You Asked – Seal Acrylic Painting?

Today’s question comes from Pat :

Pat Writes:

“When I paint with acrylics on canvas should I seal it with anything when I finished. Is there more than one choice? What should drive my decision?”

Do you have any information that might help Pat? Please leave your response in the comments box below.

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7 Comments on "You Asked – Seal Acrylic Painting?"

Carol on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 7:57 pm

Hi Pat:
It’s not necessary to seal your finished work when using acrylics but you will definitely see the colors pop and become more vivid if you do.

Miranda on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 1:21 am

There’s a couple of different products you can use, but like Carol said, it’s not absolutely necessary. It just depends how complicated you want to get!

I’ve used a spray fixative that gives the painting a bit of a glossy finish. It’s quick and easy and pretty effective.

I’ve also used what’s called galkyd medium. It’s a clear, oil-based medium that gives paintings a very shiny, wet look. It really enhancs your colours, but like oils, takes a long time to dry.

There are other ways to seal acrylic paintings, but those are the ones I’ve had experience with!

Sharron White on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 11:21 am

I agree with Miranda – acrylic dries very flat and any varnish or protective medium will serve to enhance the colors. I paint in oil most of the time and it does not require finishing such as that, but if apply an acrylic background to the canvas, then I always put a finish on it with the luster depending on the subject matter. In my opinion, acrylic is at its best when varnished or has had a protective medium brushed over it.

Patrice Lynne Young on Thu, 12th Nov 2009 11:22 am

It’s very important to seal an acrylic painting for the following reasons:

Acrylic paints have different sheens, and these change further with the addition of retarders and clear extenders. A finish or sealer gives an overall sheen that does not distract from the work itself. One wants viewers to notice the art as a whole – not dull and uneven areas. A finish coat also does help to give more depth to the color.

Second – The chemical nature of acrylics means that dust and dirt not only is attracted to – and clings to the surface, but will over time become one with the surface. The varnishes and finish coatings made for acrylics give a harder, slicker surface so that less dirt accumulates. They also allow for cleaning the paintings in future without disturbing the paint itself.
Patrice Lynne Young´s last blog ..Three small paintings…

Patrice Lynne Young on Thu, 12th Nov 2009 11:24 am

And by the way – one should never put an oil sealer on top of acrylics!!
Patrice Lynne Young´s last blog ..Three small paintings…

Susan French on Tue, 30th Mar 2010 3:24 pm

A lot of times I paint with acrylic and then oil on top so what kind of finish should I put on the painting, will an acrylic spray finish be OK on this combination acrylic oil painting?

Rose on Sun, 2nd May 2010 11:50 pm

I too am thinking of trying out oils on top of acrylics, as I do portraiture and I’d like to see if I can get some better blending going.

I have two questions…what product is the ‘best’ product to put upon acrylics? I have had some uneven results with ‘brushing it on,’ in the past. I also heard someone mention sprays. Could you tell me what spray you used that gave a nice sheen?

And, again, since I am thinking of putting an oil finish in certain areas of my canvas, what finishing should I then use?

Any help would be appreciated!

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