Thank you. Gesso works in fewer coats and creates a layer between the cardboard and the acrylic paint so the paint attaches to the gesso instead of soaking into the cardboard. If you are interested in doing that method, look for a varnish that says “removable” such as this Golden one. Below, are a few more common questions beginners in acrylic painting often ask. Place the box frame and the painting on a clean sheet of newspaper. Once you’ve done this several times, it gets very easy and you will gain more confidence in applying your coats evenly. There are different ways you can apply the varnish but I prefer running a straight even coat with the width of the brush. Taking the second spot on our list is the Art Alternatives … Art Alternatives Stretched White Canvas. Varnishing your painting provides a lasting seal that will protect your painting from dust, debree and some fading. For use in a Paint Party Business, please visit my Small Business page for more information or contact me here. The satin and gloss varnishes add that extra wow factor to your painting especially with dark colors. I prefer going in the opposite direction of the first coat but you can do the same direction you used the first time. I have tried spray Mod Podge on an acrylic painting. What people consider as a best practice for acrylic paintings for sealing or varnishing is a two step process. You can learn how to paint & bring out your inner artist too using my techniques! Wait for the first coat to dry. The bristles are very soft and it comes with two brushes. Again make sure you apply these coats evenly. However, you may want to go for a gloss or a matte finish. Sealing your acrylic paint is an important part of painting a ceramic mug. No one technique for varnishing suits every situation. It really is a simple process to apply a sealer coat to your acrylic paintings! There are many reasons you would want to do this! Secondly, how do you seal acrylic paint on a coffee mug? We also carry 500 Series charcoal paper that is 100% cotton and is great for finished pieces of art. Wait for this first coat to dry. Our 400 Series Charcoal is made with 75% post-consumer fiber and 25% hemp and is a great recycled option. Make sure the gel is evenly spread and covering the surface completely, right to the edges. Acrylic Painting Lessons Colorful Art Oil Painting Pictures Watercolour Inspiration Oil Painting Abstract Watercolor Paintings Watercolor Art Painting Lessons Art. An uneven finish in your painting, some parts matte, other parts glossy can be very off-putting to the viewer. © 2020 Step By Step Painting With Tracie Kiernan, All Rights Reserved. My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE thing about varnishing an acrylic painting is that it can make the colors look richer and deeper because it adds a semi-reflective sheen to the entire painting. Reasons to not varnish your acrylic paintings are because you may want to paint over it at a later time. I am going to demonstrate how I varnished my Moon Painting. This can cause the varnish to sort of “peel” because it has slightly dried already. If you want to have a smooth surface, however, then you can seal your Paper Mache with Gesso, if you want to. Step 3 Rinse a jar or cup with water to remove any dust particles. For one thing, it greatly increases the longevity of the paint. It was a very easy but messy process! When painting with acrylic you do not need to prime the paper first since the paint, a plastic polymer, will not damage the paper. I do it a lot. If you want you can add a third layer, however, two coats is what I usually stick with! Dip the tip of a wide paintbrush into the soft gel mixture. Also, it’s helpful to work in a bright room or an area where there is a lot of sun shining through the window. Thank you for the tip on cleaning a varnish brush. In general, acrylic resin varnishes are glossier, stronger and clearer than acrylic polymer varnishes. To avoid that you should seal your paints after you are done painting. Enjoying your tutorials very much! I was able to sit down and varnish several paintings all in one session and it really didn’t take that long! I would wait at least 24 hours because you don’t want to risk any thick under coats of the painting running through the sealer and ruining your painting. Apply a thin, even coat over the surface of the painting. However, I did not like the final results of it. Read more here on applying a wax finish to a watercolor painting. The next preparation step is to rough up the surface to give the paint more texture for clinging. Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint that’s made out of pigment mixed into a polymer medium. It’s definitely a good idea to prime the front and back of the paper with acrylic gesso which will help paper stay sturdy during the painting. You can mix gloss and matte for a semi-gloss look. The […] To “varnish” an acrylic painting means to add a protective coat or “seal” over your finished painting. Heavyweight canvas paper can be bought in sheets or pads and supports all kinds of acrylic techniques. I am using a Liquitex Satin Varnish in this demo. Can you use this to keep your painting on glass, My varnish seem rather thick should I thin it out with something I live in Mexico so supplies are limited. A unified finish enhances the colours and is a great way to add both a professional finish to your paintings and add dollars to the sale price. Then find a varnish that has UV protection, and is compatible with oil paint, and apply the varnish over the whole painting to keep the paper colors from fading. I have been using poly acrylic to seal and my paintings are cracking. They typically come in glossy, satin, and matte finishes. We have a 300 Series wood pulp charcoal paper that is great for students, beginners, experimenting, and practicing. Reader Question: I just discovered the fun that could be had by using oil pastels in conjunction with acrylic paints. Apply the first coat of varnish with a wide base coat brush. 5. Then use a base coat brush to apply the first layers. I would suggest using varnish or acrylic sealer to seal the paint. The gel is fast drying so you need to work reasonably fast, especially when mounting a … An isolation coat is simply a barrier between the actual painting and the varnish so that later on you can remove and reapply the varnish. Use a wide bristle brush to apply the gel thinly to the box. You don’t technically have to varnish all your paintings, however, choosing to varnish is a good idea if you are going to gift or sell your painting. You can use the one you used earlier to adhere the paper, or you can pick a different one if you want a different finish. It doesn’t take much time at all to do this and you have a protected painting! I used to use up a lot of white acrylic paint trying to cover up the text on yogurt buckets or trying to give a white base for egg cartons so I could paint them with bright colors. Add a second coat. Although tempting, do not keep going back and keep re-applying your strokes. You don't want to make gouges in the plastic or cause permanent damage, so use a fine-grit sandpaper and rub it over the surface gently. Thank you for the tips on varnishing! Let the surface dry. Hold your spray can about 1 ½ feet from the painting and, with a sweeping motion, lightly spray the area you would like to seal. No. Fabric – I love Premier Prints fabric because they have coordinating patterns. You want to make sure you do the strokes all the way across the canvas and not stop half way in the middle. Wait for this coat to dry. Natasha writes: Do drawings made with polychromos & paint thinner need a protective layer to prevent smudges? I’ll go over them in a Q & A style since its easier to understand and reference back to. Most decoupage glues and acrylic mediums can double-up as a sealer. The varnish I am using is very thin and fluid so it glides easily across the canvas. Pick a nice and striking color to complement your room. Tracie Kiernan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Allow the acrylic to dry for 15 minutes. I use acrylic paper when I just want to practice, experiment or try something new, and not working on anything specific. Pour a little bit of the acrylic sealer into a shallow dish. This can add a nice looking effect to your painting, however, doing it this way is hard to make sure you have covered all of the canvas evenly. You can spray at a distance of about ½ foot if you want to darken the colors with the fixative. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I use the folk art brand of base coat brush. Also, earlier in this post I mentioned you can do an isolation coat with a removable varnish. Have you ever used a sponge brush to avoid brush marks in your varnish? Hello. Article by eHow. However if you're burying the paper in four or five coats of gesso, and then a thick layer of acrylic paint over the top; you could probably get away with a slightly lower quality product. Is even slightly wet coffee cup in the center of the reasons above, you don´t have seal... Easy and you will gain more confidence in applying your coats evenly you simply ’. And time it takes to varnish your acrylic paintings i have tried spray Mod Podge on an acrylic painting with. The painting on a clean sheet of newspaper it can be tricky to photograph a and! 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