I am so frustrated with gum paste I could scream!!!  I let it dry for a week and then when I "paint" it, it goes all limp on me again like it was the first day I made it!!!  I realize I'm adding moisture back into it, so is it just best to paint it the same day I make it???  How much longer do I need to let it dry???  Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!  I am all "self taught" with tons and tons of thanks to people here and youtube! 

hello Mandie, what are you using to paint ?

AWhat are you painting? I took the wilton classes and we used luster dust to paint on flowers . We didn't use anything wet at all we dry painted the flowers

A gum paste dried to a week should be rock hard. What r you using to paint? you should use gel colors only diluted in something that evaporates quick.

Usually people uses vodka.. I use any kind of extract.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

The best thing to use on any sugar work if you must paint wet is grain alcohol. EverClear or rectifed spirits have next to no water in them. Even vodka has too much water content to safely use on thin gum paste. Grain alcohol has only 2-4% water content whereas vodka has anywhere between 50-80% water depending upon maker.

Ultimately you want the highest proof clear and flavorless alcohol you can legally buy. Grain alcohol is illegal in some states (not sure if you're in the States or not) so it can be hard to get. I use Spirytus Rektyfikowany, a Polish rectified spirit that's 192 proof - or 96% alcohol. It's perfect if you can find it.
 

I think the better question is what kind of gum paste are you using?  I've painted gum paste that's dried within hours and it doesn't go 'limp'.   I also use Wilton's premade gum paste.  I like it much better than adding Tylose to fondant.  I also use either vodka or lemon extract to paint and have found the lemon extract dries much faster. 
 

I am using gel colors with vodka...I've tried all different types of gumpaste...one I made myself, store bought (Wilton), and just tylose added to fondant.  I will look for the grain alcohol (I live in Michigan) to try that as well as the lemon extract which I have here on hand.  Thank you for the responses!!! 
 

AI think that's your problem you are using gel colors then diluting it more. I'm not sure and hopefully someone here will correct me if I'm wrong but to paint on gumpaste you are suppose to use a colored power like disco dust then dilute with the vodka or grain alcohol. Right now you are using to much ddiluted liquid I think I might be wrong I believe it's almost be like a thin paste

AOk it's not disco dust that's to sparkly it's petal dust or luster dust. I know micheals sells luster dust in the cake isle that's what we used to dry paint our flowers in class..here's a website for petal and luster dust http://www.candylandcrafts.com/dustingpowderindex.htm

Ahttp://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwrel&v=7nX11ANeilU how to use luster dust

APetal dust dries to a dull finish

Ahttp://cakecentral.com/t/636636/how-to-mix-luster-dust-with-vodka-to-paint-on-fondant its best to use vodka or everclear

A http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=7CFI3Sz1s-c&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7CFI3Sz1s-c

AGlobal sugar art.com has had problems with people's credit cards being used after they have purchased products from that website I don't recommend buying from them

Ahttp://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=tX8eqct6W-A she mention ordering from Cobol sugar art being of the recent problems I wouldn't but it was another video to show you how to paint gumpaste

gels are a water based composition, and adding alcohol will chemically conflict, i use non toxic chalks, and alcohol xx

I only use Satin Ice gumpaste. I would never use Wilton anything (at least not food products) as it is far inferior IMHO. But the point mentioned earlier about using dusts instead of painting is correct. If you need it to look less dusty and more painterly after dusting them, quickly steam them--it does wonderful things to colors and intensifies them. And the steam wont hurt the gumpaste if you're using a quality one.

I have to vouch for GSA (globalsugarart)... I do almost 95% of my purchasing through them and have never had a problem. I understand that there have been some issues lately, and I don't discredit the people who have had problems, but they are an amazing company with unbeatable customer service. They have the best selection anywhere online. I never hesitate to give them my business. The best way to pay for anything anywhere online though is through a screen service like PayPal. I only use them to pay for my orders. They process it and the original vendor never sees any of your info at all.
 

Thank you for all your responses!!!  I will be looking at these tutorials on youtube.  I usually buy my dusts from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. My daughter and I do this and our cakes are getting better (all self taught).  I really do appreciate all the information and will try the steam effect...I have roses made and dried and will try the steam on them!  I will also be looking into the Satin Ice!
 

I paint on my gumpaste all the time and I have never had a problem.  Are you applying it thick?  I found that if I put too much paint on the dried gumpaste it does become sticky - but has never gotten limp again.   If I need to deepen the color, I let it dry and apply a second coat.  The turkey in my avatar has a large gumpaste feather back that was Wilton Gum Paste dried for 3 days and then painted with Wilton gel colors mixed with vodka.  It dried in just a few hours.