Any type of acrylic paint can be used to paint a Venetian mask. A wide variety of colors can be used in painting a single mask or you can create an understated mask using only one or two colors. Traditionally Venetian masks include metallic accents, particularly gold. Metallic paint or paint markers can be used to give your mask this look. Glitter paints or puffy paints can also be used to add some flair to your Venetian mask. When you are finished painting, add a varnish or clear coat over the entire mask to preserve it and give it a shiny look.
To make your mask look truly authentic, use a crackle coat to antique the mask. Apply this after applying a varnish or clear coat. A crackle coat will give the mask an aged look by making the paint look slightly yellow and crackled.
True Venetian masks have more than simply paint decorating them; they include notions such as feathers and sequins to really make a mask stand out. You can also use some three-dimensional painting techniques to give your mask this added depth. Add three-dimension trim or accents using lines of glue from a glue gun. When the glue has dried, paint over these accents with gold paint.
Many masks are painted to depict characters from fairy tales, plays or literature. While any literary work can be drawn on for inspiration, it makes sense to use a character with a strong connection to Italy or Venice in particular. Some ideas include the Commedia dell'Arte or Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, or Much Ado About Nothing.
Paint can also be used to add accents to a simple mask. Paint circles or less uniform shapes around the eyes to create a unique effect. Stripes or spots can be added to give the mask the look of a wild animal. Painting only one vertical half of the mask while leaving the other side bare creates a distinctive visual effect.