I tried painting once and it was a disaster. I don't know if it was the paint I was using or what but YUK when I was done.

I would like to learn how to for a couple of the soaps I do, they would look good painted.

I was doing a special order and I kept overpouring these birds that I thought were going to be the death of me, they would have worked out so much better if I had painted.

Let me know how it goes
Michelle

Thought I would drop in a line. I have never painted soap, but from reading the trade forums, I gather it is easy. However, most painted soap (from what I gather) is decorative. Once you use it, the artistic features are lost. In other words, looks nice, but not real functional if you want to keep it looking nice. I, too, had a dickens of a time with overpours. I have one mold that I overpour, and she sells well done that way (it is a naked lady on a beach) but it is a real pain, even doing it with just two colors like we do. However, my swirled and blended soaps sell well because they look pretty and they are not hard to do.
Susan

What kind of paint do you use if you want to paint soap. The ones I got are beautiful, but the paint makes the soap hard that you can't use it anymore.

Painting soap isn't difficult once you get the hang of it. The paints I use look like tole paints, but you can also use acrylics. Yes, they do harden. When you finish the picture you clear coat it as you would a painting. Only the top of the soap is painted and clear coated. You use the bar from the bottom. The art/paint will stay on the bar until the bar is used up. The best way to practice is to run to the dollar store and buy a few bars of cheap soap to practice on. Dry brushing works the best and is the easiest. Using stencils and dry brushing gives a really nice effect. The more you work the paint the more of a mess you will make. If you make mistakes let the paint dry completely and then start painting again.

It takes a bit of practice but it's worth it. Hand painted soaps are awesome. They can not be duplicated and they are a piece of art that is useable. :)

I hope this helps.