Have you ever sealed acrylic pour painting? It is not as easy as it sounds. Many sealants can seal acrylic pour painting, but they all have different qualities. Choosing the right sealant for your needs will depend on where you intend to display it, what type of paint you use, how much protection you need, and more.
There are two types of sealants: water-based and oil-based. I will discuss how to seal acrylic pour paintings in this blog post, but first, we want to talk about which type of sealer should be used on an acrylic pour painting and why!
What to Know When Sealing Acrylic Pour Paintings?
Contents
Type of Sealer
The sealant you choose will depend on the type of paint used in the acrylic pour painting.
If you use a water-based sealant with oil-based paint, it can cause the sealant to peel. The same is true for using an oil-based sealant with water-based paint; it will not adhere properly.
So, it is important to use the correct sealer for the type of paint you are using in your acrylic pour painting!
1. Water-Based Sealants
- Easy to apply (either by spraying or brushing)
- Come in many different finishes (gloss, matte, satin)
- Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) – this means they are environmentally friendly
- It may not last as long as oil-based sealants
- May cause the paint to fade over time
2. Oil-Based Sealants
- Usually lasts longer than water-based sealants
- Many different sheens to choose from ( gloss, matte, satin)
- Higher VOCs than water-based sealants – not environmentally friendly
- Can be difficult to apply evenly
How much Protection do you Need?
There are many factors involved here, and the sealant you choose will depend on what type of protection your acrylic pour painting needs. The sealer can protect against:
- Water damage (UV light, humidity)
- Dust and dirt
- Scratches and scuffs
- Fingerprints and smudges
If you are looking for a sealer that will prevent water from getting to your acrylic pour painting, you should use an oil-based sealant. Oil-based sealants also offer more protection than water-based sealants because they create a barrier between the paint in the acrylic pour painting and outside elements. It might seem like an added hassle if your focus was only protecting the finish of your artwork. But this is important if you want your acrylic pour painting to last a long time.
How to Seal Acrylic pour Painting?
Now that we have talked about which type of sealant should be used with acrylic pour paintings let’s discuss how to seal them.
There are two ways to do this: Spraying or brushing on the sealant.
Spraying is generally the easiest way to apply a sealer to acrylic pour painting.
Still, you need a sealant that comes in spray form. Suppose your sealant does not come in such a format, and you would still like to use it. In that case, you can always mix the sealant with water, so it has more even distribution throughout the sealer bottle. However, the sealant will not last as long if you do this.
Brushing on Sealant is a little more difficult than spraying because it is harder to get an even coat.
Still, it is a good way to seal acrylic pour paintings if you have a lot of them. You can use either water- or oil-based sealant for this method; just be sure that the sealant and paint are compatible!
Here are Some Things to Remember:
You will want to seal your acrylic pour painting before adding layers of paint.
If you wait until after all the layers are added, it may cause the sealant to peel off with each additional layer applied! So, always remember this when sealing an acrylic pour painting: seal it first, then add paint!
Apply several thin coats of sealer instead of one thick coat.
This process is very important. Do not try to skip steps by applying a heavy coat because, most likely, it won’t work. A thicker layer can trap air bubbles in between and underneath itself, causing bubbling or peeling later on down the line. Instead, use multiple thinner coats which dry faster than one thick coating.
Wait for each coat to dry before applying the next one.
You should be able to apply sealant within a few hours after the painting is completed and have it fully dry within 24 hours.
- Hold the can upright about 12 inches from the surface and spray in a sweeping motion across the entire painting
- Make sure to cover all areas, even if you don’t see any paint on them yet
- Allow it to dry for at least 15 minutes between coats
- If applying more than three coats, allow the sealer to cure (dry) for 24 hours before adding additional layers of paint
If you are using a brush-on sealant:
- Apply sealant in thin coats using a brush
- Be sure to get sealant into all the nooks and crannies of the painting
- Allow it to dry for at least 15 minutes between coats
- If applying more than three coats, allow the sealant to cure (dry) for 24 hours before adding additional layers of paint
Conclusion
Sealing acrylic pour paintings can be a little tricky, but as long as you follow these tips, you should have no problem getting a great seal on your artwork!
Hopefully, this blog post has helped you understand how to seal acrylic pour paintings! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask in the comments below.