with a brush, sponge, etc.... or they can be painted on to cover all or just certain areas, then rubbed off to remain only in the crevices, etc.
...these can also be layered over each other, or used with other surface manipulations like transfers, stampings, sheets created in vairous ways, etc.
... I used oil paints and I was extremely happy with the results - much more gentle than acrylics. Louise

(for more on patinas created in various ways, see Fauxs-many > Aged & Ancient Effects)

to color several areas of baked clay, put a tiny bit of one color onto the baked piece in whatever area you want... rub it off leaving just a hint of color
...a second application of the first color can then be done to heighten the saturation.. . . . Then you can use a different color in another area. Gives a lovely, soft glow of color. Dotty in CA

You can paint with oils over a sealing of acrylic paint too.. . . household vinyl emulsion paint has the same effect.... I suppose this is worth it if you really hate acrylics... and don't mind waiting for oils to dry (still takes several days to 6 months for complete drying - look on the tube.).
...I like using compatible things though, I suppose, to cover all eventualities for the long term. Just be cautious! Sue
...I paint on pc all the time, oil paints and acrylics. I simply use a gesso primer first, then corresponding sealer. I have pieces that are over 15 years old that still look 'new.'

Donna Kato used oil paints in a mokume gane technique on Carol Duvall...she said that the oil paints cure in the heat of the oven and there is not a problem with degradation
(see faux abalone mokume gane above in Acrylics)
... 5 min. at 250º will cure it... you can use your oven, or embossing gun or the special gun or curing boxes that are sized specially for canvases.
...soap and water, or 91% alcohol clean-up.
... If you make a mistake, you can remove the paint from cured polymer until you cure the paint."

Oil paints (for tinting liquid clays, etc.).... Joann's, etc. store has sampler sets of oil paints for $8 - 12 .... 6-12 small tubes, but as Irene noted... they'll last just short of forever at the rate you need them for tinting TLS. I'm sure that you can find these samplers at any art supply and many craft supply stores that have fine arts sections. Wayyy less expensive than the Genesis line, and every bit as effective. Elizabeth
...Also those paint by number kits may be something to check out for small quantities of oil paints. Netta
(...Even the Genesis paints come in a 6 color set.....about $15. All colors can be made with these. Tricia?)

Shiva PAINTSTICKS
...("oil paint in a stick" ... refined linseed oil blended with a quality pigment)
...they are just marvellou, sort of like a compounded paint (in a crayon form) that is heat set. ....draw on your pc and throw in the oven...the colours are really great, the chart on the site doesn't do it justice. http://www.thethreadstudio.com/ Robin
...can use same techniques, mediums and surfaces as with tube oil paints, including varnishes ....no odors or fumes... 51 professional colors, 16 iridescent

oil PASTELS???
(see more on all "pastels" below in Pastels)

I use Sennelier oil pastels (quite expensive) but CrayPas will work just as well (not as fine a colorant but available everywhere, not just in art stores, and are cheaper. They do the same thing as the oil paints i.e. coloring, but it's impossible to use to much if you do it this way:
....(for surface coloring)..take a clean, glossy tile and be sure the oil pastel isn't 'healed over' and rub around in a circle to release a dime size or quarter size circle of color. Add tls (liquid clay) to this and mix until you've got the shade you want (now, of course if you're doing a mold, I guess this wouldn't work as well, you'd have to cut off a wee bit and crush it up. . . . I do all of my faux finishing this way...vertigris is several shades of teal green and a hint of copper...apply each with a dabbing motion to cover piece until it looks right...ater baking you'll be amazed how good the piece looks (this is great for that piece that 'just doesn't make it'...in other words).. Carolyn

It really is according to what you are doing and the colors you want, as to what colorant will work the best for you. I have found that the artist's powdered pigments work the very best for tinting liquid clays. Although they are expensive, they really go a long ways. ...With both the oil pastels and the powdered pigments, it sometimes takes a little while to get them to dissolve really well. So I make up little pots of all the colors I use and have them ready.. Jeanne R.

(similar in use to Shiva Paintsticks above?).....I bought boxes of oil sticks which are used to mark metal for layout in welding and fabricating shops (can also buy them from stores which sell acetylene gas and other welding supplies) The sticks are about 4" long and about as big around as a nickel. They have a cardboard cover on them and like oil pastels will develop a "skin" that must be removed before using. These come in all the primary and secondary colors, plus white, black, silver and gold. Real cool stuff to use. Just another source for oil paints, and yes I have a set along with several different brands of artist quality oil pastels. Patty B.

