Paint Plaster Paris with Acrylic: Best Technique Step by Step

Shojib Hoq | Nov 6, 2023

Mixing plaster of Paris and acrylic paint together is a powerful way to enhance artwork with unique textures and finishes. Using acrylic paint with Plaster Paris creates a thick and colorful interesting texture. It can be very useful for craft projects such as sculptures, decorative objects, and relief work.

This article is ultimate guide for mixing Plaster of Paris with acrylic paint, including

1. How to mix acrylic and plaster together for texture artwork
2. Also for sculpture and mold making
3. Some important tips and tricks and more….

Can You Mix Acrylic Paint with Plaster of Paris?

Yes, acrylic paint and plaster can be mix together without any issue. Keep in mind that mixing the 2 different materials together will thicken the paint but it decreases the consistency which means color becomes slightly lighter. 

According to justpaint.org, the liquid additive is mixed with water prior to adding the powdered plaster, usually between 3-10% of the weight of plaster used. At a 10% level, their limited testing revealed that the Acrylic Modifier for Plaster increases the amount of force required to break ordinary Plaster of Paris by 50% and increases the amount of force required to break.

How to Mix Plaster Paris with Acrylic Paint for Sculpture and Mold Making: Step by Step

Keep in mind following same way can prepare acrylic paint and plaster paris mixture for any types of project. Such as textured artwork, DIY home decor, faux finishes, repair and restoration and more. But this article we only focus for sculpture and mold making.

Mixing plaster paris with acrylic paint will be simple and easy with the following steps.

Step 1: Prepare

Gather materials

1. High quality Plaster of Paris
2. Acrylic paint
3. Mixing containers
4. Spatula 
5. A dust mask
6. Newspaper to protect work space

Make sure use well ventilated are to minimaze any dust particles. 

Step 2: Determine the desired color and consistency

Calculate the right ratio of acrylic paint to mixing with plaser to get desired color and consistency. Example: for fine details and smooth surface, you will need thinner constancy and light color and for mold making you need thicker constancy and darker color.

Pro Tip: You can easily do a small test for determine the right color and consistency. Keep in mind that extra paint can weaken plaser.

Step 3: Mix Plaster of Paris and Water

Mix plaster and water 2:1 ratio. Use bowl and a mixing tool like a stirrer or spatula for mixing. Ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture by thoroughly mixing, taking caution to avoid any pesky air bubbles. You also can add glue or different additives as your necessary but it is optional. 

Pro Tip: Complete the project quickly after mixing Plaster of Paris and water because it sets rapidly.

Step 4: Add Acrylic Paint:

Now mix and plaster togather. Choose compatible acrylic paint for plaster. Here is most compatible acrylic paint list for use with plaster of paris. 

You can mix 1:1 resio but plaster and acrylic 2:1 ratio is recommended. However slowly apply the paint with mixture and thoroughly blending until the desired color is achieved. Keep in mind too paint can weaken the plaster.

Also remember one thing, mixing acrylic paint with plaster increases dry time.

Now your mixture is ready for apply!