Thinking about a new project, intended to appear formal and to impress.
It's a dining room, where I'll make raised panels (lower ~30") of cherry. To impress, will use figured veneer on the center of raised panels (cherry around MDF for stability, to get edges that can be milled, and to keep costs down to Planet Earth).
It's the upper section, (not actually woodworking) where I don't have an idea, and don't know whether it's possible. But I'd like to get chatoyance on a surface that's painted, complementary to the chatoyance of the figured cherry below.

Is that possible with paint, or is there another medium to consider? As above, the final appearance should be formal.