Can you varnish over acrylic paint?
Can you varnish over acrylic paint?
Varnish is a hard, protective, removable coat applied over the painting surface. There are two types of varnish that can be used on an acrylic painting: Mineral spirit-based (MSA)—You can use this over anything, but it's extremely important that you have good ventilation. Wear a respirator.
Do I need to varnish my acrylic painting?
It is essential that you varnish your completed acrylic paintings. The varnish will protect the painting from dust, UV rays and yellowing. I usually stick with gloss varnish because I love the look of a glossy finish, but you may have your own preference.
What to put on acrylic paintings to protect them?
In general, acrylic resin varnishes are glossier, stronger and clearer than acrylic polymer varnishes. Therefore, if you want a high-gloss finish, you should go for an acrylic resin varnish such as Golden MSA Varnish. Before applying the final varnish, you'll need to apply an "isolation coat" over the entire painting.