Wet looking paint?

[IndigoTears]

I am going to make a neoprene, paint, and sequin tail soon and was hoping to find a way to create the shimnmery, wet look seen on fish and dolphins hehe <3

[MerAnthony]

Please post pictures

[ShyMer]

It's going to be about style and technique. You need to give us something to go on though, it's hard to make suggestions when we don't know your style or method. I second the pictures request.

[Mermaid Veruliya]

Yes I'm confused about the sequins AND paint also. If you're going for smooth and shimmery, like a dolphin, you can achieve that by the way you paint. You can't just paint one color, there's got to be highlights. But with sequins, I don't think there is a way to do smooth, shiny though, oh yes haha.

[IndigoTears]

haha sorry I wasn't very specific. I'm going to be painting the neoprene and sewing sequins over the painted neoprene in select places. I don't have any pictures I could post of the tail because it is not in exsistance yet, but I'll post a picture of what I mean by "shimmery": http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/media/Animal_Images/Sea_Lion/california_sea_lion.jpg
http://www.answersingenesis.org/assets/images/articles/aqua/Bottlenose_Dolphin.jpg
I guess what I mean is if anyone knows of a "wet-look" kinda paint.
P.S. thanks Keri that helps C: <3
hope I cleared the confusion up. I appreciate the help!! :D

[Mermaid Veruliya]

The only paint that looks wet when dry is oil paint. Which I'm not sure would stick to neoprene, and it takes ages to dry. It's also painted on in many thin layers. It's messy and stains and is one of the hardest mediums to work with in my opinion.

The other way I can think of is to paint with many shadows and highlights. This gives depth and shine, especially with metallic paints.

My last resort would be to apply a finishing spray. Finishing sprays on drawings and painting give a nice sheen. Maybe you kind find one of a shellac sorts or another shine spray, just be sure to test it, so it won't chip and crack, and that it's also waterproof.

[Mermaid Oshun]

I kind of understand what Indigo is getting at. Most painted neoprene tails look dull instead of like a dolphin for instance. I think the stretchiness of the fabric and fabric paint make so many wrinkles that show up as dull or flat.

I think painting one 16 ounce jar of liquid latex over a neoprene suit would take off the dull wrinkled look on the surface of neoprene and allow you to paint it high gloss with glitter or another paint. A 16 ounce jar of liquid latex is only $15.00. They even have the liquid latex already in different colors...even fluorescent colors I think the Jacquard pearlescent paints really will show up a lot better too with that base coat of latex too instead of just on the absorbent dull neoprene fabric.
13384
PS This wont work of course for those with latex allergies. Then again, more than half of all the swim caps and swim goods in the pool ARE latex.
http://www.liquidlatex.com/

[PearlieMae]

A thin coat of silicone caulk will make it shiny and wet looking. I use it all the time on stuff. It will also seal in your paint and smooth down your sequins. Do a test patch...make a forearm sleeve the way you would your tail!

Also, you can mix in Pearlex powders and/or glitter to the clear silicone for extra sparkle!

[Mermaid Oshun]

yes both would work.

[IndigoTears]

thank you! <3 I'm going to look into putting a silicon layer over it. Does anyone have a picture of a tail with a silicon layer over it? C:
Thank you guys for the responses!