How to Paint Lightning Bolts on a Guitar
- 1). Lightly sand the section where you intend to place the lightning bolts. The lightning bolt is probably one of the last things you will paint on your guitar, so only sand very lightly, and only where you want the bolts to go. Wash the sanded section of guitar with a degreasing cleanser. Remove the strings from the guitar and set them aside.
- 2). Choose three different shades of yellow, green, purple or blue. If using blue, purchase a turquoise, sky blue, ice blue and white. For yellows, purples or greens, just pick three different shades in the same color family. White will always be the fourth color used.
- 3). Look at the picture of lightning as a reference as you work. Start with the darkest color first. Make the bolt shape on the guitar. You can make the basic bolt shape for a cartoon-like appearance, or you can make the lightning bolt look more realistic with several different branches.
- 4). Rinse off the paintbrush in the water and apply the highlight colors while the base paint is still wet. Start with the second darkest color and apply over 1/3 of the base color. Blend the line between the colors with water to make the bolt look like one color is fading into another. Paint the third darkest color over 1/3 of the second color and blend the line. Apply the white to 1/3 of the lightest color and blend. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. You can make additional bolts across the guitar at this point if desired.
- 5). Place polyurethane sealer into the airbrush gun. Mask off the fingerboard of the guitar, as well as any other areas of the guitar that you do not wanted sealed. Spray the sealer over the entire surface that was painted. This will add a cohesive, smooth finish to the guitar. Allow the sealer to dry for two hours, and apply a second coat. Allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours before using the guitar.
