Buy a can of spray paint-white-and a can of clear lacquer coating. Spray lightly a thin coat of white paint-let it dry-repeat. This will prevent noticeable paint droplets from forming. When adequately covered with colored paint and dried do the same (lightly spray-let it dry-repeat) with the clear lacquer coating. 8:)

Hi, Buy two different shades of a colour say Green. and a clear liqueur. Firstly sand the base or wooden parts to remove the varnish then Spray the darker green all over the item, very lightly, Just enough to colour the item. Let dry over night. Spay on a very light lacquer layer then spray on the lighter green and see what happens. If you have spray that will repel each other you will get an oil on water effect all over the metal. The drips will fall onto the base and run off. These can be helped into shape with a fine paint brush of left to run as you please. Hey covering the surface on which you are going to spray to protect it from the spray. A nice carpet with a fine spray of dark green paint will not go down well with some people !!!
Try drawing with a candle on the base then spraying over the base. When all the painting is finished a Brillo pad or wad of wire wool will scrape off the paint and wax leaving the dark green colour underneath. You could also try putting tape over the base then spray the whole thing with a mirror finish effect paint. When it is dry, say overnight remove the tape and you have a very shinny looking item. I have recently found a nail varnish which is very shinny silver in several of the make up stands in the big chain of chemists. This seems to be the fashion colour at the moment .