Hi Dianne - I've done a little bit of work with pastels and liquid clay. I use the chalk form because I can scrape a smidge from the bar for the color I want. You don't need much to made a deep rich color. I've mixed different colors of pastels and blend them in TLS to get the desired color.
....You can also use pastels on raw clay for blushing and it works well and stays in the clay after baking. Since I make mostly sculptures, I haven't had an issue with them scraping off. Hope that helps a bit. Sooz

HEAT SET paints (Genesis) ... sorta like colored liquid polymer clay?
behave like oils when used

Genesis paints are called oil paints but are not truly oil paints
....... they're actually a polymer based paint that won't harden until heated. Dotty (a "thermoplastic")
....These behave like oil paints, but they thin with water ....and clean up with water and soap or 91% alcohol ....and must be heat-set
...(??) From the first time I read a description of these Genesis "heat-set oils", I thought, yeah, right.....this is basically coloured liquid polymer clay, ie, that is, some kind of LS-like stuff, with pigment added. I think calling it "oils" is a marketing ploy. Cath
...You can even use it to clean regular oil paint off your brushes. Not that you would. But you could. Lisa T.

(see more just below on the characteristics of these paints)

SUPPLIERS +more info
http://www.genesisartistcolors.com
http://www.theclaystore.com (click on Paints & Accessories)

SUMMARY:
These paints are rather different than other types of paint.
.... they do not dry at all , but must be "cured" the same way that polymer clay is cured (in an oven at 250-280 degrees, or with a heat gun)
....mixed-up paints and paint left in a brush never dries (so they don't need to be cleaned between sessions and mixed colors on a palette will "keep indefinitely)
.......(the Genesis representative) had one paint brush he'd begun using when he first started doing presentations that he'd NEVER cleaned... it was still wet.... unbelievable, really!
...can make any paint layer wet or dry as long or as short as you want.. impasto & glazing are easy
...however pigments look diff. than oils

These are marketed by one company: Genesis Artist Colors.
....not actually oil paints... but are ground in some sort of synthetic polymer that behaves rather like oil.
....they don't dry by oxidation the way oil paints do.... must be heated which sets is permanently --so the paint stays wet forever.
....for drying, you can use a special heat gun (sold by the Genesis company) but can’t use a hair dryer because it doesn’t get hot enough....or a special drying oven (sold by the Genesis company). ...can use a regular oven, but may get paint on it...
...a disadvantage to heat set paints is that they are made by only one company which won’t say exactly how they are made... they claim the paint is archival, but you have to take their word for it. . .
http://rourkevisualart.com/wordpress/2006/08/20/73-more-convenient-than-regular-oil-paint

I have been working with them, and think they have a lot of possibilities.
....They are not pvc-based (?), but they seem quite compatible with the clay
.....they adhere nicely to the clay... and their tinting strength is fantastic.
.....The only problem I've had so far is with trying to sandwich the wet paint beneath a layer of translucent clay and having the translucent plaque..though my translucent layer probably wasn't mushed down hard enough, and maybe it can't be due to the viscosity of the paint. (I haven't tried all the Genesis mediums yet, though.) Just another problem to solve. Bonnie in Houston

Summary of WAYS TO USE these paints with polymer clay:
...just paint or use washes of them on baked clay, using a brush, or on a baked film of liquid clay... for pictures, sculpted faces, patterns, whatever
.........(more on some of that below under Polymer Paintings).
..as an antiquing paint, it works great... I often use the Burnt Umber on light colors; Cadmium Red is great over impressed or carved black.
.........(lesson): make and bake the item first... when cool, sand and buff it... rub the paint over it, and rub off any excess.... rebake for 5-6 min's in at 250 degrees...then buff the surface again (the Genesis areas won't buff up (on their own), but the rest of the piece will. Dotty (.. Katherine Dewey says it will buff if a bit of liquid clay is added to it the Genesis)
......see also below in Antiquing and Patinas)
......(see also etched transfers using oil paints, in Transfers > Etched)
...stencil them in a pattern over the surface of the clay, then bake.
...sandwich them between layers of clay, and then use one of the mokume gane techniques with them....after taking slices off a mokume gane pad you can lay them onto a base bead, or a clay sheet and then bake.Dotty
.....would work as well for spiral canes or any other stacks or layered techniques?
...mix it with (liquid clay) to color it.... then use as you would use the liquid clay

painting
.....the texture of the paint is very buttery and a delight to use.. If you love oil paints, but hate to wait for them to dry, this is the stuff for you!
.... for refined painting on clay, say a portrait or some other rendered subject, they work much better than Liquid Sculpey (...but that's why I do the things I do with TLS... I like a more abstract textural approach and TLS works very well for that)
.....My DH cures his paintings (on masonite or illustration board) in my convection oven.....the only serious drawback is that this limits the size of the paintings. The Genesis people will construct a drying box for you but it isn't cheap.
..........(larger areas of) paint can also be set with a heat gun, but this is tedious and we feel that the convection oven does a better job.
.....They have a whole range of colors. and offer different sets, or you can buy them individually.
.....They do mix with liquid clay.. Jody Bishel
..Susan S's lesson on painting faces of sculpts with the flesh-colored and other colors of Genesis ... washes, etc.
http://tutorials.theclaystore.com/Dolls/doll-painting-with-genesis-paints

for washes and stains, I prefer Genesis paints to acrylic paints as they leave no "edge", a real problem with acrylics.

