School Painting – Using Glitter Paint classroom

A Simple Guide to Using Glitter Paint

Glitter is messy, gets everywhere

Using Glitter in the classroom is Messy:
Glitter is messy it gets everywhere!
Once it is on your hands, it’s on your face, it’s in your hair, then door handles, benchtops, chairs and floors.  And don’t get me started on clothing.   So why do we put up with all this mess?  It’s all about the bling, the sparkle.

Art Teachers don't like glitter.  There is even a blog full of help called "Art Teachers Hate Glitter"

Is there a way to use glitter without so much mess?
The simple answer is yes.  It has been around for a long time too. 

Glitter Paint.
The glitter particles are held together within a paint and this stops the messy transfer of glitter that is normally left loose to fly around the room. 

Is Glitter sprinkled over glue or paste less messy?
This doesn’t work either as glitter still gets everywhere because the glitter is loose and still gets airborne. 

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Glitter Paints:

About Glitter Paints:
The issue with most glitter paints is that the paint just doesn't sparkle in the way that would excite most kids and teachers enough to use it. 

Why? 
Paint is made to cover and protect a surface and when you add a pigment coloured paint over glitter particles you instantly lose a part of the real glitter sparkle.  It is like covering a pile glitter with a sheet of coloured cellophane, you instantly lose around 15% of the natural sparkle of the glitter.

A lot of the Glitter Paints are made to a budget school grade price.  This simply means less glitter in the paint.  The glitter paint ends with less sparkly-bling for your money.  To get any real sparkle you end up having to use quite number of coats of paint or paint far too thickly that takes a very long time to dry.

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How to use Glitter Paint.
Here are a few tips to get the best out of Glitter Paint.

Paint Your Glitter Paint Thickly. 
To get intense concentration of glitter try painting thickly.  This may take longer to dry but once it dries the glitter is more concentrated.  Be careful not to apply too thick as this may over-wet thinner paper causing it to fall apart.  If you are concerned about this, you could try painting two coats of the glitter paint.

Super Bright Glittering Colours:
To get amazing bright glittering colours.  Undercoat with a Tempera Paint and allow to dry.  Then apply your Glitter Paint over top.  This is ideal for Christmas decorations or when you need bright strong colours that really sparkles.  Try a red tempera paint with red glitter, green tempera paint with green etc.
FAS Super Tempera is ideal for this.

Adding a Metallic Bling:
Undercoat with a metallic paint and then apply glitter paint of that same metallic colour or silver glitter paint over the top.

Buying Glitter Paint:
Avoid budget glitter that has very little glitter partials in the paint.
Non-Toxic - Look for safety standards on the label.