It is a lot harder than it looks.Try using testors or boyds model spraypaint.Available at hobby shops or there are some colors in the model airplane section of walmart.Every time I used bottle paints,especially with thinner I ended up with a mess.For some reason the paints I mentioned above work really good.Any of the fast drying spraypaints-rustoleum,krylon etc. skin over when they hit the water.Avoid them.Try out some of the paints I mentioned,they ended my frustration.Keep in mind that because they are enamels you are limited to either 2part poly(automotive) or rattle can poly for clearcoats,as every other finish I tried lifted the enamel.When I first got a swirl to turn out it was I was like a kid in a candy store,must have more bodies to do.I totally understand why the pro's don't divulge their secrets,a huge amount of time must have gone into discovering and fine tuning their process.I know I've spent months just experimenting with enamels.Eventually I'll try the urethanes.