3 Easy Ways to Add Gold to Your Paintings

Learn how to add gold to acrylic paintings using gold leaf, metallic mediums, and liquid gold. Simple, beginner-friendly techniques.

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Have you ever finished a painting and just felt like… it needed a little something extra? Like it’s almost there… but not quite? That’s exactly where gold comes in.

Gold has this beautiful way of adding just a little bit of shimmer and depth that can completely transform your painting without you having to start over or change everything. And the best part is… it doesn’t have to be complicated at all.

I want to show you a few really simple ways you can start playing with gold in your paintings, even if you’ve never tried it before.

Option 1: Gold Leaf (For That Beautiful, Real Shine)

If you’ve never used gold leaf before, I know it can feel a little intimidating… but I promise, it’s not as hard as it looks. You can use something simple like Mod Podge to apply it, and then gently press the gold leaf right onto your painting.

And honestly… the imperfectness of it is what makes it so pretty. It’s not meant to be smooth or perfect. It’s meant to have texture and variation and just catch the light in those really beautiful, unexpected ways. Added a little too much foil? No problem. I like to grab a fan brush and simply brush the excess off lightly.

Option 2: Gold Metallic Medium (For a Soft Glow)

This is such a fun one to play with. Instead of that bold shine like gold leaf, this gives you more of a soft shimmer… almost like a glow.

You can mix a little bit into your paint, but one of my favorite ways to use it is actually on top, almost like a glaze. I’ll take a dry brush (no water at all) and just lightly drag it across the surface. And if you’ve got texture underneath? It just catches those raised areas in the prettiest way.

Option 3: Liquid Gold (For Those Finishing Details)

If you want something a little more controlled, liquid gold is such a great option. You can use it to add clean edges, highlight certain areas, and just bring a little definition to your piece

It’s one of those things that’s really nice for those final touches… when you’re stepping back and thinking, “Okay, what does this need?”

A Little Secret… Gold Loves Texture

This is something I’ve really been playing with lately… Gold looks even better when you’ve got some texture underneath.

Using things like modeling paste or even palette knife work gives your painting that raised surface, and when you go back in with gold? It just settles into those areas and creates so much depth and movement.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Overthink It… Just Play

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s this: You don’t have to have a plan. You don’t have to know exactly how it’s going to turn out.

Some of my favorite pieces have come from just trying something new… layering things… and letting it evolve as I go. So if you’ve been curious about adding gold into your paintings, this is your sign to just try it!

Want to Keep Learning and Playing? This is actually something we dive deeper into inside Tribe when the doors are open. We practice playing with texture, layering, and adding those little gold details that really bring a painting to life.

So if you’ve been wanting to grow your skills and try new techniques, click here to join the email list so you don’t miss the next time Tribe opens.

I’d love to see what you create! Post a picture and share what you learned on The Social Easel Facebook Page!

Stay creative and happy painting!