How to Paint a Chess Set

Separate all chess pieces into two teams, making sure you have the same number of pieces for each side. Label all the pieces of one team with a "1" using the pencil. Label all the pieces of the second team with a "2." The numbers will be painted over, but will help you remember which color to paint each piece.

Squirt a good amount of your first main color onto your painter's palette or the paper plate. Paint each piece labeled with a "1" using this color and your medium brush. Rinse the brush in water and dry with paper towels after you are finished.

Squirt the same amount of the second main color onto the opposite end of the painter's palette, making sure not to mix the two main colors together. Completely paint all the pieces labeled "2" with this color. Rinse out your brush and dry it again.

Squirt a little bit of your first accent color onto the palette and use the smaller pointed brush to fill in some details on your pieces. If things like eyes, swords, or buttons are carved in, follow the carvings. If not, paint small ovals as the eyes for the knights (horses). If you are adding faces to other pieces, paint eyes on the front of the top knob of each piece, which can act as a head. Add clothing by painting buttons down the front of the long section of each piece.

Paint every other square on the board using a dark color so that the colors alternate. Paint the remaining squares a contrasting color if you like, or just leave them unpainted.

Set all the pieces out on newspaper to dry. Make sure they're in a safe place where they won't be knocked over. Let them dry at a temperature of around 75 degrees for at least one hour, and up to three days, depending on the number of coats of paint you used.