Getting the smoothest possible coat with acrylics?

[gummiisnax]

I'm working on a custom pony for an Artfight attack, and I'm currently painting the pony after adding wings and a molded tail. I'm working with a G3 Sweetie Belle base and trying to lay down an even layer of white acrylic paint, however no matter what I've tried, I can't seem to get rid of brush strokes and streaky paint. How can I get the smoothest coat while working with acrylics? I've been watering down the paint, and I'm wondering if I've been watering it down too much.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

If you water down too much, the paint kind of doesn't stick to the surface. Do you have a picture of how it looks? It might just need some more coats.

 

[blueming]

I’ve heard of some people using airbrush paint but just painting it on like usual. Apparently its pre-watered down to a nice ratio

 

[Twinkle-eye]

I’ve heard of some people using airbrush paint but just painting it on like usual. Apparently its pre-watered down to a nice ratio

I use that stuff! Its great!

 

[gummiisnax]

If you water down too much, the paint kind of doesn't stick to the surface. Do you have a picture of how it looks? It might just need some more coats.

Here’s a spot where it’s weirdly thin. I added a coat of 3/4 paint and 1/4 water, and it seemed to go on much better than my previous coats with more water!

 

[Twinkle-eye]

Maybe it's your brand of paint? Or brush?

 

[gummiisnax]

Maybe it's your brand of paint? Or brush?

I’ve tried a couple of different paint brands (Apple Barrel and Michael’s house brand) as well as a couple of different brushes. I think part of the issue might be me painting too fast!

 

[Twinkle-eye]

I’ve tried a couple of different paint brands (Apple Barrel and Michael’s house brand) as well as a couple of different brushes. I think part of the issue might be me painting too fast!

Could be that. I use modelling paint, like... for Warhammer etc.

 

[AzaleaArt]

I use just the store brand Walmart and folk art acrylics and have been able to get them very smooth in the past
Here’s what works best for me:
Water down the paint to milk consistency
Make sure layers are fully dry before doing another, usually about an hour and a half
Use a wider soft bristled brush, the one I use to paint pony bodies is about as wide as a g4 leg
Do about 17 coats of paint all together

 

[cowbrain]

View attachment 73829
Here’s a spot where it’s weirdly thin. I added a coat of 3/4 paint and 1/4 water, and it seemed to go on much better than my previous coats with more water!
View attachment 73830

If you aren't waiting long enough between coats and/or being too firm with the brush, it can cause really visible brush strokes and thin patches where you're indenting and marking the layer underneath! It happens to me more often than I'd like to admit

 

[Lackadaisy]

I'll add in that you'll want a brush with very fine bristles to reduce brush strokes

 

[Jellybean]

Adding on to these good tips^ Change the direction of your brush strokes when doing the next coat of paint.