Painted electroluminescent vehicle trim components

A painted article with electroluminescent lighting, comprising:

• a plastic molded substrate having a show surface and a connection surface;
• first and second conductor bodies at least partially embedded in the substrate and having first and second conductive surfaces exposed externally at the connection surface;
• first and second conductive wires each connected to a respective conductor body within the substrate and extending from the substrate to connect to an electrical power source;
• a conductive backplane paint layer deposited over the show surface and onto the exposed first conductive surface of the first conductor body;
• a conductive bus bar paint layer deposited over the substrate and onto the exposed second conductive surface of the second conductor body;
• a conductive clear paint layer deposited over the show surface and contacting the conductive bus bar paint layer;
• and
• a light-emitting paint layer deposited over the show surface and disposed between the conductive backplane paint layer and the conductive clear paint layer such that light is emitted when an electrical signal is received at the first and second conductive wires.