Everything has to be cleaned with a solvent like turpentine. If you have an airbrush you can work with that, if not rest assured that the greatest pieces of art were made with paint and a brush. A good Sable or Camelhair brush will should give you smooth even strokes. For bass fishing, it's best to stick to basic colors. Crankbaits should match in a general way, the most dominant forage in the lake.
Fluorescent colors are effective on crankbaits in many conditions.
Red works well around grass beds in clear and stained water. But always keep in mind that 80 percent of the strikes you get are due to your retrieve, not color. Paint your primary color using smooth even strokes trying to avoid any drips and runs. After your first coat is dry, if your base coat looks a little translucent apply a second base coat. Next you can start adding your detailing colors, gills, lateral lines eyes and mouth are some of the details you may want to add to your crankbait to make it look very realistic.