I've even used them in an air brush. Katherine Dewey ....(for more on air brushes, see Finishes > Sprays)

inclusions....Donna Kato mixed titanium white Genesis paint with some colored powders (I'm pretty sure this was the brand - D'UVA chromacoal powder http://www.lithocoal.com/mainframe.html )
...then she used it in her mokume gane and it was a really neat effect. Geo in MI
...Donna's lesson on using Genesis paints in a mokume gane stack ... she put the Genesis colors here and there on a sheet of translucent , then spreadit around with fingers... added a sheet of metallic leaf on top ... final sheet cut and stacked into a mokume loaf
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_jewelry/article/0,,HGTV_3238_1383760,00.html

They are a bit on the expensive side....You'll find, however, that quality oil paint in the same pigment concentration is just as expensive. Bonnie in Houston
. . .I have to say that these are NOT expensive paints (for what you get)... you get use out of every drop of paint in the bottle. You NEVER wash paint out of your brush, you wipe it all out of the brush and use it later. (You know that when you are working with most other paints, you will have a thin layer of paint on your palet where you might have blotted your brush... that quickly dries and is wasted. Because this stuff never dries, you can just swipe that right up and use it.). Reagan

CURING: Genesis paints are supposed to be cured ato 250- 280 degrees for "several minutes"
....you can do that either in a regular/toaster oven, in one of their drying ovens, or using the special heat gun they make just for curing Genesis paints
... (their heat tool would cure the paint on polymer clay with that amount of time, but only partially cure the clay underneath as you won't be heating the polymer clay for the full time required)... (is this a problem?... or referring to using the paint only on previously baked clay?)

Genesis paints cannot be buffed unless you add a touch of liquid clay to them. Katherine

I bought the sampler kit which is in little plastic containers. When you cut off the tops, you have to store it so it won't tip over. Genevieve
....their "starter" kits include a heat gun, some colors, some mediums, and a video.
.......they generally run $60 to $80 retail tho' you could probably find a kit for much less though (I've seen one for about $40). Margaret D.
...I also bought the sampler kit, and after opening a few of the tubes, I simply stood them up in a small (kalamata olive) jar.. It has been several months, and the paints, which don't "flow" in the first place, are still workable, and all I have to do is squeeze a small amount out of one of the tubes to color my TLS or make my MG. They're fun! And easy to clean up! deb

WATER-MISCIBLE Oils...(Artisan, Max, Duo Aqua,etc.)
(aka... water-mixable oils)

..I've applied them to both unbaked and baked clay. ... and always mixed with water
...they can be used for antiquing and patinas as well (see below in Antiquing)

WHAT ARE THEY?... HOW TO USE THEM?

Many people ...mistakenly refer to water miscible oil paint as “water soluble” oil paint: that’s not technically correct, any more than there is such a thing as water soluble olive oil. . . .
Water miscible "oil paints"...are oil paints made with a form of linseed oil that has been modified so that, when water is mixed in, it doesn’t separate.
...It is therefore possible to clean brushes in water rather than solvents, clean your palette with water, and so on.
...It is also possible to thin the paint with water, although manufacturers usually recommend against adding a whole lot of water. When mixed with water, the paint forms an emulsion (tiny droplets of water surrounded by oil), so the refraction index of the paint changes. That means that there is a noticeable shift in value; dark colors become a bit lighter. The paint returns to its normal value when the water evaporates away, making it difficult to judge values when painting (acrylic paint—another sort of emulsion—has the same problem).
...They take about as long to dry (oxidize) as regular oil paints.
....Water miscible oil paint can also be thinned with regular solvents, and manufacturers produce various mediums. They can even be mixed with regular oil paints, although no water should be added to such a mixture.
....Oil painters who try water miscible oils often find them to be kind of “sticky.”
Because each formulation is different, it can be a bad idea to mix paints from different brands.
http://rourkevisualart.com/wordpress/2006/08/20/73-more-convenient-than-regular-oil-paint )

BRANDS + "oil" ingredients
...Winsor & Newton-- "Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color" (modified linseed and safflower oil)
............ I've been using these paints on Premo for a few years now because they work so well, and like them as much as Genesis heat-set paint). Katherine Dewey
http://www.dickblick.com/zz004/94/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=4656
...Grumbacher --"Max Artists' Oil Colors" (produced using alkali-refined linseed oil or sunflower oils.)
...HK Holbein -- "Duo Aqua Oil" (activator which alters the structure of the linsee